Sony: No one gains from console exclusivity

October 7th, 2013, 19:52 Posted By: wraggster

Sony has said that console exclusivity is ultimately unproductive for both console makers and developers.

In a surprisingly frank talk at the IndieCade Festival in Los Angeles, Sony Computer Entertainment America’s VP of publisher and developer relations Adam Boyes accepted that that console exclusivity can drive console sales, but claimed that it does not benefit either party in the long-term.

“Right now exclusives are just a way for [console makers] to brag louder,” said Boyes, as Gamasutra reports. “Nobody gains from exclusivity in perpetuity.”

Boyes compared the console makers to car dealerships, where independent developers act as top-end car mechanics capable of refining the machine’s performance and bringing “real innovation” to the platforms. And long-term exclusivity does not fit in with this model in his view.

“Developers now have the option to deliver on a huge number of platforms,” Boyes added. “We want developers to be successful.”

And this drive to be successful, he said, is what leads almost unavoidably to multiplatform publishing.

Sony has been frequently courting independent developers in recent months to bring fresh content to its PlayStation platforms. At IndieCade, the PS4-maker was exhibiting host of indie titles which are making their way to PS3, PS4 and PS Vita, including Aban Hawkins & the 1001 Spikes, Blacklight Retribution and Contrast (pictured).

Furthermore, Develop has teamed up with SCEE to host a series of developer open days in London, the first of which begin today. Follow Develop on Twitter for live updates and look out for our report later this week.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/s...sivity/0184154

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PS4 Launch Day Game Pre-orders Available

October 6th, 2013, 00:36 Posted By: wraggster

Amazon has many of the announced E3 PS4 games available for pre-order including:

• Watch Dogs
• Destiny
• Mad Max
• Killzone Shadow Fall
• Battlefield 4
• PLUS MORE

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Destiny of Spirits global beta starts October 24

October 6th, 2013, 00:24 Posted By: wraggster

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Sony confirms PlayStation 4 Killzone, Camera, second DualShock bundle for UK

October 6th, 2013, 00:21 Posted By: wraggster

ShopTo has begun contacting PS4 pre-order customers offering them the chance to upgrade to the "Mega Bundle".ShopTo is selling the bundle, which includes a PS4, Killzone: Shadow Fall, two DualShock controllers and the new PlayStation Camera, for £449.86, just a few pence cheaper than GAME."ShopTo is pleased to announce that we have started sending out e-mails to the lucky customers who are eligible to swap to the PS4 'Mega Bundle'," reads a statement on theShopTo website. "So keep an eye on your inbox."If you don't receive an e-mail today all is not lost! We're sending in batches and more will become available as swap offers are rejected."UPDATE 2: As Eurogamer revealed yesterday, retailers have begun alerting those who pre-ordered a PlayStation 4 about the new official bundle options that are available to them.First off the bat is GAME. It's offering an upgrade to the PS4 mega bundle, which includes the console, Killzone Shadow Fall, a second DualShock 4 controller and the PlayStation Camera for £449.99 - that's £21 more expensive than an Xbox One.Yesterday Sony UK boss Fergal Gara told Eurogamer he expected retailers to sell the bundle for £10 either side of Microsoft's Xbox One UK price, so GAME's offer comes in a little expensive.Also available is a PS4 with Killzone bundle for £399.99, and a PS4 with Watch Dogs, also for £399.99. The PS4 on its own costs £349 in the UK.We expect other retailers will update their customers in due course. If you receive an email about this, let us know in the comments below, and we'll add the various prices.UPDATE 1: Sony has revealed new detail on its Killzone Shadow Fall PlayStation 4 bundle, which will actually be available in two different flavours.You can get a PlayStation 4 console and physical copy of the game for €439 (roughly £369, final RRP TBA), as well as the PS4/Killzone/Camera/Extra DualShock 4 variant mentioned below, which will cost €499 (roughly £420).Sony told Eurogamer earlier today at EGX 2013 that the bundle would be available for around a tenner either side of Xbox One's basic £429 offering.
ORIGINAL STORY: Sony will release the eye-catching PlayStation 4 bundle leaked on Amazon last month in the UK, Eurogamer can exclusively reveal.In August Amazon France listed a PS4 bundle that includes a number of extra items for the same price as Xbox One in Europe.The bundle costs €499 - the same as Microsoft's European Xbox One price - which translates to around £427. In the UK the Xbox One costs £429.Included in the box is a copy of PS4-exclusive launch title Killzone Shadow Fall, two DualShock 4 controllers and the PlayStation Camera. Internally Sony calls this the "mega bundle".That's compared to Microsoft's offering, which includes FIFA 14 when you pre-order the bundle, Kinect and an Xbox One controller.Bought separately, the bundle's contents would cost £503 when purchased together from Amazon at time of publication (£349 for the PS4 console, £55 for the PlayStation Camera, £54 for a second DualShock 4 and £45 for Killzone: Shadow Fall). That's roughly a £70 saving."I can officially confirm that the answer is yes [Sony will bring the bundle to the UK]," Sony UK boss Fergal Gara told Eurogamer today at the Eurogamer Expo."It'll be similarly benchmarked in euro equivalent. PlayStation 4 is £349 and €399, so it will be the same equivalent."It will be no more than a tenner either way [of the Xbox One £429 UK price] depending on what conversation rate we use on the given day."Sony will announce several new PS4 bundles tomorrow, Eurogamer understands. The company has told UK retailers to alert those who have pre-ordered PS4 that they now have the option to upgrade to one of these."It [the mega bundle] is in limited volume, and therefore it is probably going to go mainly to current pre-order customers, then follow-up volume may well be post-Christmas," Gara added."But there are other bundles that also represent incredibly good value. It's not just about having a good base price. We want to offer value in every way we can."Starting yesterday, our retail partners are contacting their pre-order customers in order, so starting with the first, working up to when they run out of that special bundle, saying, we now have clarity on exactly what PlayStation 4 bundles we have to offer for day one. Would you like option A, B, C or D?"Everybody who has pre-ordered in the expectation they're getting just the PS4, including the DualShock 4 and the headset - the basic configuration. But as we've worked through the details and worked through the options we've come up with some great bundle offers. And it is only fair the first people in the queue get first chance to get that."It's a brilliant thing to do for the gamer. In theory there could be some free on day one, but I think it's unlikely, because the people in that queue are going to say yes please."

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...-bundle-for-uk

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Over 1,000 people made GTA V

October 5th, 2013, 11:33 Posted By: wraggster

Rockstar North has revealed a team of 1,000+ developers worked on Grand Theft Auto V.
In an interview with sister-site Develop, studio president Leslie Benzies confirmed the monster team that worked on what has since become the fastest selling game in UK history.
"It's probably more, much more," said Benzies. “It takes 1,000 people to make a game, that’s a requirement.
“And that’s because of the size of the thing, we are modelling at such a minute detail. Once upon a time the car models have four moving parts. Now there are 15 alone in a car’s retractable roof. The detail is ten, twenty times greater than GTA IV, so it takes ten, twenty times more people."
Benzies also confessed that this now global production process across all of Rockstar's studios has led to teams working on fellow titles.
"We don’t want 1,000 in one place,” he added. “That’s the way we work now – everyone works on GTA, or Red Dead, and so on, then we move on to the next thing,” says Benzies.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/over-...-gta-v/0122135

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Grand Theft Auto V voice actors defend title against game violence critics

October 5th, 2013, 11:31 Posted By: wraggster

The three stars behind GTA V protagonists Franklin, Michael and Trevor have justified the violence in Rockstar’s hugely successful game.
Grand Theft Auto V is an 18-rated game, for good reason. And if that isn’t sufficient to keep it from the hands of kids then fingers should be pointed at parents, not the games industry, according to the voice of Franklin Shawn Fonteno.
"People already have it in their mind that GTA is for kids because it's a game," he told PC Advisor. "Then they hear about the violence and they're instantly going to attack because it's a game.
“Now, if it was a movie it would be a different story and these same people would be out there supporting it. GTA V is like a movie. Once they get the game in their hands, they'll see. It says it big as day – Mature. It's not for the kids to go get. It's for Mature audiences only. If kids get it, then that's on their parents."
Steven Ogg, who voices violent lunatic Trevor, admitted to frustration at what he sees as the injustice of how the game has been treated by some parts of the press.
"The hypocrisy drives me crazy," he said. "It just sets the wrong focus. Why not talk about gun control? Why not talk about parenting? Why not talk of lack of family values? There are so many other things to talk about. Look at what's on TV. There's a lot of intense stuff out there. Video games are just an easy scapegoat.”
Ned Luke, who voices troubled family man Michael, argues that those who are keen to criticise the game should first play it so they can understand it in context.
"Anyone who has any conception at all about the games and hasn't played them should go play the games before they open their mouths," he insisted. "The biggest misconception is that it glamorizes violence. It really doesn't.
“If you look at my character, Michael, he's rich, but he's a miserable man. Even in the commercials you see that. This is a guy who's struggling with his life's decisions.
"If you want to take something out the game, take out of it that here's a guy who loves his family, who's kind of lost. He's trying to hold it together. He's trying to become a good guy, but he can't. He just has all these demons that he's battling. It's the struggle. Take that and look at how he loves his family even though he wants to kill them and that's what it is. Look for the relationships. Look for the humour. Look for the irony and the satire in the game.”

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/grand...ritics/0122139

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Sony details nifty second screen smartphone PS4 app

October 5th, 2013, 11:30 Posted By: wraggster

PS4’s smartphone companion app will offer a host of extra functionality for owners of the console.
As well as being the gateway for ‘second screen’ gameplay options available with certain PS4 titles, it will also allow users to communicate with folk on their PSN Friends list and remotely activate downloads.
“It’s an application that anyone can download for free on iOS and Android devices,” Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida told thePlayStation Blog. “There are a variety of things you can do with it.
“You can connect to your PlayStation profile, and send messages – even voice messages – to friends between your smartphone and PS4. A friend on PS4 can also send out an invitation for a multiplayer game, which you can then check on the App, and you can also purchase PS4 games from PlayStation Store. Your game will immediately start downloading while you’re away.”
So far Knack, Watch Dogs and Battlefield 4 have been confirmed to use second screen functionality in their PS4 versions, although Yoshida added that the platform holder is opening up the app for all developers, including indies.
“Smaller developers can use PlayStation App to connect to PS4 and load an application, like drawing software for example, so that you don’t have to download and install a specific app on your smartphone,” he added. “It’s open to all PS4 developers to use.”

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/sony-...s4-app/0122140

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Grand Theft Auto V becomes second Western game to grab 40/40 from Famitsu

October 4th, 2013, 00:16 Posted By: wraggster

Esteemed Japanese weekly games magazine Famitsu has awarded Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto V an esteemed 40/40 review rating.
GTA V becomes the 22^nd game to receive top marks from the mag, Polygon reports, and only the second one that was developed outside of Japan – the first being Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
"Despite the fact it's popular worldwide, GTA5 never takes the easy way out and continually tries to challenge itself," one reviewer wrote.
"I'm amazed at how it succeeds at this, and the fixes for issues gamers bought up with the last game make this a seemingly flawless package. It's really almost too fun."
Another added: "The overwhelming sense of reality in this city and the people living in it is more complete than the previous game. The graphics are beautiful, of course, but more than that, the setting and story makes you feel that the characters have real outlooks on their lives, which is amazing.
“The fun of switching between three heroes as you play adds a sense of strategy that hasn't been in the series before; each character brings a different atmosphere to the missions, making it almost feel like three experiences in one."

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/grand...amitsu/0122101

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Ready to launch: ‘demand for PS4 is not really a concern,’ says PlayStation’s UK boss

October 3rd, 2013, 23:56 Posted By: wraggster

SCE’s VP and managing director for the UK and Ireland Fergal Gara exudes an easy kind of confidence as we sit down to discuss PS4’s launchplan. UK preorders are strong, stock will be tight but shouldn’t be too scarce and Sony continues to present itself as the people’s platform holder. Here, we quiz UK boss Gara on the PS4 and Xbox One’s launch line-up, discoverability on PS4, stock concerns and how it’ll be positioning PS3 once its successor arrives.In our latest issue Phil Harrison says Xbox One is winning the games race. How do you feel about your software line-up going into launch?I feel incredibly strong about our set of games. I’d pick out a few things that are quite significant – first of all we’re bringing to market the only FPS that is developed only for the next generation in Killzone Shadow Fall. We’re bringing out the first demonstration of a truly socially connected game in Drive Club and we’re also launching with 18 digital titles – roughly half of which are independent titles – on day one or certainly in the weeks around launch.Actually I’d pick out another one which is the most hotly anticipated next gen game at the moment, Watch Dogs, and of course that comes with a significant PlayStation difference both on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. And then if we look down the line I’d pick out Destiny as a title that’s enormously anticipated and again we’ll have exclusive experiences to PlayStation.So while respecting the view of others we feel very confident in our line-up both at launch and beyond. I think we set our stall out very effectively as a broad church, that is, we’re for big publishers and we’re for tiny publishers and everything in between. I think right from day one we’ll be illustrating that – there are many games and experiences coming out that are PEGI 3 and 7 rated ranging from Knack and FIFA to the Playroom experience, which is a great example of what the PlayStation camera and DualShock 4 controller together can do. So yeah, we’re feeling in pretty good shape.

http://www.edge-online.com/news/read...tions-uk-boss/

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How infographic-obsessed indie puzzler Metrico found a home on PlayStation Vita

October 3rd, 2013, 23:55 Posted By: wraggster

Don’t call Metrico a puzzle platformer. “We hate the term,” says Digital Dreams’ lead designer, Geert ‘Gene’ Nellen, through clenched teeth. “There are a lot of puzzle platformers. We try to avoid [the term] – but you’ve said it and now it’s too late.”Metrico is a Vita-exclusive ‘action puzzler’, then. The quiet highlight of Sony’s independent games booth at Gamescom 2013, in Metrico every step must be measured and considered against the environment. How you move affects the shape of the world: bar charts rise and fall based on your movements across the X axis, peaks and troughs form as you climb the Y axis, and the world is reshaped based on your movements.Quickly, the game introduces new rules. Perhaps moving right appears to raise a platform by a single percentage point with each step, but the platform quickly grows too high to reach. So how can the player move right without affecting the statistics?“I feel some puzzle platformers are a bit gimmicky,” says Nellen. “They’re cool, but we have the feeling that Metrico’s mechanics are just a little bit different than [those in] other games. I don’t like us to be put in a box and I hope it stands out that way… and also aesthetically. People associate [data representation] with Excel sheets, PowerPoint presentations and boring stuff, but they can be beautiful, so why not make a game with infographics?”

http://www.edge-online.com/features/...ystation-vita/

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PlayStation 3 firmware update adds previously Plus-exclusive features

October 3rd, 2013, 01:47 Posted By: wraggster

Sony has announced a PlayStation 3 firmware update due to go live this afternoon.
The download will bring the system's software version to 4.50 and include a number of features previously only available to PlayStation Plus subscribers.You can now transfer data from PS3 to PlayStation Vita using either Wi-Fi or an ethernet connection, Sony detailed on theEU PlayStation blog.Trophies can also now be hidden in your privacy settings to choose which awards are visible.And all users will now be able to auto-download purchases made via the web version of the PlayStation Store. Subsequent system software updates can also now be auto-downloaded. Handy!

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...v4-50-detailed

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New EU and AU PlayStation Store sales kick off

October 3rd, 2013, 01:45 Posted By: wraggster

Sony has launched two new PlayStation Store sales offering big savings on PS3 and Vita titles in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
The first sale cuts the price of a number of Lego games, while the second set of discounts, entitled Out Of Control, is a general sale offering money off a variety of PS3 titles.
Here's the full list of offers, which will go live later today alongside the regular weekly PS Store update. It's not yet clear how long the sales will run for, but CVG has reached out to Sony for confirmation. PS Plus members also get a further 10 per cent off all sale prices.
LEGO sale - PS3 titles

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
Was €29.99/£19.99/AU$39.95, now €19.99/£15.99/AU$24.95
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
Was €9.99/£7.99/AU$14.45, now €3.99/£3.19/AU$5.85
LEGO The Lord of the Rings
Was €39.99/£29.99/AU$49.95, now €24.99/£19.99/AU$29.95
LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean
Was €19.99/£15.99/AU$24.95, now €11.99/£9.69/AU$17.95
LEGO sale - Vita titles

LEGO Batman: The Videogame
Was €19.99/£15.99/AU$29.95, now €9.99/£7.99/AU$14.45
LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
Was €24.99/£19.99/AU$32.95, now €19.99/£14.99/AU$24.95
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
Was €24.99/£19.99/AU$32.95, now €19.99/£14.99/AU$24.95
LEGO Legends of Chima Laval's Journey
Was €39.99/£34.99/AU$54.95, now €19.99/£14.99/AU$24.95
LEGO The Lord of the Rings
Was €29.99/£24.99/AU$39.95, now €19.99/£14.99/AU$24.95
LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean
Was €9.99/£7.99/AU$14.45, now €5.99/£4.79/AU$8.85
LEGO sale - DLC

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes - 5 Heroes Pack
Was €1.39/£1.15/AU$2.05, now €0.75/£0.59/AU$1.05
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 - 5 Spell Pack
Was €1.99/£1.59/AU$2.95, now €0.75/£0.59/AU$1.05
LEGO The Lord of the Rings Middle-earth Character Pack 1
Was €1.99/£1.59/AU$2.95, now €0.99/£0.79/AU$1.45
LEGO The Lord of the Rings Middle-earth Character Pack 2
Was €1.99/£1.59/AU$2.95, now €0.99/£0.79/AU$1.45
LEGO The Lord of the Rings Middle-earth Weapons and Magical Items Pack
Was €2.99/£2.39/AU$4.35, now €1.49/£1.19/AU$2.15
Out Of Control sale

Age of Booty
Was €9.99/£7.99/AU$14.45, now €4.99/£3.99/AU$7.35
Altered Beast
Was €4.49/£3.69/AU$6.65, now €2.49/£1.99/AU$3.65
Bionic Commando Rearmed
Was €9.99/£7.99/AU$14.45, now €4.99/£3.99/AU$7.35
Bionic Commando Rearmed 2
Was €14.99/£11.99/AU$21.95, now €5.99/£4.79/AU$8.85
Bionic Commando Rearmed 1 and 2 Bundle
Was €12.99/£9.99/AU$18.45, now €6.49/£5.19/AU$9.55
Bodycount
Was €19.99/£29.99/AU$24.95, now €4.99/£3.99/AU$7.35
Death Track: Resurrection + Anarchy: Rush Hour
Was €14.99/£11.99/AU$21.95, now €7.49/£5.99/AU$11.05
Devil May Cry HD Collection
Was €29.99/£19.99/AU$39.95, now €14.99/£10.99/AU$17.95
Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock
Was €9.99/£7.99/AU$14.45, now €7.99/£6.49/AU$11.75
Earthworm Jim HD
Was €9.99/£7.99/AU$14.95, now €4.99/£3.99/AU$7.35
Eat Them!
Was €7.99/£6.49/AU$11.75, now €2.99/£2.39/AU$4.35
Gotham City Impostors
Was €14.99/£11.99/AU$21.95, now €7.99/£6.49/AU$11.75
Naughty Bear Panic in Paradise
Was €14.99/£11.99/AU$21.95, now €7.99/£6.49/AU$11.75
Saints Row 2
Was €19.99/£15.99/AU$24.95, now €9.99/£7.99/AU$14.45
Saints Row 2 Ultimate Edition
Was €19.99/£15.99/AU$29.95, now €12.99/£9.99/AU$18.45
Saints Row: The Third
Was €29.99/£19.99/AU$39.95, now €14.99/£10.99/AU$17.95
Saints Row: The Third- The Full Package
Was €49.99/£39.99/AU$69.95, now €24.99/£19.99/AU$29.95
Sleeping Dogs Digital Edition
Was €19.99/£15.99/AU$24.95, now €9.99/£7.99/AU$14.45
Street Fighter 2 Alpha 2
Was €9.99/£7.99/AU$14.45, now €4.99/£3.99/AU$7.35
Twisted Metal
Was €24.99/£19.99/AU$36.95, now €14.99/£11.99/AU$22.17
Wolf Of The Battlefield: Commando 3
Was €9.99/£7.99/AU$14.45, now €4.99/£3.99/AU$7.35

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ales-kick-off/

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EU PS Store update: Rain, Battlefield 4 beta, NBA 2K14

October 3rd, 2013, 01:43 Posted By: wraggster

Sony has detailed this week's European PlayStation Store content update.
This weeks highlights include the Battlefield 4 beta, Rain and the Beyond: Two Souls demo. Digital releases include NBA 2K14, F1 2013 and Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness.
PS3 games

• Atelier Meruru Plus - £31.99/€39.99
• Atomic Ninjas (Cross-Buy) - £7.99/€9.99
• Battlefield 4 beta - Free
• Beyond: Two Souls demo - Free
• Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness - £39.99/€49.99
• F1 2013 - £49.99/€59.99 (available from Oct 4)
• F1 2013: Classic Edition - £59.99/€69.99 (available from Oct 4)
• Flashback - £7.99/€9.99
• Girlfight - £6.49/€7.99
• Ms. Germinator Bundle - £7.99/€9.99
• NBA 2K14 - £49.99/€59.99 (available from Oct 4)
• Rain - £9.99/€12.99
• Skydive: Proximity Flight - £15.99/€19.99

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'No question' mobiles have hurt portables, says Yoshida

October 3rd, 2013, 01:42 Posted By: wraggster

The age of smartphones, inexpensive apps and free-to-play models are an undeniable challenge to portable game systems, a key Sony executive has said for the first time.
Shuhei Yoshida, the head of Sony Worldwide Studios, is one of the only high-profile games executives to publicly suggest that smartphone sales cannibalise the portable games business.
"I was asked during the Tokyo Game Show how badly this [mobile] hurts portable gaming consoles, and my answer was - quite. Quite badly. There's no question," Yoshida said in an interview with GamesIndustry International.


Senior games executives often shrug off the influence of mobile games. In July 2011, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said mobiles have not hindered the popularity of portables. PlayStation America boss Jack Tretton, meanwhile, has previously said the premium experience of core games will shield it from the mobile business.
"If I open a movie theatre next door [to a theatre] and start charging 50 cents per ticket, but I'm showing you things I filmed with my camcorder, I don't think it's a threat to the theatre charging $13 per ticket," Tretton claimed.
"It's about people having reasonable expectations. I don't think we're training people to pay $5 for games. The cream always rises to the top."
Yoshida appears to have bucked the trend of executives publicly avoiding discussion on the influence of mobile games. When asked directly how much the mobile sector has challenged sales of Vita, he replied: "That's a really big part of it".
"The price point... We were very excited to be able to launch PS Vita for $250, that was our target pricing - under $300, because you have to buy a memory card. But people already own smartphones, right? They're paying lots of money to own smartphones - it's subsidised but they're paying back through a monthly subscription, two years of paying $80 every month, for example. That's a lot of money they're already spending.
"So for them, that's already committed - and in order for them to play games on a smartphone, incremental investment is almost zero. It's hard to compete with zero price, which is also why the free-to-play model makes sense for casual players."
The Vita's global sales performance is unclear - Sony now hides that specific data from investors. The system launched in December 2011 and, by July the next year, had sold about 2.2 million units.
Yoshida also stressed that mobile games was not the only contributing factor to Vita's disappointing sales performance.
"In terms of the installed base, compare it to 3DS - the 3DS is doing much better," he said.
In August Sony announced an official Vita price cut, one month before it was revealed that Sony was developing a lighter and less expensive model. The PlayStation business has yet to announce when it will ship the new Vita systems across Europe and the US.
"The new PS Vita is slimmer and lighter, easier to hold, has some internal memory from the get-go, so it's a bit more value," said Yoshida.
"But the important thing is to continue to provide great games and game experiences. The games can come not only from PS Vita's dedicated games - Vita and PS4 are designed with each other in mind, to connect to each other.
"If you own a PS4, you can play PS4 games via remote play, and once we start the Gaikai service, you'll be able to play PS3 games on PS Vita. We continue to add our services on PlayStation, and for PS Vita, the enjoyment and the sources of games will expand, not just from PS Vita dedicated games."

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...-says-yoshida/

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GTA Online microtransactions disabled temporarily

October 3rd, 2013, 00:02 Posted By: wraggster

GTA Online's microtransaction features have been disabled as part of Rockstar's effort to tackle widespread server issues.
Connection problems continue to plague the online portion of GTA V as millions of gamers overwhelm the servers since its launch on Tuesday.
While Rockstar's efforts are ongoing, the firm has issued an update to confirm that microtransactions have been disabled temporarily.
"For the time being and until we have been able to get everybody access to GTA Online and things are running smoothly, we have disabled the option of purchasable GTA$ cash packs," confirms Rockstar.
"Players can however keep on earning GTA$ by pulling off Jobs and other profitable gameplay activities rather than purchasing cash packs."
The firm has also said that a networking issue affecting PS3 users has been resolved. "For PlayStation 3 users, a PlayStation Network server issue was detected that was limiting the amount of possible concurrent users," it explains. "This was preventing most players from accessing GTA Online altogether and as of this morning, that problem was resolved."
The developer is also working on issues with players not being able to complete the tutorial mission, and other stability issues. "We are identifying these issues now and are working to restore stability for users as soon as possible," said Rockstar.
The developer said earlier today that it is "working around the clock" to address issues affecting GTA Online, after having warned players before launch that the service would likely suffer the natural teething problems.
Rockstar has listed nine known issues with GTA Online, but it has yet to acknowledge claims from some users that their single player save file has been deleted since going online.
We recommend creating backups of your single-player save files to a USB memory stick before trying to play GTAO.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...d-temporarily/

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Vita, Vita TV and Sony's future

October 2nd, 2013, 22:33 Posted By: wraggster

Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida is, in many ways, the gamer's gaming executive. Enthusiastic and personable, he juggles the responsibility of managing Sony's software output with a willingness to constantly engage with gamers on Twitter, where his rapid, honest responses to questions about PlayStation have probably earned Sony more goodwill and positive headlines than any carefully formulated PR plan could ever hope to. He's also responsible for driving the company's engagement with indie developers and small studios, and often seems to be part of an engaging double-act with Vita and PS4 system architect Mark Cerny - the two faces of Sony's reinvention and resurgence.
Yet Yoshida's ebullience can't disguise the magnitude of the challenges Sony faces. PS4 may be riding high on a wave of goodwill, but gamer affection for PS Vita hasn't translated into sales - and Sony itself, the parent company, remains deeply troubled, so much so that powerful American investors in the firm have called publicly for it to be broken up in order to shed unprofitable divisions.
GamesIndustry International sat down with Yoshida in at Sony Studios Japan's offices in Tokyo in the weeks after the Tokyo Game Show to discuss all these challenges and more. Today, we publish the first half of that interview - covering PlayStation Vita, Vita TV, mobile strategy and the intriguing notion that the diminutive Vita TV might find itself built into future devices from other Sony divisions as well.
Check back tomorrow for the rest of the interview - where we'll tackle PlayStation 4, the competition from Xbox One, indie engagement and, of course, the eternal question: where is The Last Guardian?
Q: How was Tokyo Game Show for you? Did you get a good response?
Shuhei Yoshida: For us, the SCEJ press conference event was the big thing in terms of announcing information about PS4 for the Japanese market, and introducing the new PS Vita and Vita TV. It was a huge thing. TGS is an important event, of course, but in terms of business strategy and new product introductions, that was already done a week before. We wanted many people to come to TGS, so we announced all the things that you could try at TGS, prior to TGS.
"Whether it's portable or it's console, it doesn't matter. If people see the games that they want to play, they'll go and purchase that hardware"

TGS is a consumer-focused show, compared to something like E3 - E3 is trade, so we can do the announcements during the show, but TGS is a consumer show. We make sure that people know what they can expect when they visit TGS.
I'm very happy that so many people visited TGS. The PS4 area was huge - lots of kiosks had to stop distributing the tickets for their game trials. I felt sorry for people who were there but were a bit late in the day and couldn't try the games that they wanted. In terms of reaction, it was very very positive. As for PS Vita TV, that's something we were able to keep close to our chest until the announcement, and it's been getting quite good reactions as well. I'm very happy about the reactions.
Q: PS Vita TV is Asia-only at the moment - you still have no plans for North America or Europe?
Shuhei Yoshida: I don't think we are saying that we have no plans - we have no plans that we can discuss!
Q: What do you see as the difference between the Asian market and the North American or European market that makes PS Vita more sensible for Asia but not for those other markets - at least at the start?
Shuhei Yoshida: Vita TV is a very versatile device. There are so many different things that that small device can do, and there are quite distinct usage and distinct consumer targets that we can pursue. The market situation is very different between Japan and the Western market in terms of whether it's a portable market, whether it's a console market... Especially the situation with Vita in Japan right now is quite healthy. Lots of new titles have been announced and we're launching the new hardware here first. The messaging and the targeting have to be carefully planned - that's why we decided not to go global with one message. We'll tailor our message and focus first on the Japanese market where the Vita is most active.
Q: You mentioned that the portable market and the home market are differently balanced in Japan compared to the West - I've seen figures saying that around 65% of games sold in Japan this year are portable games. Why is that? Is it something that you think will happen in the West as well?
Shuhei Yoshida: There are many ways that can be explained - many factors contribute to it. To me, the biggest thing is what games are available in each market. This may be a bit counter-intuitive, but whether it's portable or it's console, it doesn't matter. If people see the games that they want to play, they'll probably go and purchase that hardware whether it's portable or console. When you look at the most popular titles in Japan now, they're more often found on a portable platform. It's completely different in the US and Europe - the most popular franchise there was just released a few days ago, GTA V, and that's a console title.
"Vita TV is quite a low barrier of entry compared to a console. We're targeting a casual audience that perhaps used to play games back when games were more popular in Japan"

Of course, there's also a difference in the lifestyles. You live in Japan now - I don't know how big a mansion you live in in Tokyo [laughs], but if you want to throw a home party, it's a bit challenging here in Japan, right? People like to get together somewhere outside, and games like Monster Hunter on portable hardware are very convenient for that. There's also the long commute. Everyone here spends hours on trains and portable devices are very popular to play games on.
Because I lived in the USA, I don't know about people in Europe - but American people love large TVs. They love playing big titles on big screens and getting people to their home, throwing parties... It just fits with their lifestyle, I think.
Q: Thinking about that lifestyle side of things - you're thinking about consumers who already own a PS Vita now buying a Vita TV so that they can just continue those experiences when they get home? Do you think you'll also get people who don't own a Vita already using it as a new way into games?
Shuhei Yoshida: In Japan, we've got two distinct consumers in mind - and I believe we're crafting messaging for the launch of Vita TV which caters to two different groups. One is a more casual audience. Because of the price and size of the console, the Vita TV could be a nice entry product for people who want to try Hulu or Tsutaya TV or many other video services that haven't quite caught on in popularity in Japan compared to the western market.
For the launch of PS Vita TV, our hardware teams approached many TV services companies who haven't created services on PS3 or PS Vita as yet, but targeted the launch of Vita TV to make their video services available. The primary usage for those groups, at under $100, is to enjoy movies and TV shows using these services - and on top of that, if you're interested, it can play games as well, games like PS1 emulated games. There are lots of great games like the Final Fantasy series there for around 600 Yen ($6). It's quite a low barrier of entry compared to a console. We're targeting a casual audience that perhaps used to play games back when games were more popular in Japan, around the PS1 days, but have kind of moved on to some other things - but still like to watch movies and so on.
"Talking about cloud gaming, all you need is a screen, the ability to decode and take input from a controller and send it back to the server. All kinds of hardware can do that. There's even interest from other hardware manufacturers"

That's one group. The other group is people who own PS Vita, and when PS4 launches, people who own PS4 can connect Vita TV to services that they're enjoying. What's most exciting to me is that PS Vita TV signifies a new way of thinking for us at SCE - a new way to define the PlayStation platform. Rather than a platform being tied to each individual console hardware, we are trying to shift what "PlayStation" means onto the services side. So, if you already own PS Vita and have purchased maybe 20 digital games, the chances are that maybe 10 of them will work on PS Vita TV and you can just download them without any additional cost. Just by buying the hardware, if you own a PS Vita you can enjoy what you already own - you've already bought into the PlayStation digital ecosystem, and by adding another hardware device you can just expand the usage.
That's pretty exciting, but that's nothing new for other kinds of content on other platforms like iOS and so on. In a sense we're trying to catch up, but on the PlayStation we are so focused on games - we believe that that's something quite unique in this very crowded market.
Q: It feels like a continuation of the network strategy that you started with PS Plus.
Shuhei Yoshida: Absolutely, yes.
Q: I own a PS3, I have PS Plus - I'm bound to buy a Vita sooner or later because I have free Vita games piling up...
Shuhei Yoshida: Already, yes! So that's why we're bundling three free months of PS Plus service with the launch of PS Vita TV. People will see that with the PS Plus service they can get these games, and they can enjoy them on PS Vita TV or on PS Vita itself, if they were to buy another piece of hardware.
Q: You said that Vita TV is a new way of thinking for SCE; is it also something that you want to push out to the rest of Sony? When I look at a tiny box like that, with all the innards of a powerful console, for under $100 - I can't help but think that that should be inside every Bravia TV and Vaio PC next year.
Shuhei Yoshida: What's exciting about PS Vita TV for the future is, of course, that once the cloud gaming services are started this is a very easy, low-entry product that will let you enjoy libraries of hundreds of games without downloading or any storage. SCE is now much closer to other parts of Sony - Kaz Hirai took over Sony, and our headquarters office is now inside the main Sony building.
It's a very strange feeling; you know, I used to work for Sony, a long time ago, around 17 or 18 years ago. I was a Sony employee, for the electronics company. When I joined the launch of PlayStation 1, I quit Sony and became an employee of Sony Computer Entertainment - and moved to the Aoyama area, because SCE was incorporated there. I never imagined that I'd come back to the Sony headquarters building, many years later - but now Kaz' strategy is that gaming is one of the three pillars of Sony's electronics business. Kaz is pushing that with the tagline "One Sony"... It's interesting, so many companies are using "One"... Anyway, with the One Sony strategy, there are lots of interactions among engineers, among product planning people, between Sony Computer Entertainment and the different parts of Sony. That's great, so, to your question of whether we're "pushing"... Rather, they're coming to us! They'd really like to work with us and we'd like to work with them.
"Many big decisions at SCE had to get approval from Sony headquarters. I was very scared, seeing these interactions - some people had no idea how video games work"

There are so many things we could do, but we have limited resources. We have to take one step at a time. Especially talking about cloud gaming, all you need is a screen, the ability to decode video and take input from a controller and send it back to the server. All kinds of hardware can do that - so there's a lot of interest from the Sony side to working with us. There's even interest from other hardware manufacturers, because Gaikai used to be independent before SCE acquired them. They already had relationships and business discussions ongoing with other major hardware manufacturers around the world.
We're trying to figure this out, but even covering the PlayStation products' different hardware is an engineering challenge. It's a matrix of what content to serve from the server, what devices to serve to and what area in the world to cover - because we need servers close to the market, since latency is so important. These three things, it's a puzzle; we have to figure out which order makes most sense. The current strategy is that the first step is to launch in the USA, to launch with the PS3 content first, because there's a great library already, and to target devices like PS4 and PS3 first, along with PS Vita close afterwards. Then we'll expand along all of those three different axis - that will include other product lines.
Q: You mentioned One Sony, Kaz being in charge... When Kaz took over, there was a feeling that this was PlayStation taking over Sony.
Shuhei Yoshida: That's a western way of saying it, maybe. The eastern way of saying it is... Well. I was very very afraid, to be honest, when Kaz was one of the candidates. The electronics business and the video game business are very different - market strategy, business models, it's all very very different. Because I've been a part of the management group of SCE headquarters I'd had a chance to have some interactions with Sony executives at that time. Some people understood. Other people had no idea! And they were in a position to say yes or no to investment - our business plans, investments, the acquisition of Gaikai, many things like that. Many big decisions at SCE had to get approval from Sony headquarters. I was very scared, seeing these interactions - some people had no idea how video games work. If they had the final say, we'd have to spend extra effort to explain and educate them. Kaz being on top is so... Relieving!

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...d-sonys-future

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PS3 auto download feature extended to non PS+ subscribers

October 2nd, 2013, 22:29 Posted By: wraggster

A new PS3 firmware update has extended the ability to enable automatic downloads to non-subscribers of PlayStation Plus.
Previously PS+ members were able to have their consoles automatically download both system updates and software purchases made in the online version of the Sony Entertainment Network website.
Now all PS3 owners are able to do the same once firmware versions 4.50 has been installed.
Users are also able to specify the times of day at which automatic downloads will kick in.
There have also been some changes made to the PS3/Vita data transfer process, allowing exchanges to be made over Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/ps3-a...ribers/0121990

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A4T readies PS4 accessories for launch

October 2nd, 2013, 22:26 Posted By: wraggster

Peripherals firm A4T has secured the rights to create its range of official PS4 accessories.
The firm will launch headsets, storage cases, charging docks, and accessories for the PlayStation Camera and DualShock 4 controllers on November 29th – the launch day of PS4.
The new range will launch under the 4Gamers brand.
“We’re very excited to be there at launch, reinforcing our already substantial offering of PS3 and Vita products,” said A4T co-founder Bill Stirling.
Sony Europe’s peripherals business manager Judy Ward added: “In 2008, A4T and SCEE established their partnership, and throughout this time we have seen many high-quality, innovative 4Gamers branded products.
“We are confident that the success will continue with the launch of A4T’s new PS4 line-up in Q4 this year.”

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/a4t-r...launch/0121993

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GTA Online servers struggling to cope with demand

October 2nd, 2013, 20:48 Posted By: wraggster

As Grand Theft Auto Online went live this morning, players have reported a host of problems with the game.
It seems GTA Online’s servers are struggling to cope with the demand from eager gamers. Some report failed login attempts and game freezing, while other are experiencing progress loss issues.
Rockstar has confirmed that it is looking into a bug that appears to crash the game for some users when trying to enter the first race.
Grand Theft Auto Online went live this morning via 59MB Xbox Live and 39MB PlayStation network download.
Last week, Rockstar confirmed that GTA Online would include microtransactions, but said they won't help players out-rank others, unlike Diablo 3's auction houses.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...-demand/032066

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Grand Theft Auto Online update arrives, brings multiplayer to Los Santos

October 2nd, 2013, 00:50 Posted By: wraggster

If you're already looking for a more worthy Grand Theft Auto 5 adversary than a computer can generate, here's the dirt: you can now play it online. Whether your battleground of choice is PlayStation Network or Xbox Live, only a "small title update" should be required to get online. Of course, that is assuming the game's servers can handle the load. With over 16.5 million copies already in circulation Day 1 connectivity could land somewhere near the Sim City end of the scale, and Rockstar's Social Club backend has already experienced some strain loading up pictures and stats from the single player edition. Assuming everything goes to plan however, players should be creating their avatars, forming online crime syndicates and visiting each other's houses.
The Content Creator tool that will let players design their own heists is one of the features scheduled to launch later this fall, for more details on what is available right away, check out this blog post. Access appears to be open on both PlayStation Network and Xbox Live, although we're already seeing reports of connection issues and "Rockstar cloud servers are not available right now" on both sides.
Update: Rockstar says it's aware of day one connection issues that its "trying to stabilize ASAP." Joystiq points out some have reported save file issues with their single player game after trying to hop online, so you may want to make a backup save, or just wait for the issues to subside before diving in. Check out the official list of known multiplayer issues here.


http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/01/g...line-launched/

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