Sony Steps Up in a Big Way at E3
Sony came to E3 prepared. They’ve been touting for months now that the PS4 will be the place for gamers, and today, Sony backed up that statement. But they weren’t without entertainment offerings like their direct competitor. The first thing to mention though, is that the PS4 will be out this holiday season in the US and Europe at $399. (Phew!)
Sony spent a little time discussing their entertainment features on the PS4. Their services included original programming from Sony Pictures and Sony Music. PS4 will also include access to Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited on day one. All of the video services on PS3 (Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, MLB TV, NHL Center Ice, etc.) will be present, as well as Red Box Instant, Flixster, and Live Events Viewer.
Sony also gave some love to the PS3 and Vita, highlighting games coming out on both systems within the next year. On Vita there will be:
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate
Final Fantasy X & X-II HD
God of War 1 & 2 HD
Dead Nation
Tearaway
The Walking Dead: 400 Days
The Vita will also see a The Walking Dead/Vita bundle.
On PS3, Sony highlighted:
The Last of Us
The Puppeteer
Rain
Beyond: Two Souls
Gran Turismo 6
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate
Grand Theft Auto V
The PS3 also will be getting a bundle with GTA V.
The Playstation 4 was next on deck, with Sony unloading all their guns. To kick off the games, Sony showed back-to-back trailers for the following first-party exclusives:
The Order: 1886 (A fantasy steampunk game set in London made by both Santa Monica Studios and Ready At Dawn Studios, the creators of God of War)
Killzone: Shadow Fall
Driveclub
inFamous: Second Son
Knack
The Dark Sorcerer (which is rumored to be merely a tech demo by Quantic Dream)
Sony then showed their indie support some love, first showing off The Witness (an exclusive by the creator of Braid) and Transistor (an exclusive from the creators of Bastion). Next, Sony went rapid-fire, listing off games that will either be console exclusive, or debuted early on PS4. The games shown were:
Don’t Starve (Clay Entertainment)
Mercenary Kings (Tribute Games)
OctoDad: Dadliest Catch (Young Horses)
Secret Ponchos (Switchblade Monkeys)
Ray’s the Dead (Ragtag Studios)
Outlast (Red Barrels)
Oddworld: New and Tasty (Oddworld Inhabitants)
Galaxy (17-Bit Games)
After the indie developers, Square-Enix took the stage to announce that Final Fantasy Versus XIII was still in development and has been renamed Final Fantasy XV. Square-Enix also revealed that the long-awaited Kingdom Hearts III is finally on its way.
Sony showed more third-party support by showing off more in-game footage for Watch_Dogs, Elder Scrolls Online (as well as announcing early beta exclusivity to PS4), Destiny, and announced a new Mad Max game.
After the games talk was done, Sony clarified that the PS4 will have no restrictions on used games, will have no online requirements, and that games will require no authentication; completely differentiating themselves from Microsoft and the Xbox One.
With a strong showing of games, support for gamers with its lack of restrictions and more affordable price, it’s hard to argue the strength of Sony’s presentation. It all ends up coming down to the individual consumer and what games you want to play, but in a worst-case scenario for Sony, the playing ground is even. How do you feel about Sony’s E3 briefing? Will you be buying a PS4 or an Xbox One? Stay tuned for any more announcements from E3 and a recap of Nintendo’s Direct video tomorrow on VGN.
Sony has unveiled its next-generation PlayStation 4 video game console at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles today.
There you have it!
E3 2012 Drinking Game
Get ready, gamers! It’s that magical time of the year when dreams can be made and hopes can be destroyed. E3 is upon us and the world is watching in excitement to see what the future holds for video games. While a lucky bunch will actually be able to attend the expo, most of us will be sitting at home, taking in the action from behind a screen. What better way to celebrate announcements (or grieve) than with a few buddies and drinks? The Drunken Moogle has created a drinking game, an updated version of Pixelitis’s 2011 E3 Drinking Game from last year, for those of you looking to pregame a bit before those big E3 parties. Grab some buddies and drinks and get ready for a fun week! For the press conference times and links to livestreams, check out the schedule that Video Game Nostalgia posted.Microsoft
Take a sip:
- An obvious actor parent and child enjoy a game together
- Every time a game that uses Kinect is announced
- When Microsoft explains why Kinect is the future for games and media
- If a non-gaming aspect of Xbox Live is talked about
- For every exceptionally awesome kill in the new Gears of War and Halo games
Finish your drink if:
- A new console or portable is announced
- Duke Nukem Forever 2
——-
EA
Take a sip:
- If the ending to Mass Effect 3 is brought up
- For each new sports game announced
- Every time you think “Crysis 3 looks REALLY pretty!”
- A Star wars game that doesn’t take place between episodes 4 and 6 is announced
- Stats about Star Wars: The Old Republic are given
Finish your drink if:
- You jump during the Dead Space 3 presentation
- A partnership between EA and a company you like is announced
——-
Ubisoft
Take a sip:
- If someone comments that (or you think) a Rayman game looks gorgeous
- Every time a game with touch controls is announced
- A free to play game is announced
- Every time there is an exceptionally awesome kill in Assassin’s Creed III
Finish your drink if:
- Beyond Good and Evil 2 isn’t mentioned (again)
- A new Prince of Persia game is announced
——-
Sony
Take a sip:
- If Sony apologizes for anything
- For every HD remake announced
- If either Final Fantasy Versus XIII or The Last Gaurdian is said to launch in 2013
- If somebody you’re watching with makes a comment on how Playstation All-Stars looks like Smash Bros (or you happen to think it)
- If a portable version of a console game is announced for PSVita
- For every exceptionally awesome kill in God of War Ascension
Finish your drink if:
- A new console, portable, or thinner version of a current system is announced
- It’s Riiiiiiiidge Racer!
——-
Nintendo
Take a sip:
- Every time Reggie makes a long pause
- When statistics, charts, or graphs are shared
- If a strange gaming peripheral is shown
- If the Wii U tablet controller is placed on the ground
- If Miyamoto shows up
- Drink again if he came with awesome props
Finish your drink if:
- A 3DS redesign is announced
- The Metroid and Star Fox mash-up game happens to be real
——-
For All Press Conferences
Take a sip each time:
- A sequel is announced
- A remake is announced
- A technical error occurs
- Someone looks silly onstage using motion control
- A celebrity makes an appearance
Finish your drink if:
- Sega announces a new console
- Half Life 2: Episode 3 or Half Life 3 is announced
- Hideo Kojima announces that he will make an announcement
IS YOUR BODY READY?
——-
Drink responsibly and have a fantastic E3 week, everyone!
Taco Bell Giving Away PS Vitas
Sony has announced a new promotion starting later this month involving the PS Vita and Taco Bell.
The new promotion is called “Unlock the Box,” where Taco Bell will be giving away one PS Vita every 15 minutes, starting January 26 and ending on March 11. How do you get one? Well, codes will be found on the $5 Buck Box and can be entered online for a chance to win.
In addition to the codes, there are two other ways to win a Vita from Taco Bell: through the company’s mobile app by playing Reality Fighters Dogo or entering a contest online where you must state what you would do for a Vita through videos or images.
Prize packs include one PS Vita (Wi-Fi model), a copy of Little Deviants, one 4GB Vita Memory Card, and a choice of one of the following games: ModNation Racers: Road Trip, LittleBigPlanet, or MLB 12: The Show. Winners can pick up their prize at retail locations starting February 22.
For full contest rules, click here for the official contest page.
(via: Game Informer)
Cactuar (Final Fantasy Cocktail)
Ingredients:
1 cl Gold Tequila
2 cl Bols Blue
2½ cl Orange Juice
2 cl Pineapple Juice
1 cl Lime
1 cl Cointreau
1 orange wedgeDirections: Shaken and put into a Highballs Glass filled with ice cubes. Use an orange wedge as a garnish.
(Drink created and photographed by scrollbar.dk)
Phoenix Down (Final Fantasy Shot)
Ingredients:
1 cl Cointreau
1 cl Tequilla
1 cl Orange Juice
½ cl GrenadineDirections: Shake the first 3 ingredients. Then pour Grenadine into Shot.
A quick pick me up, for when you’re feeling down. Or dead.
(Drink and photo from scrollbar.dk)
Frozen Moogle
Fill Blender with Ice
Then add:
¼ cup vodka
¼ cup triple sec
¼ cup vanilla liqueur
1 cup grapefruit juice
Blend ‘er
Top with Cherry and 1-2 Moogle Wings (May require innovation)
Looks fruity cause it is, kupo!(Post Submitted by Travis Broyles)
This tasty beverage created by The Domestic Scientist.
The Official limited edition “Uncharted 3” shirts by Cory Schmitz will be available at PAX 2011. If you are in attendance, get one at the PlayStation booth.
Uncharted 3 PAX ‘11 Shirt (Alt) by Cory Schmitz (Tumblr) (Flickr) (Twitter)
Via: coryschmitz
(via gamefreaksnz)
