Sony Press Conference
PSP Go, Motion controller, Agent and more
The Xbox 360 may have exclusive GTA IV DLC, but the PS3 could be going one better - Sony announcing that the console will be getting a whole new Rockstar game exclusively: Agent. Agent promises to be a 2010 action title set in the political gloom of the 1970s. Details are scant, but this has to go down as good news for Sony.
Perhaps the biggest news from Sony followed, however, Tretton letting slip that Final Fantasy XIV: Online will be a PS3 only title which will be released next year following the the multi-platform XIII. A lush new trailer was shown to gasps from the audience. At least something was kept off Twitter, it would seem.
We were then treated to a sneak peak at the PS3's motion control system - which will use a light-operated 'wand' of sorts, and promises to pick up full 3D movement in some detail. A technology demonstration was the order of the day, featuring various sports and weapons in the main. These tasters were impressive (as impressive as Microsoft's? - Ed), and we were also shown some first-person style interaction - Sony's representatives assuring that a button is required for some game types.
Our hosts were also able to 'move' items within a virtual world, while an impressive crossbow also worked well, as did a new painting tool. The PS3's unnamed motion sensing technology will land in spring 2010.
This demo - which saw Sony tick what now seems to be an essential box, was followed by something rather different, ModNation Racers from United Front Games. Following in LBP's cutesy footsteps this game is all about user-generated content, players creating cars, racers and tracks for playing and sharing online. Gameplay seems to take its cues from Mario Kart, although the track editor was most impressive - players drawing the route by driving before adding detail airbrush-style.
Tretton highlighted big name 2009 releases on the console next, revealing that God of War 3 will land in March 2010, and we played out with a a trailer for The Last Guardian - the third title from Sony's ICO team. Cinematic, grandiose and utterly enthralling, we're desperate to see more on this game. Sooner rather than later, preferably.
Sony's conference concluded in style then, and while the PSP Go news may have been leaked beforehand it's fair to say that this briefing didn't fall far short of the ridiculously high standards set by Microsoft yesterday. Celebrities may have been in short supply, but Agent from Rockstar is a coup and the motion technology that was demonstrated could yet see Nintendo breaking into a sweat as well. Sony has some catching up to do, but this wasn't a poor showing by any means.
Comments
You think M$ "owned: E3 with it's presser? LOLOLOLOL yea right. Nothing in M$'s conference matched Sony's. All they had was 2 games that looked incredible. Splinter Cell and ME2. ODST looks like a joke, especially considering they said it would look as good as KIllzone 2 last month. It hardly looks as good as Halo 3. That Epic game was a joke. And Forza 3, while it looks like a competant racer doesn't look half as good as just GT5's teaser. It's nice that it has custom paint, but that in no way makes or breaks a racing game.
On the other hand Sony only had one single disappointment, and that was the high price of the PSP Go, everything else was incredible. I don't see how, by any stretch of the imagination, M$ had the best conference.
Re:
I hear you, M$ were a joke compared to Sony...who absolutely stole E3 this year.!!!!