Interview Goichi Suda - Grasshopper Manufacture
Suda51 talks Lollipop Chainsaw, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and what "punk" means to his studio
News - 2012, Week 15
Sunday15th Apr 2012
Review Floating Cloud God Saves the Pilgrims (PlayStation Minis)
Keep the faith
You get lots of things if you're a cloud god. Your very own personal, environmentally friendly air transportation, the power to smite the mightiest of demons with only the tips of your fingers and the undying devotion of as many little old men as you like. It's not all lounging on beds of water vapour and gobbling grapes, though...
News Mass Effect 3 Sales Eclipse 1.3 Million in North America
Geth a load of that
Mass Effect 3 sold 1.3 million copies across multiple platforms in North America last month, the NPD has confirmed. The figure covers retail releases only, so digital downloads on the PlayStation Network (and EA’s own Origin) are not counted. As such, it’s safe to assume the true, ahem, Tali is significantly higher. To put...
Saturday14th Apr 2012
News Binary Domain Sold Just 20k Units in March
Bad news
Binary Domain is a rare gem. Sure, it gets a bit repetitive in places, but it’s uncommon to find a new IP with a genuinely intriguing universe and likable cast. It’s just a shame the general public didn’t agree. According to this month’s NPD report, the Yakuza Studio developed third-person shooter sold just 20k copies in North...
News Resident Evil 6 to Reload Mercenaries Mode
Popping heads
As if there was any doubt about its inclusion, Capcom has revealed a bunch of Resident Evil 6 pre-order bonuses which confirm the return of the brilliant score-attack mode, Mercenaries. There’ll be three additional maps available for those that pre-order, including the Rail Yard, Catacombs and High Seas Fortress. Unfortunately, each...
News Take to the Track with F1 2011 Vita Discount
Race for life
In order to celebrate this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, Codemasters has announced that it is temporarily slashing the price of the Vita version of F1 2011 to an affordable £19.99. The discount is scheduled for this weekend only, so you’ll need to be nimble like a race car to take advantage of the reduction. For more information...
News EA Hoping to Put Need for Speed Movie on the Starting Line
Start your engines
EA believes Need for Speed has the potential to be more than just a popular racing game, as it’s shopping around a script for a movie based on the high-speed franchise. Writing duo George and John Gatins are said to have penned the plot, which has supposedly got Paramount, Warner Bros and Sony interested in stumping up the cash...
Friday13th Apr 2012
First Impressions Spec Ops: The Line
End of the line
Spec Ops: The Line owes a lot to the Uncharted series — and not just because Nolan North lends his voice to the game’s gruff protagonist Captain Martin Walker. The combat – which takes place from a third-person perspective – is hugely derivative of Nathan Drake’s series, as you meander between conveniently placed vehicles...
News Vita Firmware V1.67 Launches, Doesn't Do Much
Optional stability
Shortly before the PlayStation Vita launched, Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida stated that firmware updates on the handheld platform would be much less intrusive than on PS3. That's not quite been the case yet, as we queue up the system’s third update in less than 10 days. To be fair, version 1.67 (available now)...
News Sony Sneakily Announces Red PS3 for the UK
Captain scarlet
If the basic black exterior of the current PS3 is putting you off purchasing Sony’s current console, perhaps you might be tempted by the curvaceous red system instead. The former Japan exclusive has started popping up on UK websites this afternoon, with Amazon revealing a 27th April release date and
News 24-Hour SingStar Marathon Kicks Off Today
Wish him well
Julian Hill's SingStar endurance challenge starts today in London, with the dedicated dad raising money for Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital by playing the karaoke game for 24 hours straight. At the Ambassador's Bloomsbury Hotel in London, Hill will make his way through every song in the SingStar series over the next 24 hours...
News Gravity Rush Demo Drops Onto Vita on 30th May
Gravitational pull
If that mid-June release date for PlayStation Vita exclusive Gravity Rush still seems too far away, then perhaps you might be reassured by the news that a demo is set to float onto the PlayStation Store on 30th May. Resurrected UK retailer GAME revealed the good news on its Twitter account earlier today. We were actually lucky...
News Crysis 3 to Switch Off Its Invisibility Cloak on 16th April
Stepping out of the shadows
After a series of leaks, EA has decided to stop being coy about the existence of Crysis 3. It sarcastically noted in a statement to Joystiq overnight: The best kept secret in shooters just can't be contained. Stay tuned for more information on April 16. Like its predecessor, the game will supposedly take place in New...
News Sleeping Dogs Awaken on 14th August
Woof woof
There may be numerous rumours swirling about the release date of Grand Theft Auto V, but nothing is set in stone just yet. We imagine Square Enix is hoping it stays that way, as it readies Sleeping Dogs for release on 14th August in North America. Don’t worry Europe – you’ll get your hands on the game a few days later on 17th August...
News March NPD: Mass Effect 3 Takes Off While Overall Sales Decline
Not especially pretty
Despite the arrival of several massive new releases, software and hardware sales continued their decline in North America for the month of March 2012. The latest NPD report shows that the month brought in $1.1billion in revenue, a whopping 25 percent less than the same period in 2011. Hardware, software and accessory sales were...
News MotorStorm RC Proves Popular Amongst PSN Players
Little treasure
Sony’s furnished us with some fascinating statistics pertaining to the popular PSN downloadable MotorStorm RC today. According to the publisher, the title is downloaded 19 times every minute, with new events kick-started every second. Every minute sees a new PSN friendship formed, and eight trophies earned. We’d like to see...
Thursday12th Apr 2012
Interview Gaijin Games - RUNNER 2
Future of rhythm gameplay
Gaijin Games' BIT.TRIP series started life on WiiWare, spread onto Steam and then got the compilation treatment for Wii and 3DS, hitting retail in 2011. BIT.TRIP Presents Runner2 is the series' first step onto PS3, so we cornered Gaijin Games co-founders Alex Neuse and Mike Roush at PAX East to get the scoop on BIT.TRIP's...
News Kaz Hirai Reveals "One Sony" Rescue Strategy
Promises change
As promised, former PlayStation president and new Sony CEO Kaz Hirai has revealed his rescue strategy designed to resurrect the ailing Japanese giant. The likable executive’s speech hinged on the idea of change and unification – something Sony has been striving towards with little success for years. In his presentation, Hirai...
News Just Add Water Teases Oddworld: Hand of Odd
Flinch if you're English
We can’t be certain, but we don’t think Just Add Water’s latest project Oddworld: Hand of Odd has anything to do with Diego Maradona’s famous goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals. Instead, it sounds like a brand new entry in the recently rejuvenated Oddworld series. There’s not much to go on...
News New Max Payne 3 Trailer Composes a Symphony of Death
High drama
Bullet Time has appeared in numerous first and third-person shooters since the original Max Payne released on PlayStation 2 back in 2002. But the upcoming Max Payne 3 hopes to make the aged mechanic feel fresh again thanks to improvements in physics, control and AI technology. As this video demonstrates, it’s the same ability you...
News Ni No Kuni Goes into Hiding until Q1 2013
"Ready or not, here I come!"
Namco Bandai’s delayed the North American release of Level-5 and Studio Ghibli’s ultra-pretty PS3 exclusive RPG Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch until next year. The altered Q1 2013 release puts the title in line with its previously announced European date. To prove that the game isn’t vapourware, Namco Bandai...
News Sony Deploys First Resistance: Burning Skies Multiplayer Details
Eight-player frag fest
The PlayStation Vita will finally get its first taste of competitive FPS action next month, when Resistance: Burning Skies launches worldwide. Following a slight hiccup on the official PlayStation website earlier in the month, Sony’s finally raised the curtain on the spin-off shooter’s multiplayer component in a
News Demon's Souls to Be Plunged into Darkness on 31st May
Going underground
After several extended runs, Atlus has announced that it is pulling the North American servers for cult hit Demon’s Souls offline. This will obviously not affect single-player gameplay, but will prevent players from leaving notes and appearing as ghosts in other games. Boo. The publisher has promised to hold two World Tendency...
News Bring Friends for a Ghost Recon Future Soldier Multiplayer Vid
Kill confirmed
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier might have taken its time getting here, but if you like loud bangs and big guns the trailer below will make up for the wait. The latest multiplayer trailer from Ubisoft shows all kinds of futuristic tech, from camouflage suits to stealthy hacking, as well as fulfilling your recommended daily...
News Buddy Up for Tekken Tag Tournament 2 This September
Bro fist
Start getting your thumb muscles in shape, because Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is swapping onto PlayStation 3 sooner than expected. Namco Bandai announced a September release date for the hotly anticipated brawler sequel overnight, which is significantly earlier than the publisher’s original “Holiday 2012” forecast. The console version of...
News One Piece: Pirate Warriors Sails to the West This Year
Hot export
Namco Bandai has announced that its crossover brawler featuring the characters of anime One Piece and the gameplay of Dynasty Warriors is heading to the West. Try to sound excited, won’t you? One Piece: Pirate Warriors puts you in control of popular characters from the manga and sees you fighting thousands of enemies in true,...
News Sony Teases Mysterious April Reveal
Cryptic clues
The official PlayStation Facebook page is asking the cryptic question: “Will vengeance bring redemption?” We’ve no idea – but it looks like we’ll find out on 19th April. Sony’s staying tight lipped about the mysterious tease which appeared this morning – but we’d bet the bank on it being an announcement for the heavily...
News Witness Multiple Explosions in New MoH Warfighter Trailer
Boom
Medal of Honor Warfighter’s not going to be quite as subtle as its predecessor if this brand new trailer’s anything to go by. The footage features plenty of gameplay from the main campaign, and mixes in a handful of explosions to keep you entertained. One thing’s for certain: it looks super pretty. The game’s running on DICE’s...
Wednesday11th Apr 2012
News Resident Evil 6's Premium Edition Costs a Whopping $1300
Sell your grandma
Video game collector’s editions have gradually got more elaborate (and expensive) over the past five years — but Resident Evil 6’s Japan-only Premium Edition sets a whole new precedent. The limited edition pack will set you back a staggering ¥105,000, which translates to about $1300. In exchange for your hard-earned cash,...
News Resident Evil 6's Campaign Is About 30 Hours Long
Get comfortable
Capcom might be craftily eyeing the commercial success of Call of Duty with the upcoming Resident Evil 6, but there’s one area where the two titles will almost certainly differ: length. Speaking in an interview with NowGamer, director Eiichiro Sasaki revealed that he expects the game to be about 30 hours long once fi
News Japanese Sales Charts: Vita Dips Below 10k Units
The end is nigh
A lot of industry conscious gamers hold a significant amount of faith in Japan’s weekly sales figures. It’s those same commentators that invented the so-called "10k units rule". The fabricated philosophy states that if a system’s sales are above 10k units a week, it’s “alive”. But should the unthinkable happen...
Interview Beatshapers - StarDrone Extreme
"My God, it's full of stars!"
StarDrone was one of last year’s better PlayStation Network titles. The game’s furious blend of disparate game mechanics culminated in one of the most memorable puzzle titles of 2011, earning it a convincing 7/10 score in our StarDrone review. Today’s European PlayStation Store update sees the pinball-hybrid find...
Store Update 11th April 2012 (Europe)
Your move, StarDrone
Here's what's up this week in Europe. PlayStation Network New Content: PlayStation Plus: Silent Hill (PSone) – 100% discount, Until May 9thPure Chess — 20% discount, 2 weeks onlyPure Chess – Park Pack – 100% discount, 2 weeks only PS3 Games:
News Extended Mortal Kombat Vita Trailer Sets the Scene
Kombat evolved
We’ve already seen a glimpse of this live-action Mortal Kombat video, but the full version is arguably the best Vita commercial we’ve seen. Not only does the 60 second short perfectly set the scene for the title’s portability, but it’s also stylish, edgy and attention grabbing. Apparently, there’s still plenty for...
News Exclusive StarDrone Extreme Vita Trailers Shoot In
Feast your eyes
Intrigued by Beatshapers' PS Vita download StarDrone Extreme, but want to see it in action before taking the plunge? Come right this way. We've teamed up with Beatshapers to bring you two exclusive videos of the game in action, plus screenshots you won't find anywhere else. We've also got an interview with the studio lined up to...
Store Update 10th April 2012 (North America)
Skullgirls, Pinball and more
Much-anticipated PSN title Skullgirls hits the North American store alongside a true PS2 classic and more. Here's what's on for you North American shoppers this week. PlayStation Plus: Exclusives: The House of the Dead 4 Demo Minis: Canabalt Defenders Of The Mystic Garden Full Game Trials
News The Legend of Dragoon Spreads Its Wings on PSN in May
Flap flap
Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida has taken to the US PlayStation Blog this evening to announce the release of PSone cult classic The Legend of Dragoon for PSN. In his post, Yoshida-san reveals that a sequel to the ambitious RPG was in development at Sony’s Japan Studio, but it later got cancelled for “unknown reasons”...
News Sony Shuts Down PSN Video Magazine Qore
Cor, blimey
It seems Sony has finally realised that Qore without Veronica Belmont is like peanut butter without jelly. The platform holder has announced on the US PlayStation Blog that the digital video magazine – which recently got a new host – is no more. It’s latest (and final) issue covering the month of April will feature a celebration of...
News Epic: We'd Love to Do a Bulletstorm Sequel
Nothing to announce yet
A sequel to last year’s adventurous first-person shooter Bulletstorm was in the works at one point, Epic Games’ Mike Capps has announced. Sadly, the follow-up was canned when the company found a project that was considered to be a “better fit” for original developer People Can Fly. What could possibly be better than...
News Hitman: Absolution Dresses Up for Professional Edition
Sharp shooter
You’ll be able to show your appreciation of Agent 47’s suave sense of style later this year, when Square Enix releases the Professional Edition for Hitman: Absolution. The dapper European retail release will not only earn you access to a bevy of new in-game weapons via the bundled Agency Gun Pack, but will also spruce up your copy...
News Crysis 3 Announcement Evidence Exposed
Broken invisibility cloak
The video game sleuths are at it again – but this time it isn’t a publisher or loose-lipped employee at fault. Instead it’s Swedish magazine GameReactor, who’s somehow managed to let the cover of its upcoming issue slip out into the wild. While the cover’s not especially upfront about its contents, a series of...
Tuesday10th Apr 2012
Interview Goichi Suda - Grasshopper Manufacture
Suda51 talks Lollipop Chainsaw, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and what "punk" means to his studio
There's crazy, and then there's Japanese studio Grasshopper Manufacture's particular brand of bonkers, which positively oozes from its upcoming title Lollipop Chainsaw. As the developer braces itself for the June release of its over-the-top teenage bubblegum...
News Pachter: PS3 Price Cut "Likely" At E3
Peering into the crystal ball
Seasoned video game industry analyst Michael Pachter believes a PlayStation 3 price cut will be announced at this year’s E3. Sony’s primary home console is a cut away from the magic $199 mark in the US – a price-point which prompted PS2 sales to catapult last generation. Speaking ahead of this week’s March NPD...
News New DmC Devil May Cry Trailer Brings the Pain
It's also very loud
Details of the most recent Capcom 'Captivate' event are doing the rounds, including a brand new trailer for DmC: Devil May Cry. At the event itself members of the development team unveiled a new level that takes place at a carnival: it involves Dante facing off against a demon, which isn't surprising. The trailer is below and...
News It's Raining Phantoms and Ogres in Dragon's Dogma Trailer
Beats cats and dogs anyway
Capcom's next big release, Dragon's Dogma, is an action RPG set in a fantasy land. You know what that means? Ogres. Not just ogres, but phantoms, archers, magic, warriors, wizards and warlocks. You'll get your fill of all these things in the new trailer below, revealed at Captivate 2012, which shows off the game's AI...
News Lock-On to a Metal Sonic 4: Episode II Trailer
Back in time
Remember the Lock-On function of Sonic & Knuckles on the Mega Drive? It's making a resurgence in Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2, as the trailer below shows. Anyone who owns Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I and the follow-up will be able to access four exclusive Metal Sonic levels that span the gap between Sonic CD and Sonic 4,...
News Sony Preparing for Biggest Annual Loss in a Decade
The numbers aren't red enough
We find it hard to believe there’s been a smile on new Sony CEO Kaz Hirai’s face since he started his new high-power role just over a week ago. One look at the company’s balance sheet would be enough to plant a permanent frown on even the most jubilant of personalities. Indeed, Sony has warned investors today...
News Suda 51: "Not All Craziness is Good"
Just most of it
Goichi "Suda51" Suda is a man known for doing his own thing. From otaku assassin Travis Touchdown in No More Heroes to the multiple personalities of Killer7's Harman Smith, Suda's characters have always been off the wall, and his latest creation, Lollipop Chainsaw's zombie-culling cheerleader Juliet Starling, is no...
News Street Fighter X Tekken Vita Gets PS3 Cross-Platform Play
Take the fight to the streets
Capcom's portable scrapper Street Fighter X Tekken will let Vita owners face off against PS3 players, as the publisher has confirmed cross platform multiplayer for its upcoming title. The best part is the multiplayer supports 3G communications, so you can get involved in a good scrap wherever you are — as long as...
News Zen Pinball 2 Rolls Out on PS3 and Vita This Spring
Zensational
If the recently announced Pinball Arcade wasn’t enough to wet your flip-happy whistle, then you might be excited (and somewhat surprised) to learn that Zen Pinball 2 is on the way too. Developer Zen Studios announced the PS3 and PS Vita follow-up overnight, meaning, like the Pinball Arcade, you’ll now be able to challenge your...
News Work Up a Sweat with New Lollipop Chainsaw Footage
Give me an "L"
This might not be the greatest video in the world (it’s completely missing music for starters) but it at least provides a good indication of the type of combat variety you can expect when Grasshopper’s zany zombie brawler Lollipop Chainsaw launches on PS3 later this year. Swiftly smash the “Play” button below and you’ll be...
News Lost Planet 3 Revealed, Due for 2013 Release
Ahead of the game
The embargo on information from Capcom's recent Captivate 2012 hasn't even ended yet and we already know there'll be a Lost Planet 3 coming to PS3 in 2013. The game is being developed by Spark Unlimited, the team responsible for Turning Point: Fall of Liberty and Legendary. It might not have the best pedigree, but Blue Castle Games...
News Your First Official Look at Lost Planet 3
All guns blazing
The mecha-cat may have got out of the frosty bag earlier today, but here's your first official look at Lost Planet 3. Well, your first look at some CGI footage setting the scene, anyway. The game's not due out until early next year, so there's plenty of time to wait and see what it looks like. Lost Planet 3 is under development at...
News Resident Evil 6 Shuffles Forward to October Release
Cites "tasty autumn brains"
Zombies don't like fire, but they're not too fond of the cold either, which could go some way to explaining why Capcom's brought its big Christmas title Resident Evil 6 forward by nearly two months to early October. Previously set for release in late November, the game's now due for 2nd October, meaning it'll be among the...
Monday9th Apr 2012
Review EA Sports FIFA Football (PlayStation Vita)
Transfer listed
The portable FIFA titles have come a long way since the days of Game Boy Advance, when pitched down versions were the norm. These days EA takes the portable market a little more seriously, going on PlayStation Vita from day one and launching FIFA Football alongside the new system. If you've played a home console FIFA title in the...
Review BlazBlue: Continuum Shift EXTEND (PlayStation Vita)
The deep end of the pool
After the original BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger wowed fighting game fans with its amazing depth and character variety, developer Arc System Works took things a step or two further with its follow-up, BlazBlue: Continuum Shift. Not only did the follow-up continue the in-depth fighting experience of the first release, it also...
First Impressions Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2
Cycle shattered
Well, it looks like SEGA got the abysmal message about Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 and actually did something about it. We're happy to report that, based on our time with two zones of the game at PAX East, the long-awaited Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 plays a lot closer to how our nostalgic hearts remember the series before...
Rumour Latest Call of Duty to Step Out of the Shadows in April
Black Ops 2 in the works
It’s about time major publishers learned: video game sleuths are really good at what they do. The latest accidental reveal comes courtesy of a group of Call of Duty fans, who decided it was time Activision told us a little something about 2012’s inevitable entry in the massively popular series. They found the image...
Rumour Sony to Cut 10,000 Jobs Before Year's End
Hirai making his mark
Sony’s financial troubles are well documented. If you’re not up to speed, then know this: the company is expected to report a whopping £2.1billion loss in its latest financial report. That’s not particularly healthy. Of course, that’s also the reason that former SCE president – and lifetime Ridge Racer fanboy – Kaz...
News Grit Your Teeth Through Free RE: Operation Raccoon City DLC
There's a catch
As our Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City review established last month, Slant Six’s squad-based spin-off isn’t exactly the most polished entry in Capcom’s traditionally high-quality horror series. But if you’re enjoying the title regardless, you might be, ahem, thrilled to learn that there’s some free DLC on the way...
Rumour Rockstar Employee's CV Dates GTAV for October
Whoops
We’ve got a sneaking suspicion that Rockstar North employee Alex O’Dwyer is not having a particularly happy Easter. The character animator updated his CV and LinkedIn profile over the bank holiday weekend, pledging an October release date to the anticipated crime thriller Grand Theft Auto V. It’s the first we’ve heard of it. Adding...
