GDC09: Resistance 2 patch and DLC detailed, dated for March 26

by Jem Alexander { Mar 24th 2009 at 12:58PM }

Resistance 2's first batch of DLC is coming soon, with details already spilling out of GDC. Insomniac has revealed the lineup in a video with Gamespot, which you can see after the break. The new content is split into two pieces: a patch (v1.50); and paid content from the PSN Store. Both will arrive on Thursday, March 26.

The patch will add a new multiplayer mode -- Meltdown -- as well as a new difficulty setting for co-op play. This will give higher EXP rewards, but will be much more challenging. Finally, the patch will also allow a local co-op player to sign in with his PSN profile, saving his accumulated scores.

As for the paid content, there are a number of maps being released which have been designed to allow more intimate, small scale battles. The Aftermath map pack will cost you $5.99. There are also a number of skins which will be purchasable for $0.99 each. For more details and footage of the maps, check the video after the break.

[Via Just Video Games; Thanks, Alexandra]

Tags: gdc-2009, insomniac-games, resistance, resistance-2

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

CantFlame (PSN MariusElijah) @ Mar 24th 2009 1:06PM

"Finally, the patch will also allow a local co-op player to sign in with his PSN profile,"

Firmware 2.70 confirmed!!

DeathroW @ Mar 24th 2009 1:08PM

Yep, with rumours saying that sony will announce the update later today - i'm pretty sure we will be seeing it soon.

Andrew Yoon @ Mar 24th 2009 1:09PM

The current firmware already allows this feature.

rmjohnson124 @ Mar 24th 2009 1:13PM

and to think, Insomniac has been saying all along that this isn't even possible on the ps3....and when I joined their forum to point out how it was their programming limits rather than the ps3, rather than reply with the truth, they banned my forumn account without any further explanation...

Kodros @ Mar 24th 2009 1:13PM

"Firmware 2.70 confirmed!! "

LBP has been doing it for months.

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Mar 24th 2009 1:20PM

@Kodros both accounts arent actually signed in tho...meaning BOTH cant earn Trophies for only the first profile.....

CrashSpyro123 @ Mar 24th 2009 2:17PM

That feature was added in one of the updates in December or so.

Hyams @ Mar 24th 2009 2:23PM

rmjohnson124:

Actually, they were telling the truth. With the previous PS3 firmware it really *wasn't* possible.

I mean, honestly, you're accusing the guys who managed to get 60 player online battles running smoothly of *poor programming skills*?

FatalChaos @ Mar 24th 2009 1:09PM

Meh, Resistance 2 was a huge let down in comparison to Fall of Man. Honestly how can you mess up a simple thing as capture the flag.

il_duce620 @ Mar 24th 2009 1:31PM

How exactly was CTF messed up? ...always worked fine for me... I just usually play in Skirmish mode, but any time I booted up CTF, it seemed to work alright.

FatalChaos @ Mar 24th 2009 2:51PM

capture the core is nothing like what capture the flag was in resistance fall of man. Fall of man ctf was tactical with ctc on resistance 2 your just a blip on the map that's running for your life, where's the tactics or fun in that?

I didn't mean the game mode doesn't work, they ruined it for me in the sense that it's a rip off of another game i wont mention but happens to be on the box.

jarhead906 @ Mar 24th 2009 3:16PM

I'm of the same opinion as Fatal. Resistance 2 was a huge let down for me in terms of failing to continue a unique universe in gaming. This is not to say that I think R2 is not 'fun' but Fall of Man was the same as playing Half Life or Halo: Combat Evolved for the first time.

It was the atmosphere that had me addicted and wanting more and Insomniac didn't really understand that they DID have something great to begin with.

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Mar 24th 2009 4:11PM

im with you guys. CTF was pretty much all i played on Fall of Man online. it was so much fun and you actually had to be tactical and understand the maps. there were places for snipers or places to run and gun, it just doesn't feel the same in R2. R2 seems more like a completely different game to me instead of a continuation of Fall of Man. i know sequels are supposed to add stuff but they just changed everything and there was nothing wrong with it to begin with. hopefully Resistance 3 plays more like the first one.

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Mar 24th 2009 4:15PM

the co-op in R2 is awesome though. i've played that for hours. certainly the best part of R2. i just don't do much in competitive anymore.

greg (peevmyster) @ Mar 24th 2009 1:10PM

Way to go Insomniac, great developers really know how to keep you comin back for more. This will definately get my purchase. And this is the first game that will allow multiple peoples signed into splitscreen, that is awesome. Hopefully more coop games will give this a look.

SourceJR @ Mar 24th 2009 1:12PM

LBP allows multiple log-ins.

greg (peevmyster) @ Mar 24th 2009 1:13PM

I did not know that. That's cool too, haven't really gotten into that game.

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Mar 24th 2009 2:05PM

Thats not a true Log-in tho as it doesnt save stats or allow you to get trophies.

IF this a TRUE log-in it it will be better than the LBP "sign-in"

Hyams @ Mar 24th 2009 2:26PM

LBP's 'sign in' only logs you into your local PS3 account, not your online PSN account, and that's all the difference.

In LBP, signing in allows you to use all the stickers and stuff you've collected in single player (assuming you collected them on the PS3 you're playing on), as that data is stored on the PS3's HDD.

In Resistance 2, your co-op stats are stored online, on a dedicated server, and not on the HDD, meaning that both players have to be logged into their PSN accounts for it to save their info. This previously wasn't possible on the PS3, but now it is, so Insomniac are patching it in for us.

ChiTownRuler23 @ Mar 24th 2009 1:20PM

i guess i should finish R:FoM today so i can get started on R2.

jarhead906 @ Mar 24th 2009 3:21PM

I recommend that you rent R2 first to see if you want to drop money for it because in all honesty it's almost completely different from R:FoM, for good or bad.

If you do decide to purchase the game, I would also recommend that you find it used because $60 seems to be pushing it even with the deep multiplayer experience.

ChiTownRuler23 @ Mar 24th 2009 3:38PM

i got both R:FoM and R2 for 45 bux, so far i like R:FoM and the trailers i seen for R2 made me drool i know ima like R2 but thanx for the warning

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Mar 24th 2009 4:20PM

jarhead is right. both are great games but they are COMPLETELY different in terms of how a series typically progresses. R1 is an alternate WWII shooter with sci-fi elements while R2 is completely sci-fi and more based around multiplayer.

Dehshizknight @ Mar 24th 2009 4:20PM

I liked them both. Highly recommended, actually.

adolson @ Mar 25th 2009 2:06PM

If you have a PSP, you ought to pick up Retribution, too. It's more like RFOM than R2, which I am happy about.

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Mar 24th 2009 1:22PM

good shit. Altho I still say I would like to see the Marauder walk around....

Alexandra @ Mar 24th 2009 1:23PM

I like just sent that in like a while ago lol

Sam @ Mar 24th 2009 1:24PM

Ok, everyone pay attention!

LBP does allow multiple log-ins, but does NOT allow multiple PSN logins. i.e. It won't track trophies for 2,3,4 players.

arrness @ Mar 24th 2009 1:38PM

this.

you can't have a friend come over who has a PSN account and play LBP on his account with you unless he has an account registered on your PS3

MLM @ Mar 24th 2009 1:39PM

For those stating that LBP allows multiple logins, you couldn't be more wrong.

LBP allows you to use multiple LOCAL accounts, but still only the primary player can log in using his PSN account.

The PS3 just doesn't allow for multiple PSN logins at once. I'm thinking the PS3 will be getting the 2.70 firmware update soon that will allow this.

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Mar 24th 2009 2:42PM

dude the PS3 DOES allow for this already. LBP will be patch for it to save stats on the Server as well. but the PS3 DOES allow for this now and has so since December

MLM @ Mar 24th 2009 3:53PM

where and how?

MLM @ Mar 25th 2009 12:33PM

Chris D.:

I'm pretty sure you're wrong, and the current firmware can't do this. This is from joystiq directly:

"Looks like a PS3 firmware update is happening today or tomorrow, folks. We reported details on the upcoming Resistance 2 patch which includes a number of features, one being multiple PSN log-ins. Many of our readers correctly chimed in, saying this is a feature not possible with the current PS3 firmware.

We got confirmation of a pending PS3 firmware update through our comments section. Insomniac Games' James Stevenson responded to our post clarifying the situation. "Resistance 2 is the first game to fully log-in two PSN accounts. LBP only logs you in locally, and does not register both accounts as online through PSN. This is a big difference, and what is required for split-screen online co-op with other folks."

Here's the smoking gun: "And it was dependent on a Sony update, hence why it wasn't in when the game shipped." If the R2 patch is available on March 26th, then a new PS3 firmware update will be necessary today or tomorrow. Obviously it will allow for multiple PSN sign-ins, but will it feature any other improvements? Stay tuned."

If the current firmware could to this, Sony wouldn't have to release FW 2.70 just to make this happen. So I have no clue what you're referring to.

arrness @ Mar 24th 2009 1:39PM

I don't think I'd be buying the map pack,

I think the next update should be 4-player competitive split-screen

Anil @ Mar 24th 2009 1:54PM

Did they forget about Co-op content? It sounds like the maps are just for competitive mode, no?

James Stevenson @ Mar 24th 2009 2:26PM

This is correct. Resistance 2 is the first game to fully log-in two PSN accounts. LBP only logs you in locally, and does not register both accounts as online through PSN.

This is a big difference, and what is required for split-screen online co-op with other folks.

And it was dependent on a Sony update, hence why it wasn't in when the game shipped.

Thanks,
JS

Hyams @ Mar 24th 2009 2:29PM

Well, thanks for the patch. =) Now I'll finally get around to playing the co-op side of Resistance 2.

Will you guys be announcing anything new at GDC?

Vidikron @ Mar 24th 2009 3:41PM

Patch in true co-op... as in the main campaign. My brother and I loved it in R1 and I truly miss this feature in R2. We completed R1 several times due to that feature alone. I've completed R2 once and really have no drive to play through again without the co-op.

bravo9zero @ Mar 24th 2009 2:36PM

wow thanks for clearing that up JS!

Almozd @ Mar 24th 2009 2:52PM

dang i thought it was new co-op maps would buy that in a second lol but i'll pass don't play competitive much really excited for the patch though

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Mar 24th 2009 4:26PM

don't know about that wall of text above me but i too was hoping it was new co-op maps. that would have been the only thing to get me to play R2 again instead of KZ2 right now.

Darkdrium777 @ Mar 24th 2009 4:15PM

I agree with you. I enjoyed R1 a lot for what the universe was and what it was shaping out to be. Unfortunately I played R2 through once during a rent (Check my trophies if you do not believe me) but I was severely disappointed with the direction the story has taken.
With the co-op mode lacking classes (Medic Soldier and Spec Ops) and being generally a boring "hold the trigger" throughout (I was in beta and played that enough, if they had something better to show than bosses that take ten minutes to kill and requiring us that we kill five of them on a mission all at once, they should have showed it), I was not ready to pay 80$ for the collector edition just for online team deathmatch (The only mode I really enjoyed in the beta) and a chimeran plastic figurine.

That being said, I will try out R:Retribution, although I am afraid that already R2's perverse effects on the universe have taken hold of the plot, even though it still retains the old narrative way that in my opinion made the charm and believability of the whole universe (It was as if it was being recounted from a certain viewpoint in the future, thus telling us that humanity survived, but now how [The interesting part of the game], and nothing of the whole Chimeran mystery). It's too bad Insomniac have done away with the characters of R1 entirely as well, except for Hale, but then they actually did if you know what happens at the end of R2. In a parallel, Killzone and Killzone Liberation's hero was killed in Killzone 2 in a much more, how to say (language barrier striking), uhh better way I guess. Hale's life could have been completely different for the better, instead he was killed after a terribly overused line in cinema was quoted once more.

That's another thing that shocked me in R2, it was the number of cliches and B movie type of dialogue. Another example: nobody counts down for nothing before blowing up detonation charges in real life, especially when other human lives are threatened by enemy weapons as it is made clear in the game. However we are forced to endure a countdown recited by some bad voice actor, leading to a particularly unspectacular explosion.

IMO the game has a very B movie feel like Doom, with bad level design compared to the first once, especially on the chimeran war ships (Which could have been fare more magnificent and majestic than just once this white corridor with bright light, never to be seen again except in crisis with red alarms flashing everywhere and fire sprouting from walls and floors. The ship's bridge seemed like it was placed in a corridor-room-corridor layout, and if memory serves there were only two computer consoles on the bridge, which is very unbelievable if you're into realism. There was another important objective on this ship, placed in an alcove in a corridor, again the same kind of question arises: is this believable? To me it wasn't. As I progressed through the game I encountered more and more of these letdowns in level design. The only praise I can tell is for the completely dark level, which reminds us of the early R1 trailer which had a much more scary look rather than a bleak monochromatic one, and then probably the artillery tower level where you fight the boss. Other than that, I felt very disconnected all along.

It is sad, because I was a good fan of the game, defending it as one of the best of the PS3's offering, until very recently. :( I do not know if it can redeem itself, I hope it does because I still have a longing for it, however if it keeps going into the cliched story and dialogue I will not be able to stand it, much like the movie Doom (The only part relatively well done in that movie is the first person scene).

[Sorry for the long reply]

perestroika @ Mar 24th 2009 3:46PM

i was hoping for some single player expansion or something :(

Kruegmeister @ Mar 24th 2009 3:46PM

Hey they do listen to us...
I've been asking for the Co-Op Multiple PSN Sign in everywhere I can post.
Somebody is listening to the Consumers.

aaronx_x @ Mar 24th 2009 3:51PM

my video wont play :*(

Kruegmeister @ Mar 24th 2009 3:52PM

Quoting MLM @ Mar 24th 2009 1:39PM
For those stating that LBP allows multiple logins, you couldn't be more wrong.
LBP allows you to use multiple LOCAL accounts, but still only the primary player can log in using his PSN account.

Not entirely true.
I play this with my son and daughter.
We can all sign in with our "Local PSN" IDs. True, But...
Everything we collect and every trophy we accumulate caries over to our PSN ID.
If I collect an Item in the Story mode taking me over 75% the next time I enter my Pod, boom there is my Trophy and the Costume I unlocked is still there.
That is all I could really ask for from a game, to keep the Stuff I collect when playing Local or Remote Co-Op.

MLM @ Mar 25th 2009 12:46PM

What I said is still entirely true. You're still only logging in with one account at a time. The reason why the content is still there next time you play yourself is because it's stored in your game save, so the next time you log in with the account that WASN'T logged in before, you will get the appropriate trophy due to the game save showing that you're did the deed.

However, you're still only logging into one account on the PSN network at a time. Some people are claiming here that since December, you could log into the PSN using multiple accounts at the same time, which just isn't true at all.