E3-Zone: Sony Conference

E3-Zone: Sony Conference

Sony‘s big success at this year’s E3 came by announcing two things consumers are very anxious to hear about new hardware: a date, and a price. With motion control on everyone’s lips, Sony didn’t make too much of a big thing about PlayStation Move, instead focussing on the other “big deal” of this year’s E3: 3D.

  • By March 2011, at least twenty games will be launched supporting 3D gaming, including PAIN, MotorStorm Pacific Rift, Super Stardust HD and Wipeout HD.
  • Killzone 3 will also be in 3D, launching in February 2011 and with dynamic new weapons and vehicles (including a jetpack.) The game will be Move compatible from launch.
  • Other 3D games to include Motorstorm Apocalypse, Gran Turismo 5, The Sly Raccoon Collection, with 3D content from other developers including Mortal Kombat 9, Shaun White Skateboarding and Ghost Recon: Future Soldier.
  • Sorcery, a new PlayStation Move game, puts players in control of a magical apprentice: the Move controller acts as a magic wand, due out Spring 2011.
  • Tiger Woods: PGA Tour boasts one-to-one movement, with the Move controller corresponding with a golf club.
  • Heroes On The Move is a working title for a new game which will have all the PlayStation mascots in one place: what little gameplay was shown looked like a platforming action game.
  • Coca-Cola will be entering into a branding and sponsorship deal to promote PlayStation Move.
  • PlayStation Move will be available in Europe on September 15th; USA on September 19th.
  • Costs (in Euro) are €39.99 for the motion controller; €29.99 for the navigation controller; €29.99 for the PlayStation Eye camera. Optional extras that weren’t announced at the conference include a charging station (€29.99) and shooting attachment €14.99.)
  • Move-supported games include Killzone 3, SOCOM 4, SingStar Dance, Time Crisis: Razing Storm
  • Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition and Heavy Rain will both feature updates to make them Move compatible.
  • New PSP marketing features the Kevin Butler character (who also appeared at the press conference) and Marcus, a kid urging Sony to Step Their Game Up.
  • PSP new releases include God Of War: Ghost Of Sparta, Patapon 3 and Invizimals (making use of the PSP camera attachment to hunt for invisible monsters.)
  • LittleBigPlanet 2 got shown off, featuring all-new gameplay modes: the game now includes the ability to create racing and puzzle games, with mini-game multi-player modes. LBP2 will also feature “movie” recording and editing features.
  • PlayStation Plus announced, a paid-for subscription service to the PlayStation Network. Membership costs €49.99/$49.99 for a year, or $17.99/€14.99 for three months. Membership of PlayStation Plus will involve a variety of free games, exclusive downloadable content, discounts on content and early access to demos and betas.
  • A variety of EA games will have exclusive PS3 content and packages: Medal Of Honor includes a HD version of Medal Of Honor: Frontline and Dead Space 2 will include a PlayStation Move version of Dead Space: Extraction.
  • Gabe Newell announced that Portal 2 will be available on PS3, providing what he thinks will be the best console experience for the game.
  • Final Fantasy XIV remains a PS3 MMO exclusive.
  • Gran Turismo 5 will be in 3D, launching November 2nd, 2010.
  • Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood will have exclusive DLC for PS3 with a multiplayer beta only on PS3.
  • inFamous 2 features a redesigned Cole, melee weapons, potential ice-powers and is due in 2011.
  • The Sony conference ended with a clown-driven ice-cream truck driving on-stage and a demo of Twisted Metal featuring car combat, destructable environments and helicopters.

Sony‘s announcements also include a new surround sound system for the PS3 available later this year for €199/$199.

You can also check out our coverage of Nintendo and Microsoft‘s conferences.