Tag: Sony

E3 without E3

~ James ~ Leave a comment
IGN Has Basically Taken Over E3 2020

2020 is the first year without E3, ever since its inception in 1995. Many people within the gaming industry are very mixed regarding this – leading to much discussion whether we even need an E3, as it seemed like it was on its way out long before the global pandemic ensued. Sony had already confirmed they weren’t attending (again), Nintendo hasn’t had a live conference for years, and Game Awards host, Geoff Keighley, announced he wasn’t attending either. So everyone was asking the same question, do we need E3? Do we really need an annual that developers and publishers have to keep in mind every year in order to stay relevant? Or should they be able to showcase their games on their own terms?

In March, the ESA officially cancelled the event but have stood firm on the fact that there will be one in 2021. Ever since this cancellation, many online-only digital events have popped up to try and takes its place, including Summer Game Fest, IGN’s Summer of Gaming, Devolver’s Direct, as well as Xbox and Sony’s console showcases. All of these events combined have definitely given off the same kind of energy and excitement that E3 tends to bring upon people around the same time of year, except this time it’s over a much longer period.

Summer Game Fest

The highlight for me (so far) has been the Playstation 5 reveal, as it actually had the hype building, mystery and reveals that a typical E3 conference would entail. It was the event that emulated the E3 experience perfectly, and only a few reveals and events have been able to capture it properly. Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest is a pretty close second, as it has all the reveals and presentation – just spread out over several months. IGN’s Summer of Gaming is too “personality-based” in my opinion – too much filler with people talking about things that people aren’t really tuning in to see, just watching because a game reveal or two might happen down the line.

As for the future, many of these events are still ongoing, and Xbox, Ubisoft and Devolver Digital all have events confirmed for later in the month. Whether these will embrace the magic of E3 or end up being duds is yet to be seen. However, one of the biggest questions still remains: Where is Nintendo? No Nintendo Direct has been officially announced at the time of writing, and they have no big releases for the end of the year. So what are they planning? They’ve revealed a few smaller games here and there throughout the year, but no “blockbuster game” for October/November time. I hope they are merely saving the “best until last” rather than genuinely having nothing to show. I guess like everything else here; only time will tell.

Playstation 5 Reveal Event – Predictions

~ James ~ Leave a comment
Where And When To Watch The PS5 Reveal Event? - PlayStation Universe

Last week, Sony announced that on June 4th at 9pm (BST) that they will be holding an online event showcasing new details regarding their next console; the Playstation 5.

The above video was released alongside the announcement, leading many fans to speculate what they might reveal during the event. Sony has already revealed the specifications of their new console, leading many to believe that it is actually inferior to Microsofts Xbox Series X. While on paper this is true, many developers have come out in defence of the PS5’s hardware giving similar sentiments, specifically how easy it is to develop for – due to its architecture. Whether these will hold true in the long run, only time will tell.

In my opinion, we will likely see plenty of gameplay of new unannounced games on the system – many of which have leaked beforehand via Playstation UK Magazine. Whether these titles will be shown during the event is yet to be seen, but it implies a reveal/gameplay focused event. It would be surprising if Sony does not reveal how the Playstation 5 looks, or its price point at this stage, as it is slated to release by the end of this year. Leaving it any later would be cutting it close, however, they may be following their strategy for the Playstation 4 and waiting for Microsoft to reveal their prices so they can undercut them, instantly making their system more marketable. Regardless of what they do, it should still be an entertaining event to watch – even without a live crowd.

My Hopes For The Future Of Playstation

~ James ~ Leave a comment
Image result for ps5

I’ve been a fan of Playstation since the first, and I always find it interesting how Sony’s strategy for each console changes as time passes. Now, I’m not a blind Playstation fanboy as I primarily play on PC nowadays, but if I had to choose between Xbox or Playstation, I will pick Playstation purely because of the IP’s and exclusives available. This leaves me slightly torn, as Xbox has incredible value with their console with the Xbox Game pass – but none of their exclusive titles entice me, so I have no reason to make a console purchase.

The Playstation 5 is right around the corner and despite the rocky start of the PS3, Sony has been back on top throughout the PS4’s lifetime – almost harkening back to the Playstation 2 days. But that’s what has got me slightly cautious; Sony tends to get too big for their boots causing them to assume too much about the consumer. After the PS2 was a success, Sony completely dropped the ball when the PS3 released – taking years for the PS3 to start gaining traction after a huge marketing push.

If the rumours are true, we have some good PS5 launch titles on the horizon – primarily a new Insomniac Games title, a rumoured Demon Soul’s remake, and Gran Turismo 7. That being said, the make or break for many may be down to the backwards compatibility. It’s already confirmed to be PS4 backwards compatible, which is a huge plus. A big bombshell would be the announcement of PS1-4 backwards compatibility. Imagine being able to put any Playstation game into your PS5 and being able to play it – no game being stuck behind the console generation they were originally released on. It’s always been a pain to have to find the Playstation 2 or 3 when you fancy playing games on that particular console, let alone having a TV that supports the input cables for the PS2. It would be a total game-changer, no pun intended.

PS Now and Xbox Backwards Compatibility has already shown that there is a huge demand for the convenience that backwards compatibility offers, and I feel omitting this from the next console generation will hurt Sony in terms of selling points in the long run. The PS5 is rumoured to be revealed in February, so not long until we find out the full details.

LittleBigPlanet Restitched’s Fatal Flaw

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Image result for LBp restitched

LittleBigPlanet is a franchise that has been dormant ever since the release of the third instalment in 2014, and despite the lukewarm reception of the game, the community surrounding has been relatively alive. This weekend, a group of fans (or development team) announced that they will be creating a LittleBigPlanet fan-game to revive the series – on PC.

As a fan of the franchise since the first game, I am surprised to how much progress the team has made with the development of their project. In the trailer, it appears Trixel Creative have a lot of the basics nailed down – but they’ve made one critical flaw in their development process. What is that flaw? Announcing it at all before release.

Every time a fan project or fan game, whether it be P.T, Mario, Red Dead Redemption or LittleBigPlanet, they all seem to make the same mistake. Announcing that you are developing a fan game or ambitious mod using other companies IP before release gives the rights holder ample time to throw over a quick DMCA – stopping you dead in your tracks.

The ones that actually see the light of day are the ones that announce and release their projects at the same time. Giving enough time for those interested to download it and redistribute it should you be asked to take the original down.

I’m sure Media Molecule, the original developers, are intrigued to see where this project will go – as am I. Fans have always wanted the option to play and create levels on PC – but the reality of the situation is that Sony owns the rights to the LittleBigPlanet IP and it will be no surprise when this project gets shut down. It sucks but they are well within their right to do so. They have to protect their intellectual property or they may weaken their stance on other cases in future.

What’s my suggestion? When the DMCA from Sony inevitably comes through, I recommend Trixel Creative removes any naming or visuals that relate it to LittleBigPlanet and create a spiritual successor to the franchise using original characters. That way, they will be able to keep developing their project without fear of legal repercussions. They clearly have a lot of talent and passion behind them so I would love to see what they eventually do come out with – And who knows, maybe it will be better because of it…