The Sony Conference event, started off light, and on time, with an cavalcade of the history of PlayStation brand through the years; from the PlayStation to the current generation, PlayStation 3. Everything was intermingled with the Dual Shock controller, being focused at some point and other PlayStation item as well. But within the first few seconds after the MC or main presenter, Andrew House began, he announced that Sony is indeed bringing the PlayStation 4, with the release window of Fall of this year. As he continued to speak, he talked about how the developer as well as the consumer is the focal point of the PS4. He additionally wanted it to be known, that the PS4 would be an central hub for all entertainment purposes for next generation.

The specs of the PS4 have definitely come back down to earth, from the cell processors and its raw power to a more easily programmable, but still power X86 CPU and an Advanced GPU, which easily allows 1st & 3rd party developers to get the most out of it. Sony is additionally giving, what all developers wanted, 8GB of unified memory and a supercharged architecture, again, which is catering to the developers, since Sony learned from previous PS3 development, and the grips most developers, that weren’t 1st party had to deal with. And from the out of the gate, a larger internal storage, which will come in handy with what will be explained next.

Sony has completed an massive infrastructure of involving mobile devices and primarily the Vita as the on the go version of the PS4, with turning your PS4 into a server of sorts. With the mention of the Vita, the games from your PS4 with the of Gaikai Cloud computing, which was acquired by Sony last year, is allowing for your catalogue to be on the go with you, mainly with the Vita but with other devices as well. With the Vita on the go, being more integral than before, it was shown by transferring, a new game for the PS4, called Knack, to the Vita as it was played, without missing a beat or any downgrade of graphics to the Vita’s clearly smaller screen. Also, Knack, slightly reminds me of the 360 launch game called Kameo, but that may just be me.

Next, is the new PS4 controller, which is simply called Dual Shock 4, its almost the same design as before, but with a touchpad where the Sony logo and Start & Select buttons were on the Dual 3. This gives the controller, a look of being a bit heavier, but it’s one of those things, people were saying the Dual 3 was too small, and cumbersome. With the touchpad comes, the integrated share button, right on the controller. It looks to be out of the way from accidental sharing, but convenient. Also, the light on the front of the controller, is continuously sending information to an almost Kinect like device, which is a stereo camera, which will track the controller as your playing.

The Share button takes me into the complete social integration as well other steps Sony is taking to further advance the PS4, with 5 words, each explaining the functionality of the PS4. First was Simple. Allowing for developers, be it, big companies or Indies to develop more easily for the PS4, and for the consumer to simply share and gain games for their PS4, more easily than ever before. Second, was Immediate. This was explained in the way of, a second chip, specifically, for background downloads, updates while playing a game either online or offline. Also, allowing for almost immediate, see what I did there, pick up and play from a suspended state of the game, even when its turned off. Third was Social. This is the heavy integration of the Share button.

The PS4 will be partnered with Facebook and Ustream, to allow for a better PSN profile, almost Facebook like, but Sony tailored. Also, with the Ustream and Gaikai, you can stream gameplay or upload screenshots or bits of gameplay directly to Facebook and other social media, and allow for immediate access by your friends on the media site as well as, your PSN friends, all the while retaining your anonymity, if you want. With the ability to stream, you or your friends can sit in on one another, if the person allows it, to watch them play, or even “pass the controls onto them” for help if need be. Also you can leave comments while they’re playing, be it helpful or even trash talk. Fourth was Integrate, allowing for the consumer to continuously, regardless of location or device do almost anything with the PS4. Finally was Personalization. This feature, is like smart shopping where, over time collected data from your purchases, from the PlayStation Store, or actual disk, and give you games and content, already fully downloaded to your PS4, and you’ll have to do is hit the buy button.

Moving back to Gaikai, Dave Perry, mentioned that, over time, the PS4 will have the catalogues of the PS1, 2, and 3, able to play digitally on the PS4, with the use of its technology. Also, with the service, they are adding, the Free to Try ability, giving the consumer, the ability to play actual full games, not a shortened version or a downgraded version, and buy at any point and time during that trial, and all without hassle.

After the beginning, they began to show games, videos, and live demos, from both 1st party and 3rd party. First up was Guerilla Games, with live gameplay of Killzone: Shadow Fall. The game is brighter than previous versions, and looks amazing. Next was Evolution Games, game Drive Club, a team based driving game about challenging the World as a team or Club, with a heavy integration in mobile devices for the challenges. Next, was Sucker Punch, bringing us back to the world of Infamous, the game calling Infamous: Second Son, and I was giddy with joy over this announcement, and I can’t wait. After which, Braid developers, Jonathan Blow, with the next game for the PS4 at launch, with The Witness, this has 25hrs of unique puzzles, and the music amazing with a Celtic feel.

Quantic Dream, creators of amazing Heavy Rain, showcased its pushing of the PS4 with a live demo of rendering facial and eye design and emotions with amazing lighting and textures, and small nuances. Media Molecule, the creators of Little Big Planet, shows full use of the Move with an sculpting and allowing your dreams to be created. This gave way to a recorded live performance of a show featuring “puppeteers” of a musical performance. With that, House mentioned that it had full support from, almost, if not, every major 3rd party developer for the PS4.

Capcom, with Yoshinori Ono, showing a gaming engine code named Panta Rhel, built specifically for the PS4 and a game being developed in conjunction with Panta, called, Deep Down (Working Title), showing beautiful lighting, character models, and amazing action, that seemed to be what real time action will be. Square Enix, showed the tech demo running the Luminous Engine by Hashimoto Yoshihisa, and the other Hashimoto, Shinji saying a new Final Fantasy title is in opening stages of development and more information released at E3. Ubisoft Montreal, showing an live demo of Watch Dogs running on the PS4. And the game looks amazing, and can’t wait till I get my hands on it. Blizzard, with Chris Metzen, announced that Diablo 3 will be coming to both the PS3 & PS4. And finally, the last announcement was from Activision’s Eric Hershberg, bringing Bungie’s new IP Destiny, to the PS4 as well as, the PS3, with exclusive content to the Sony family. All gameplay trailers, demos and videos will be on our site as well.

Sony came out hard hitting in this press conference. Showcasing that they have learned from their previous mistakes in the current generation, and looking forward to showing why Sony’s PlayStation was always a bright star, and not a waning one, as they were saying Sony was. Sony, came out saying, contest us now Microsoft, we will see you on the field of battle come this console launch. And Sony certainly means business, this generation.

“Nothing is True, Everything is Permitted.” The contradictory maxim of the Assassins Order’s creed; I will try to give you everything that, I believe is the truth about the Series in my eyes. But there will be things that contradict what I say. That is what the Assassin’s Creed Series embodies through and through. The series burst onto the gaming scene as one of the few video game franchises to gain renown outside of just video games. It encompasses the area of complete franchise with clothing, comics, books, and eventually a movie. Only a few other franchises have done any of this, those being Halo and Gears of War. The franchise has managed multiple stories bound around the ongoing struggle between the Assassin’s and that free will and thinking for humanity against the Templars and that free will should be subjugated and humanity guided behind a veil.

A quick, recap of all five of the main games in the Assassin’s Creed series. Assassin’s Creed is the first, introducing you to the modern protagonist Desmond Miles, and his ancestor via the Animus, Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad. Altair is disgraced during a mission and busted back down to beginner in the Order, and is tasked with taking down various enemies to humanity. Uncovering the truth leads to both Altair and Desmond further into the conflict of Assassin and Templar. Continuing on, Desmond escaping with the help of Lucy and being united with fellow Assassin’s Rebecca and Shaun. As they dive back into the Animus, you are introduced to another ancestor, hot-head and ladies’ man, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, and his goal of revenge against Rodrigo Borgia, which takes him all over Italy battling the Templars and meeting amazing people who are instrumental to the Order. As Ezio is tempered over his journey of revenge, he gains revenge by stealing the Apple from Rodrigo and leaving him broken, and sparking the Assassin’s on the hunt to prevent the World’s destruction from the warnings of Minerva, in the real World. 

But as Desmond unlocks their extensive memories, he uncovers the world ending doomsday, of a massive solar flare that will wipe out all of humanity on December 21, 2012. And the Assassin’s now race to both prevent the end of the World, with the help of First Civilization, and Abstergo at the same time. As the story continues to unfold with the most recent release, Assassin’s Creed III. Additionally, check out the review of it here Assassin’s Creed III, at  Real Otaku Gamer.

As for the good that comes from the Assassin’s Creed franchise, its the amazingly well done story. Each game, comic, Facebook game, and book, being necessary and well weaved together

for the whole. Each game is fantastically paced, albeit the first Assassin’s Creed was a little slow, but that was to be expected, with an entirely new IP. Each main character, from Altiar to Ezio to Connor to Desmond, each is developed thoroughly, giving you a look into their past, to see how they changed over time to their present day selves. The games follow the stealth
The bad can range from multiple and heavy to miniscule. I’ll start with the gameplay holes, like the stealth in the series is very very not there. It’s not on the level of fellow Ubisoft game, Splinter Cell, where the shadows are your friends, but more so like Tenchu, get seen in the wrong areas, and start looking for an exit strategy. Additionally, the actual fighting can get repetitive and you can easily from game to game, spam the counter button and never be touched, unless, the story says so. The graphics and draw distances are amazing, but the game will slowly but surely, blur into just a set of color schemes, repeated NPCs, and multiple, non-landmark buildings looking the same. Each game in the series, improves on the last but still fails in what it attempts in the first place. Another gripe about the game is, after about the first day or so of playing any AC game. It turns into a repetitive play, get your hands dirty, dry, and repeat. From the fetch all the feathers, to find all the other random collectibles, fun at first, but it will surely drain you in the long run.action genre, but I would more so call it, stalking action, which fits well for what happens in the story and the gameplay mechanics. Stalk your prey from on high; close behind or within the crowd, to blend in. Speaking of gameplay, the combat is rewarding and visceral, each counter and combo, dealing more death to quickly dispatching multiple opponents and fade back into the crowd. Additionally, the voice acting from the top to the bottom is amazing and well done. Even though at some points, they can seem a little stilted.

Assassin’s Creed is a well done franchise of media, which can come at gamers, in many different forms, each with its own distinct personality. Even though the game on the grand scale is amazing, it does fall short on some of the many things it does in each game. Assassin’s Creed as a franchise, is amazing, and surely will continue on for some time, depending on how Assassin’s Creed III will end and the story of Desmond will play out. But from the looks of it, and the way they merchandise, the Assassins and the Templars will forever be locked in a secret war that humanity will rarely ever see, or hear about

It’s touchdown time for Sony in Japan, as the company has launched their new portable hardware the Vita to it’s Japanese market. Reports all over had come in stating that their were huge lines that stretched far and wide with people eager to get their hands on the new portable gaming system. Some gamers here in the states went as far as to import the console and be some of the first to experience Sony’s Playstation Vita. With a big lineup of launch titles, many a Japanese audience and early birds were quite pleased at what Sony delivered.

By now, most gaming websites are giving tons of praise to the Playstation Vita. The system itself, complete with a  5-inch OLED Multi-Touch Touchscreen, two analog thumb sticks, rear and front cameras, a back touchpad, six-axis motion control,  and WiFi ( and also a 3G model); was enough to impress early reviewers of the portable game console. Some issues have been brought up however, with some customers reporting issues with online support for those playing games online (more for people who imported the Vita) which end up freezing completely. There have also been some reports of some models not turning on even after having been completely charged to maximum power. There are minor issues, but still some issues worth noting.

There is still time however for Sony to work out all the kinks and problems that might be popping up with the launch of the first Vita models in Japan, before finally launching Vita here in North America. We’ll have to wait and see what other things Sony can bring to the table with the Playstation Vita. With all the support behind this new hardware, as well as a bunch of games at launch, it’s going to be a very interesting time next year when Vita is released stateside.

Today is a sad day for many gamers out there. GamePro Magazine will be shutting down completely on December 5th. A spokesman from IDG (International Data Group) had this to say to everyone regarding the matter.

“…the ad dollars just weren’t there, and unfortunately layoffs of staff are being implemented. Fans of GamePro online will be able to access the latest games news, reviews, and ‘how-tos’ from the PCWorld editorial team. Visitors to gamepro.com will be redirected to the PCWorld GamePro channel on pcworld.com“

GamePro has been around since 1989, printing out a new issue of their magazine every month with the latest in video game news and reviews of the most recent blockbuster games. It is a shame that such a magazine is wrapping up after having been involved in the industry for so long. All of us within the video game industry wish all of the staff that worked with GamePro Magazine the best in their future endeavors.

Not too long ago, Capcom kicked off Tokyo Game Show with two Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3 reveals, Virgil and Iron Fist. on top of that, UMvC3 has been announced for the PlayStation Vita with cross game features. Here are all the new trailers and vignettes for Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3′s newest characters.

IRON fist

Virgil

There are only a few fighters left to be officially revealed in UMVC3, even though the full list leaked before the announcement of the game, and Capcom at TGS had announced that UMVC3 is also now a PlaystationVita launch title. UMVC3 for Playstation Vita with have cross console features as well as cross game features with Street Figther X Tekken. The specifics of these features were not reveled but the game will still ship on home consoles on the 15th. The only question is will people who bought Jill and Shuma Grutha get the characters for free with a MVC3 save as well as the folks who bought the original game additional costumes? History has shown differently but everyone still holds their breath until Capcom lets the other characters go and full info on the game. Here are the other characters to already revealed to the public by Capcom Enjoy and Please continue to support Real Otaku Gamer and we’ll be sure to bring you more on this UMVC3 as news develops!

FireBrand

Ghost Rider

HawkEye

Strider

Dr. Strange

Nemesis

On this new addition of THE BITT, the boys in the tube, I got a chance to sit down and chat up games with Andrea Rene. Andrea is a online personality and producer in the gaming industry, with a lot of interesting and awesome content on CleverGames. Andrea has had the opportunity to attend various conventions and events like E3 and GDC, and has even interviewed various icons and celebrities within the video game industry. Over the course of the interview, we talked about a whole bunch of cool things about her, the game industry as a whole, and what is cooking up over at CleverGames. Check it out. The whole interview is 3 parts total, be sure to watch and listen in on all three.

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

Thanks Andrea for hanging out and talking games. Check out Andrea Rene over at these sites.

Andrea Rene.com —- http://www.andrearene.com/Site/Home.html

CleverGames — http://www.youtube.com/clevvergames

FACEBOOK FAN PAGE — http://www.facebook.com/andrearene.fanpage

The final phase of the PlayStation Network relaunch after hackers forced the closure of Sony’s online networks on April 19 of this year has been completed. Sony’s “Welcome Back” package is now available on the PlayStation store. Announced as a gesture of goodwill after the furor over possible compromise of PSN  users’ personal  information, the package offers free Sony games and services.

Sackboy welcomes PSN users back to the PS Store

“Today, we’re excited to launch the Welcome Back program to thank you for your loyalty,” said Susan Panico, senior director of PSN on Sony’s official PlayStation blog.

PS3 owners may choose from two of the following titles: Infamous, Super Stardust HD, Dead Nation, LittleBigPlanet, and Wipeout HD+Fury. PSP owners may choose two titles from a choice of the PSP version of LBP, ModNation Racers, Pursuit Force, and Killzone: Liberation.

In addition, Sony is offering 60 free days of its premium PlayStation Plus service to both current subscribers and non-subscribers. Non-subscribers will receive 30 days free upon activation, which does not automatically renew, while current Plus customers will receive 60 days that will be added to their existing subscriptions.

Users of Sony’s Music Unlimited services will receive 30 free days plus any time lost during the outage, and PSN users will also receive 100 free PlayStation Home DLC items.  In areas where video service is available, Sony is offering a selection of “On Us” PSN video rentals, good for this weekend only.

In order to be eligible for the Welcome Back Package, users must have been PSN members prior to April 20, 2011, the day after PSN was taken offline by Sony to investigate the security breach.

One part of Sony’s Welcome Back package was already available prior to PSN’s relaunch: one year of free personal information security monitoring from Debix’s AllClear service. E-mails should have been sent to PSN users on activating this service.

Instructions for obtaining “Welcome Back” packages are available on Sony’s official PlayStation blog.

The PlayStation Store is open for all your shopping needs.

As of midnight (Central daylight time) of last night, the PlayStation Store is fully back online in the United States.

Sony’s digital distribution platform for PS3 and PSP was taken offline on April 19 of this year after hackers breached PlayStation Network security.  Online play was restored in the US on May 14; Japan’s PSN remains down pending the Japanese government’s authorization. However, the PlayStation Store remained offline as Sony worked to improve security in an effort to restore confidence in PSN among consumers. Sony’s losses from the outage of its online services are estimated to be $171 million.

During the PlayStation Store’s downtime, Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment temporarily suspended the “online pass” feature of the hugely popular Mortal Kombat, since the code is activated through the PlayStation Store. This allowed gamers to play MK without the pass during the downtime, since requiring an online pass would have disabled online play for those who bought the game new as well as used while the PS Store was offline.

The PlayStation Store’s relaunch comes with a wide plethora of new downloadable games, demos, DLC, and avatars. All of the updates made to the PlayStation Store at its relaunch are listed here on Sony’s official PlayStation blog.

At this time, Sony’s “Welcome Back” Package, which includes a choice of free PS3 and PSP games and 30 free days of PlayStation Plus for both current subscribers and non-subscribers, has not been made available. However, emails allowing PSN users to sign up for one free year of Debix’s AllClear identity protection service offered by Sony as part of its “Welcome Back” package  have already been sent to PlayStation Network customers.

When the PlayStation Network went done in the middle of last month the fallout and subsequent backlash from mostly angered Sony fans, online bloggers, and fans of other consoles where on the attack. Government action was taken across the globe and all of the world wanted to know if they where safe if they used PlayStation Network with their personal payment information, next when PSN would return and what would they get in return for their 3 week wait? Yesterday, PSN was restored with Online Play, Trophy Support and the ability to access PlayStation home in the US and Canadian Territories. Patrick Seybold, PS Blog’s Sr. Director, Corporate Communications & Social Media had a press release today and it stated the following,

“”Now that some PlayStation Network and Qriocity services have been restored and you’re once again enjoying online gaming and entertainment, we’re happy to provide details about the “Welcome Back” appreciation program for customers in North America. We developed the program as an expression of our gratitude for your patience, support and continued loyalty during the service outage. From all of us at PlayStation, thank you and welcome back!

This package will be made available to all existing registered PlayStation Network and Qriocity users in North America (US and Canada), and will be made available shortly after we have fully restored the service. More specific details about these offers and eligibility requirements will be posted as the services go live.

As a reminder, you will be able to access the above content shortly after services are fully restored. We are doing everything we can to make that happen as soon as possible. Please visit the following sites for more information about the Welcome Back program in Europe and Latin America. “”

They made good on their promise and now this year, the stage is set for Sony to make a huge comeback at E3. With all of the rumors and speculation about what Nintendo and Microsoft have down the pipeline, Sony still looks to have a good 2011-2012 year. They have Infamous 2 releasing on the same day as the start of E3, the rumored God of War IV, Twisted Metal, Uncharted 3, Starhawk, The Agent, the Sony Android tablets, Xperia Play, PSP, and NGP, along with 10 unannounced exclusives, and third party support , it will be a real hot summer.

I don’t love PvP (or Player vs. Player).  I am, in fact, a reluctant PvP player, only doing such things as killing other players when I am forced to or they do something so phenomenally stupid that I can’t in good conscience allow them to live.  I do, however, enjoy watching PvP.  There’s something inherently amusing about watching someone dismember, blow up, shoot, or otherwise slaughter another toon on TV, and that’s where Fat Princess comes in.

Like most females associating with a gamer male or two, I’ve watched more than a little PvP.  I’ve seen deaths at the behest of Call of Duty, Halo, Gears of War, and most fighting games available on the big three platforms.  I’ve watched PvP at the arcade (back when there were arcades around locally).  In all of those years, never have I seen something so hysterically funny to watch as Fat Princess.

The game’s graphics are unashamedly cartoon like. That’s part of what makes the whole thing so much fun.  In addition to that, the narrator’s voice is absolutely amazing.  Add in a soundtrack that encourages the frenetic pace, and this game is simply full of win!

The object of the game, simply put, is to kidnap the other team’s princess while feeding yours incredible amounts of cake, thus rendering her too fat to carry.  I’d feel kinda bad about feeding her, but when she’s small she’s so cute “More cakie please!”  in a sweet little voice, and as she gets large she’s thundering out “MORE CAKE!”  Obviously she doesn’t have a problem with being fed into obesity, and in fact, one might get the idea that she enjoys being kidnapped, much like Galahad in the Castle Anthrax during Monty Python and the Holy Grail.  (But I don’t want to be rescued!)

For additional fun, Fat Princess:  A Fistful of Cake is available on the PSP.  It does have a campaign mode, which explains how the legend of the Fat Princess came to be.  I hope you don’t miss out on this one, it’s inexpensive and all I did watching Andrew play it was laugh hysterically.   Just when I thought it couldn’t get any funnier, the xpac came out, and I was watching giants squash people and pirates and call down cannonball barrages.  I am assured that blood’s okay if it’s just cartoon blood….

PlayStation Network is back up, and soon PlayStation Store will be. Once that happens, fire up the oven, do a little baking, and try out Fat Princess.  As soon as you can.