PlayStation News, Articles and Information for the UK and Europe

Yep, no longer is Mass Effect 2 – the thrilling RPG released earlier this year – an Xbox 360 exclusive. Now PS3 owners can get a taste of BioWare’s awesome game come January 2011, announced at the EA Gamescom 2010 press conference today by BioWare CEO Ray Muzkya.

Containing the full game, the PS3 version also includes ‘hours of bonus content’ although nothing about that, or anything else about the game, has been revealed.

BioWare has no plans to bring Mass Effect 1 to PS3- meaning for those who don’t know the story, you’ve got until January 2011 to catch up.

Sony seem happy with the move, and rightly so, saying: “Mass Effect 2 is another great property coming to PS3 that will compliment our PS3 line-up.”

 The Colin McRae name may be gone, but DiRT 3, the last in the DiRT trilogy, was recently revealed and looks to be the biggest and best in the series yet. Alongside a jaw-dropping trailer, a few other details have been revealed and it is clear that Codemasters Racing Studio are bringing the series back to its roots.

Whether you are an American or European, DiRT 3 will certainly offer something for both. Taking away the Americanisation from DiRT 2, 3 will offer commentary from both, and gameplay for both. This means America’s Ken Block will return alongside the X-Games, but the focus has been turned to include more of what is best: point-to-point rallying. You will still be able to play Rally-Cross, Trailblazer and more, alongside two other new modes which I’ll get to later

.Of course, to play these modes you’ll need a car, and there are plenty. This time around, Codemasters really wanted to impress on a major scale. So you’ll see the very Mini that won the Monte Carlo Rally, amongst many other classics including the Lancia Delta and Audi Quattro, but also many modern cars: WRC, Spec 2000 and Open Class cars are all on offer. Add to that the crazy RAID trucks and superbuggies. That’s not to mention there won’t be a few others thrown in as well. You’ll be able to see the likes of Colin McRae’s Subaru Impreza and Ken Block’s new Ford.

Not only wanting more cars, the fans wanted more tracks. Codemasters listened. Again. Finland, Kenya, Monte Carlo, Norway and Aspen are a few of the 100 routes on offer (opposed to the 41 routes in DiRT 2) and weather returns. Big time.

Sharing the technology with F1 2010, the weather is proving to be an essential part of the experience. Snow, rain and fog are a few of many natural hazards, the former being the biggest of them all: this even comes down to tyre choice and the snow is deformable. The weather is dynamic, and so is the new night-day cycle. Both are there to avoid repetition in the Career mode, so (even if it is on the same track) you won’t have the same race twice and it will be different time of day and different weather.

Now, to those two new game modes. Head-to-head racing (made even more exciting  when bundled together with the knowledge that split-screen will be making a return) is there, but most exciting of all is the Gymkhana mode. Yep, that’s right. Gymkhana is the sport that came into life by Ken Block himself performing crazy stunts in a dockyard in Los Angeles in his Subaru Impreza, which included drifting under exploding lorries and very nearly falling into a river. You’ll be able to do this, sometimes using his new Ford, in various arenas built for the sport. Combos are created by performing stunts, and well. This might involve getting close to cones, holding a long drift or something really crazy overall. Then, you can really be like Block and upload your Gymkhana video straight to YouTube thanks to the new, YouTube compatible replay system. This really isn’t a cheap way of making the game more popular: Gymkhana looks to be an essential part of the overall DiRT 3 experience.

To practice Gymkhana, you’ll get (optionally with up to seven other friends) the Compound, based on DiRT 2’s Battersea Powerstation but two to three times bigger. This will also host many mini-games and challenges set by Ken Block. If you want to do Cat and Mouse, you can.

The graphics look mightily impressive as always, and with all of the new features and the direction Codemasters are taking make DiRT 3 look set to be the perfect finale to an amazing series. A new menu, more realistic implementation of oversteer and understeer (along with better force feedback) and the fact that F1 2010’s ‘Live the Life’ mode is also being used (details yet unknown) in DiRT 3 makes you want the game now. Sorry, but you’ll have to wait until 2011 for that. Not a problem though, because we’ll already be enjoying the likes of F1 2010, Test Drive Unlimited 2, World Rally Championship 2010 and Gran Turismo 5 by then.

So it has started, GTA V is inevitably on its way and so the rumours have begun emerging. The first one is a biggie: the location: Las Vegas it is.

VG24/7 is the one responsible for this rumour. Would an upgraded San Andreas be nice? Also on the agenda was the game’s announcement: apparently coming very shortly, within the next few months. Reports say it could coincide with the first public airing of Rockstar’s other hit title, Max Payne 3.

SPOILER ALERT! The GTA IV saga certainly got us something to expect, possibly, in the next title, with the ending of the Ballad of Gay Tony, the final DLC package and final in the GTA IV saga, showed main GTA IV character Patrick McReary leaving Liberty City- could he be travelling to the next location?

As always, PlayStation Future is the place to be for GTA V news.

For those anticipating PlayStation Move and SOCOM 4, be warned: the game has been delayed to 2011.

Sony broke the news today in a statement, a rather disappointing one at that. SOCOM 4 was looking to be one of the PlayStation Move’s big 2010 launch titles.

“We can confirm that SOCOM 4 will be released in 2011. The team is focusing on additional features which will help to deliver the most compelling and immersive SOCOM experience yet. Please look out for further updates and announcements over the coming months.”

So, the most compelling and immersive SOCOM experience yet, right? With PlayStation Move also there, the game is looking to be a cracker. What will these additional features be then Sony?

Formula 1 is a sport that has a massive fan base: in other words, it’s worldwide. There is something about Formula 1 that, however boring some races may be, keeps the fans happy. Maybe it’s the controversy, the cars, the locations or the drivers. Or the spectacular crashes you see once in a while. Whatever appeals to you, though, there’s one game that will have everything that Formula 1 is.

F1 2010 is the game, in Codemasters’ hands after Sony’s exclusive F1 Championship Edition (based on the 2006 season) was released before the developer, Studio Liverpool, lost the license. Being Codemasters’ first Formula 1 game, the Birmingham studio has been hard at work since acquiring the license in May 2008. Last year Sumo Digital (published by Codemasters) released F1 2009 on the PSP, and was a decent success after the disappointment that the Birmingham studio weren’t releasing a 2009 game: instead focusing all of their attention to 2010. Read more

Yep… that’s right, LittleBigPlanet 2 has a release date!

Following the announcement of the game earlier this year, LittleBigPlanet 2 was given a release date at this year’s San Diego Comic Con: 16th November 2010 is the big day. In America, that is.

We’re not yet sure of a European date, or whether we’ll get the pre-order offers and Special Edition that have been announced in America. We’ll post an update when news comes in.

Today EA announced a new open-world role-playing game, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, being developed by 38 Studios (formerly Big Huge Games). Reckoning will launch in fall 2011 on PlayStation 3 with a cinematic and website debuting on the 22nd July this year.

Reckoning is an epic, open-world role-playing game set in Amalur, a mysterious and magical new fantasy world created by New York Times best-selling author R. A. Salvatore. Discussing the game, Jen MacLean, CEO of 38 Studios, said:

“Reckoning is a great representation of how a team of incredibly talented and creative people with expertise in different areas can come together and complement each other so well. We are thrilled to be developing an open-world RPG under the leadership of one of the greatest RPG designers in the industry, with creative direction by one of the most iconic artists of our time, set in a rich universe imagined by one of the top fantasy genre authors in the world.

We can’t wait to share the first details of this universe we have been so dedicated to building over the past few years”

EA describe Reckoning as a “single player RPG that brings a new level of intense action combat to the genre.”

Ken Rolston is in charge of the project, having previously lead the design of Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. The game was previously called “Project Mercury.” Whilst little details are known about Reckoning, the trailer launching this Thursday should reveal some details, likewise with the Press Briefing being held shortly.

So, RPG fans have to wait at least another year but will it be worth it? As always, look to PlayStation Future for all of the latest news on the game. Will Ken Rolston’s development lead make it as successful as the Elder Scrolls franchise?

Those hoping for a sequel to be currently in the works by Red Dead Redemption developer Rockstar San Diego can get their tears ready now.

Alongside the studio laying off at least 40 people, Steve Martin (studio manager) released this statement:

“As is typical with game development, our team sizes have always fluctuated over the course of the development cycle. As Rockstar San Diego transitions from the launch of Red Dead Redemption onto future projects, we are realigning our resources in order to continue to develop games as effectively as possible.”

More interestingly, though, is this:

“We are ensuring that all employees who are affected by these changes are being treated with care. While we have no announcements to make regarding a sequel to Red Dead Redemption, the team here are hard at work on the development of downloadable content for the game.”

So, no sequel in the works. But honestly, who cares at the moment? Red Dead Redemption only launched last May, it was a massive hit worldwide and at PlayStation Future (I scored it a brilliant 9.2/10) and one free DLC has already been released, alongside four more in the coming six months.

…according to Sony’s latest Terms of Service update.

“Some people may experience discomfort (such as eye strain, eye fatigue or nausea) while watching 3D video images or playing stereoscopic 3D games on 3D televisions. SCEA recommends that all viewers take regular breaks while watching 3D video or playing stereoscopic 3D games. The length and frequency of necessary breaks may vary from person to person. Please take breaks that are long enough to allow any feelings of discomfort to subside. If symptoms persist, consult a doctor.”

It also goes on to say how young children should stay clear of the PlayStation 3 3D technology altogether.

“SCEA recommends that you consult your doctor (such as a pediatrician or eye doctor) before allowing young children to watch 3D video images or play stereoscopic 3D games. Adults should supervise young children to ensure they follow the recommendations listed above.”

That would be a great shame, especially considering the amount of fantastic games that will be using the technology. Gran Turismo 5, MotorStorm Apocalypse and Killzone 3 are all on the list.

The solution? Play games in 3D anyway- surely not much harm can be done?

Hot off the heels of Split/Second Velocity’s launch on the PlayStation 3 last month, today Disney announced the game is going portable later this year.

After Black Rock’s success with the PS3 version, which included amazing graphics, superb destruction and likewise gameplay, and a nice but small collection of tracks and a lot of cars, the PSP version inevitably won’t be the same but could be good in its own way.

Portable racing games on the PSP don’t come around that often, and there really aren’t many good ones either. Gran Turismo, Need for Speed Shift and MotorStorm Arctic Edge are the only ones to consider getting. Split/Second Velocity, if pulled off in a good way, will add to that list and then some, and should offer a unique experience for the platform that has been lacking recently.

The development team is yet to be announced. Watch this space.