PlayStation Move Message Board older than one year ago

Activision being selective with motion control game development.

Namco Bandai’s upcoming PlayStation Move shooter will include three full games on one Blu-ray disc. The centerpiece, of course, being Time Crisis: Razing Storm, the newest and most sophisticated game in the Time Crisis shooter series.

Time Crisis: Razing Storm includes a fast-paced “on rails” Arcade mode that enables one player – or two, in same-screen co-op play – to blast hordes of terrorists, soldiers, and sci-fi battle mechs. In the Arcade mode, it’s all about unloading heavy firepower at anything and everything in your way: you aim by pointing the Move, shoot by pulling the trigger, and reload behind a protective riot shield by pressing and holding the Move button with your thumb. The PlayStation Move controls felt precise and responsive. But if you’re a poor marksman, or saddled with a novice co-op partner, fear not: the Arcade mode mercifully includes unlimited continues.

Time Crisis: Razing Storm’s Arcade mode has you mowing down hordes of enemy combatants, and support two-player, same-screen co-op.

Razing Storm’s Arcade mode is fast, frantic fun, but Namco Bandai is also adding a beefy new Story mode to this PS3 version. The Story mode differs in its control scheme, playing more like a full-fledged FPS. You aim with the PlayStation Move and maneuver using the Navigation Controller – holding a DualShock 3 or Sixaxis in your left hand works just fine, as well. By dropping the “on-rails” approach of the Arcade mode, the Story mode opens up more flexible gameplay possibilities: you can take cover by pointing the Move upwards, and cook off a grenade’s fuse to trigger an airburst explosion. The Story mode’s advanced control scheme plays into Razing Storm’s online PSN multiplayer, too, which will support up to eight players in a competitive deathmatch-style setting.

The new Story mode allows you to control your character’s movements with a Navigation Controller or DualShock 3.

Time Crisis: Razing Storm will also ship with two bonus games: the full arcade version of Time Crisis 4, as well as a new arcade lightgun title called DeadStorm Pirates. Both titles are fully compatible with PlayStation Move, and much like Razing Storm’s Arcade mode, look to be ideal for two-player party sessions.

The full arcade version of DeadStorm Pirates (left) and Time Crisis 4 are included as bonus games with Razing Storm.

In addition to the central PlayStation Move and Navigation Controller support, Time Crisis: Razing Storm supports the GunCon 3, the peripheral that shipped with the PS3 version of Time Crisis 4. You’ll also be able to toss your PlayStation Move into the upcoming “Shooting Attachment.”

What do you think of Time Crisis: Razing Storm’s multiple play modes and bonus arcade games? Sound off with any comments or questions, and I’ll do my best to answer them.

Wondering why we didn't see a Kinect version of Guitar Hero or a Move-enabled Call of Duty at E3? COO Thomas Tippl told Gamasutra it's because Activision is hesitant to dive into the motion market, mostly due to the high price point of Move and expected high price of Microsoft's Kinect.
"I think as a publisher, you have to be concerned about how the price drives a lot of the outcome of how big of an install base there's going to be," he said. "The bigger the install base, the more likely that you can make sense out of your investment. So, the lower the price, the better. In this economic environment, it's probably more important than ever." He makes a solid point: a lot of the driving power (not all) behind Nintendo's Wii has been its low price point, which many feel has helped sell the idea of motion-based gaming to the mainstream -- the exact audience both Microsoft and Sony are trying to captivate with their new motion control tech.

Tippl also added that, while this new tech affords interesting new opportunities for developers and third-party publishers, it's not an experience suited for every type of game, yet he feels it could benefit some of Activision's brands. "We have a few franchises where we think this could be an interesting value to improve the experience for the player. Tony Hawk is an example. We have our Rapala Fishing franchise. But it's not going to be something that will be in every game, because I don't think it's one size fits all. It's not going to enhance the experience for every game."

Wondering why we didn't see a Kinect version of Guitar Hero or a Move-enabled Call of Duty at E3? COO Thomas Tippl told Gamasutra it's because Activision is hesitant to dive into the motion market, mostly due to the high price point of Move and expected high price of Microsoft's Kinect.
"I think as a publisher, you have to be concerned about how the price drives a lot of the outcome of how big of an install base there's going to be," he said. "The bigger the install base, the more likely that you can make sense out of your investment. So, the lower the price, the better. In this economic environment, it's probably more important than ever." He makes a solid point: a lot of the driving power (not all) behind Nintendo's Wii has been its low price point, which many feel has helped sell the idea of motion-based gaming to the mainstream -- the exact audience both Microsoft and Sony are trying to captivate with their new motion control tech.

Tippl also added that, while this new tech affords interesting new opportunities for developers and third-party publishers, it's not an experience suited for every type of game, yet he feels it could benefit some of Activision's brands. "We have a few franchises where we think this could be an interesting value to improve the experience for the player. Tony Hawk is an example. We have our Rapala Fishing franchise. But it's not going to be something that will be in every game, because I don't think it's one size fits all. It's not going to enhance the experience for every game."

Nobody puts the Wii in a corner, except Harmonix that is! Speaking to Kotaku, Harmonix's Alex Rigopulos intimated that the company's upcoming Kinect title, Dance Central, might raise the roof on PS3. Should the game shake its groove thing on PS3, it will be doing so with the help of PlayStation Move. The Wii, unfortunately, will have to sit this dance out, as Rigopulos noted that its motion tracking capabilities aren't up to snuff.

Of course, it's not like the Wii is a total wallflower. After all, people have been Just Dance-ing on Nintendo's diminutive console since 2009, with an encore performance expected this October.

#e3 Seeing the tools developers use to create games on the PlayStation Move could be the key to understanding the device's full potential. Move research and development lead Dr. Richard Marks walks us through the tools of the trade. More »

#e3 It may not have gotten the same attention as the original echochrome did at E3 2007, but the sequel looks like one of the more promising games coming to the PlayStation Move, Sony's new motion controller. More »

#e3 Fans of the video game Rez from Tetsuya Mizuguchi—people of discriminating taste—should be ecstatic to learn that a sequel, in spiritual form, is coming. Child of Eden is what Rez would be if controlled by the human body. More »

#ps3 That PlayStation Move gun sure looks...interesting, doesn't it? More »

#e3 Last year, Sony ruined Christmas in North America by delaying the adorable augmented-reality EyePet in order to make it ready for the PlayStation Move. Was it worth the wait? Producer Nicolas Doucet explains how Move changed the game. More »

You can only fit so much into an E3 press conference, and with as many huge titles as we showed at Tuesday’s event, not every game got the full trailer treatment during the show. We’ll of course be talking about all of these games extensively in due time… but while we’re still at E3, why not take a closer look at some trailers you may have missed?

The Sly Collection
Now this is one hell of a deal – All 3 Sly Cooper games, remastered in HD, with Trophies, PlayStation Move mini-games, and 3D support – all on 1 Blu-ray disc. Oh yeah – you requested it.

God of War: Ghost of Sparta
Go back to Kratos’ roots in his second rampage on PSP and discover what shaped the ancient world’s angriest man.

Heroes on the Move
Ratchet, Clank, Jak, Daxter, Sly and Bentley are together at last in this PlayStation Move enabled game.

Hot Shots Tennis: Get a Grip
This one will become available before the month is over. Hot Shots Tennis: Get a Grip was a hit at our E3 Meetup, and winners of doubles matches actually won pre-release copies of the game.

Hope you enjoyed this first look at some more of our first party lineup. Indeed, there are even more titles that we have yet to really talk about. Of course, we’ll be featuring everything on the Blog later this summer.

Sony's pre-E3 press conference may have had an appearance by Kevin Butler, but it didn't offer a glimpse at the far-out "shooting attachment" (a.k.a. gun shell) for its fast-approaching PlayStation Move magic wand motion controller. Sure to be great for lightgun-style games such as the just announced Time Crisis: Razing Storm, the shell snaps onto the Move controller, giving it a trigger and a distinct likeness to the sci-fi blaster wielded by the star of Earthworm Jim.

No pricing info yet, but you can bet we'll be bugging Sony for it when day two of E3 2010 gets underway. We'll update then -- well, as soon as we stop aiming the "guns" at one another and making "pew-pew" sounds, that is.

#screengrab Why, with this official PlayStation Move charger, of course. It'll cost $30. More »

If you don't want to pay for the navigation Controller, you don't have to.

Don't feel like paying the $30 asking price for a PlayStation Move Navigation Controller? There is a cheaper (albeit less comfortable) solution: just use the DualShock controller. At an E3 presentation about the Move, Anton Mikhailov confirmed that the two controllers are interchangeable.

This method of control was actually used at Tokyo Game Show last year, to demonstrate the newly implemented motion controls of Resident Evil 5. While using the DualShock may not be the most attractive way to play, it's certainly nice to know that you have an option to avoid the cost of entry.

If you’ve watched any of our previous E3 press conferences, Kaz Hirai and Jack Tretton are probably pretty familiar figures to you. But this year, we saw some newcomers to the stage, like our “VP of Sharpening Things” (according to Valve’s Gabe Newell) Kevin Butler and KB’s boss, Senior VP Peter Dille. For a busy exec, Peter pays a lot of attention to what readers like you think – that’s him writing those Kevin Butler ad blog posts and responding in the comments. So I grabbed a few minutes of his time to talk about a few things I think you all care about: core gamers and motion control, Move vs the competition, and PlayStation Plus.

And yes, that is a shot Steven Spielberg playing Sports Champions in our booth…

#e3 Sony's line-up for the recently priced and dated PlayStation Move controller, its weapon in the motion control war, is already long. What games are coming to the Move and what PlayStation 3 games are getting Move control updates? More »

Press "Move" to Jason? While the exact motion controls for hailing your wandering son remain unknown, Sony managing producer Petro Piaseckyj confirmed that a PlayStation Move patch for Heavy Rain -- the entire game reworked with Move commands -- will be added at an unspecified date this fall. Piaseckyj could not confirm if the patch would be a free update or a paid add-on; nor did he know if the PlayStation Move control option would be implemented into a future version of the standard retail game or sold separately as, say, the "Move Edition."

"There's definitely a learning curve to the Move," Piaseckyj warned, explaining that two difficulty levels of Move controls would be available in the Heavy Rain update. In practice, when playing the old demo with the new Move controls (the harder setting) at Sony's E3 booth, Heavy Rain is more intuitive than when played with the DualShock 3. There are still some awkward and confusing combinations of button holds and presses, coupled with punishingly specific hand swipes or pushing motions, but overall Move offers a simplified yet more engaging means of untangling the mystery of the Origami Killer.

#e3 The PlayStation Move has its own answer to the Zapper, the PlayStation Move Shooting Accessory. It's going to be perfect for games like Time Crisis on the PlayStation 3. More »

Do you like to Move it, Move it?

We have been blessed with the most dedicated fans in the business and I’d like to take a moment to thank our new members of PlayStation Nation for helping us to achieve nine consecutive months of growth on the PS3 platform. We are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to enhance your entertainment experience on the PS3 and we’re so excited this week to deliver on this promise once again. Today, your PS3 experience already includes Blu-ray games and movies, streamed TV shows and sporting events, and unique original programs, but as we showcased on the E3 stage today, it also delivers cutting edge 3D technology and the most ultra sensory and precise motion gaming solutions available.

There is no denying that Sony is the undisputed leader in 3D technology today and we are the only ones to offer an end to end solution to consumers. With four stereoscopic 3D games available for download already, PlayStation is truly leading the effort to bring theater-like experiences into your living room. There are nearly 36 million PS3 units around the world that are 3D ready today and with demos on the show floor that range from Killzone 3 in 3D to Gran Turismo 5 in 3D, you can get a glimpse of what the future holds as we alter what immersive gameplay means with 3D technology.

We are also experiencing tremendous growth on the PS3 platform and have already started the year with huge releases such as MAG, Heavy Rain, God of War III, MLB 10: The Show, and ModNation Racers. Many would call this a blockbuster year, but for us it represents just the first half of what will surely be an onslaught of brand new experiences with the PlayStation Move controller, in addition to richer and deeper experiences from some of our most favorite characters and franchises like The Sly Collection, Twisted Metal, SOCOM 4, inFAMOUS 2, and LittleBigPlanet 2.

We’ve also been working hard to enhance our digital entertainment offerings, which comes packed today with access to live baseball games from MLB.tv, premium original content from HBO, and 23,000 movies and TV shows from all the major networks and studios. We also unveiled PlayStation Plus, an opt-in and add-on service package designed specifically for PlayStation Network’s most avid power users. PlayStation Plus will provide subscribers with added value, access and convenience to special features like discounts on PlayStation Store content, free and exclusive access to select games, full game trials, and much more – all for $49.99 a year. A tremendous value. In the first month alone, you’re getting $49.99 worth of content for free. Existing features and services you enjoy today and have come to expect from PlayStation Network as part of your daily experience, will remain unchanged and free to access.

We set an incredibly high bar last year and we expect to surpass it this year by reaching our goal of 15 million PS3 units worldwide. When we say ‘It Only Does Everything’ we know we’re also making a promise to you, that we will continue to deliver new experiences and entertainment options that you didn’t even know you wanted today and many years from now.

For those of you who were not able to join us at the Shrine auditorium this morning, you can download the full presentation on the PlayStation Network.

I also invite all of you to virtually attend E3 in PlayStation Home where you can view our full presentation an experience a virtual replica of our PlayStation booth.

Thanks,
Jack Tretton

#e32010 The PlayStation Move controller will release in North America on Sept. 19, in Europe on Sept. 15, and in Japan on Oct. 21. The controller itself will cost $49.99; a bundle with the PlayStation Eye will cost $99.99. More »

During its E3 keynote, Sony revealed that a new Time Crisis is in the works for PS3. Aside from sporting plenty of dudes to shoot in the face, the game will also support Sony's new motion-enabled device, PlayStation Move. Sadly, that's literally all we got on the game. We'll update you as we learn more.

#e32010 At Sony's E3 Press Conference, Guerrilla Games' Herman Hulst revealed that Killzone 3 will arive in February 2011, and will be fully enabled for PlayStation Move at its launch. More »

#clips Sega Rally creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi is probably most loved for his 2001 synaesthetic shooter, Rez. This is Child of Eden, which will be published by Ubisoft. Same guy, same game, just for the PlayStation Move and Kinect. More »

Were you wondering what would make you purchase Microsoft's Kinect? Well, if Ubisoft's Your Shape wasn't enough, Tetsuya Mizuguchi revealed his next game live at today's Ubi presser: Child of Eden. From what we can see, it looks a lot like Rez, albeit with gesture-based controls and much prettier visuals.

No release date was given, but we'll be sure to bug Ubisoft for more details as soon as we can. For now, we've got the official trailer embedded after the break. The trailer also indicates that Child of Eden is coming to PlayStation 3 (as a PlayStation Move game, we suspect).

#clips Sega Rally creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi is probably most loved for his 2001 synaesthetic shooter, Rez. This is Child of Eden. Same guy, same game, just for the PlayStation Move and Kinect. More »

After some quality alone time with Sony's wand, we're onboard with the new controller.

#rumor According to an "industry source" speaking with games site CVG, Sony will later this year release two new PS3 bundles, both including the PlayStation Move motion controller, and one of them packing a monster hard drive. More »

In quite possibly one of the weirdest E3 promotions ever, Sony is teaming up with Subway to give free sandwiches to LA residents that try out the PlayStation Move. On Tuesday, June 15th, from 6-9PM, the first 125 people at each of three Best Buy locations will receive a $5 gift card, good for one $5 footlong. Check out the PlayStation.Blog for more info.