ratchet-and-clank posts (Subscribe to this feed)

Create a Ratchet and Clank comic, win entry to Sony Comic Con events

by Jem Alexander { Jul 3rd 2009 at 9:00PM }

So there's this contest going on at the PlayStation Blog, but you needn't bother. As you can see above, we've already won. If you insist on trying your luck, you can find the comic template at the PlayStation Flickr account. In order to win the prize, which is access to VIP events at Comic Con on July 22 & 23, including hands-on time with Ratchet and Clank: A Crack In Time and other games.

Can't make it to Comic Con? There's still some schwag in it for you, so you may as well give it a go. Except we've already won, as we've said. Still, your entries will need to involve something to do with time and must be sent to rcfcomiccon@gmail.com by midnight, July 10. Include your name, address and let them know whether you'll be in San Diego on July 22.

'Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time' pre-order bonuses vary per retailer

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jul 2nd 2009 at 3:30PM }

The pre-order incentives for Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time are now ready for perusal on the PlayStation Blog. The bonuses reportedly start today at Amazon.com, Best Buy, Game Crazy, GameStop and other participating retailers. Each retailer has its own thing going, so explore before you plunk down the pre-order cash. Check out the four different programs after the break.

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Meet the characters of Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time

by Andrew Yoon { Jun 22nd 2009 at 6:30PM }

Click to embiggen.

Did you know that Ratchet & Clank, like Madden, is an annual franchise -- having only missed the year 2006? The third Ratchet & Clank Future game on PS3 in as many years is coming this fall as A Crack in Time.

A Crack in Time promises to deliver more story than ever before. We'll find out more about Ratchet and the Lombax race thanks to the revelation of Alister Azimuth, another member of what was thought to be an extinct species. We'll finally find out what happened to Clank -- and we'll probably discover how he got that badass staff. See all the major players of the upcoming R&C by browsing our gallery here:

Gallery: Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time (Characters)

Hands-on: Ratchet & Clank: A Crack In Time

by James Ransom-Wiley { Jun 9th 2009 at 6:30PM }

I've always admired Ratchet & Clank from a distance. While none of the games have clicked with me, I do recognize -- and would recommend -- the series as a reputable, go-to option for anyone interested in family-friendly, action titles. (Having spent more time playing Insomniac's Resistance games than its Ratchet & Clanks, I'd still cite the latter as the studio's best work.) My initial impression of Ratchet & Clank: A Crack In Time is that the fifth sequel is on par with its predecessors, if not outdoing them through technical and visual improvements.

Gallery: Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time

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MGS4, Ratchet, others $30 as PS3 'Greatest Hits' starting June 16

by Alexander Sliwinski { May 28th 2009 at 10:03AM }

Old Snake, domestic partners Ratchet & Clank, glam goth Nero and others will be offered up as PS3 "Greatest Hits" for $30 starting June 16. This will be the second round of discounted best-selling software for the console, as the first batch hit at around the same time last year. The latest additions include:

Army of Two
Battlefield Bad Company
Devil May Cry 4
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction

With almost all those titles (maybe) prepping for sequels in the near future, if you haven't checked them out, there's some quality in the offerings.

Rumor: GTTV taping reveals Uncharted 2 beta deets, other E3 tidbits

by Richard Mitchell { May 21st 2009 at 6:15PM }

According to Kotaku, a recent live taping of a GameTrailers TV E3 special revealed a veritable bounty of E3 information. First and foremost, a spokesmen reportedly confirmed that the upcoming Uncharted 2 multiplayer beta will begin on the first day of E3. For all the Nathan Drake fans out there, that would be June 2, so mark your calendars.

The special is also rumored to reveal new details about Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time, specifically that the game will include time travel as well as new hover boots for Ratchet. Throw in some Modern Warfare 2 footage, a new title from Bethesda and news about loads of games including Mass Effect 2, Madden, Need For Speed: Shift, Dante's Inferno, Lost Planet 2 and Aliens vs Predator, and you've got quite a show.

Granted, some of this could easily be revealed prior to the episode's May 28 premier (11:00pm ET/PT), but given the program's penchant for WORLD EXCLUSIVE reveals, it's probably worth checking out.

[Via @geoffkeighley]

Insomniac tweet hints at upcoming Ratchet & Clank LBP pack

by Jem Alexander { May 19th 2009 at 4:05PM }

A tweet sent from the official Insomniac Games twitter account seems to indicate that Media Molecule is currently working on a large Ratchet & Clank pack for LittleBigPlanet. The tweet itself is quite hard to decipher, but it does say that "R&C content" is done and that it is "coming soon hopefully." There's also a mention of more levels, which are coming, and talk of a "big pack, bigger than MGS even," which is "up next for Mm."

Whether this big pack is separate from the Ratchet & Clank content is hard to tell. Either way, it's going to have to be pretty awesome if it intends to be bigger than the Metal Gear Solid pack that was released in December. We're looking forward to hearing clarification on whether this tweet is talking about one piece of DLC or not, not to mention the details of the pack itself. Hopefully we'll hear more soon.

[Thanks, Daniel!]

Insomniac reveals top 10 favorite Ratchet & Clank weapons

by Andrew Yoon { Apr 20th 2009 at 11:30PM }

The Ratchet & Clank series is known for its wacky weapons. But what do the people that created the franchise think about them? What are their favorites?

Well, here you go. Insomniac Games have revealed their top 10 favorite weapons from the entire Ratchet & Clank franchise. What will make number one? You'll just have to watch to find out.

Insomniac's fan-made weapons contest is also drawing to a close. The PlayStation.Blog reveals more information on the finalists, and how you can vote for your top pick. The finalist will be revealed at San Diego Comic-Con later this year.

Sony targets collectors with licensing agreement

by David Hinkle { Apr 7th 2009 at 4:02PM }

Sony is looking to extract some more money from European wallets through a new deal inked with Target Entertainment, who will now be the consumer product licensing agent for all PlayStation software IP. This means you could have a nice 6" tall Kratos watching over your cubicle whenever you go to refill that mug of coffee, or your own cuddly, huge Sackboy to snuggle up with every night while in bed. Really, the possibilities for merchandise are near endless here.

SCEE's licensing and peripherals manager Stephanie Freeman says Sony wants "consumers to have the ability to interact with our brands and characters in ways other than just on screen. We feel Target Entertainment Group has the vibrancy and experience to help us do this successfully." No word on when these products will be making their way to market, but you should be able to stock up on Helghast target dummies and Ratchet and Clank ratchet sets soon.

Design a weapon for Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time

by Jem Alexander { Mar 29th 2009 at 9:00PM }

You've already seen the Ratchet And Clank Future: A Crack In Time GDC announcement and the subsequent teaser trailer. Now, the PlayStation Blog is announcing that the A Crack In Time Weapon Contest is officially open. Between now and April 10 you're required to submit weapon designs for the next Ratchet And Clank game. The best one will be digitized and produced as a usable weapon inside the game.

Not only that, but the winner will receive a life size replica of the weapon and will be transported over to San Diego for this year's Comic Con, where the weapon will be revealed to the world at large. For a list of rules and regulations check out the PlayStation Blog and the official competition website. If you need inspiration, check out the video after the break, in which some Insomniacs chat about their favorite Ratchet and Clank weapons from the past.

[Via PlayStation Blog]

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Fashionably late: Ratchet And Clank: A Crack In Time teaser trailer

by Jem Alexander { Mar 28th 2009 at 7:45PM }

The lombax is out of the bag. Insomniac's next game is Ratchet And Clank Future: A Crack In Time, making 2009 the fourth year of leapfrogging between the Resistance and Ratchet And Clank franchises. The game was announced via press release during GDC, but game assets were nowhere to be found. Thankfully we haven't had to wait long before this teaser trailer, which can be seen after the break, was aired on GT TV.

The trailer doesn't show a lot, though there is a lot of narration about the nature of time involved. We're hoping there's a sufficiently mind-bendy-time-paradoxy storyline in the final game. While most of the visuals in the trailer revolve around various pipes and cogs, we do get a glimpse of a mysterious pocketwatch, as seen above, and an elderly lombax. Are those Ratchet's parents? Who's the flying, growly voiced lombax? We're looking forward to finding out this autumn.

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Ratchet & Clank continue adventures in 'A Crack in Time' [update]

by Andrew Yoon { Mar 26th 2009 at 1:00PM }

As promised, Ratchet and Clank are coming back to PS3 this fall. Continuing the story from where Quest for Booty left off, Ratchet is on a mission to save Clank from the evil Dr. Nefarious. Through the time-traveling adventure, both of our heroes will discover secrets about their origins, their destinies and (presumably) their old, polygon-deprived character models.

No specifics have been revealed on price nor distribution, but A Crack in Time may again release as a downloadable PlayStation Network title at a budget price. (Quest for Booty launched at $15.) We've contacted Insomniac Games for more information, so stay tuned.

Update: The PlayStation.Blog has updated with new details, confirming the A Crack in Time will be a "full Blu-ray release." GT TV will feature the debut trailer this weekend.

Secret Agent Clank confirmed to arrive on PS2 in late May

by Jem Alexander { Mar 16th 2009 at 9:30PM }

Sony has confirmed via the PlayStation Blog that Secret Agent Clank will be sleuthing its way onto the PS2 after all. The port is being handled by Sanzaru Games who you may (but probably won't) know from its Wii and DS game, Ninja Reflex. It looks like the game will stay very faithful to the original PSP version, but with slightly improved graphics (thanks to the "additional power of the PlayStation 2") and an added "lock-strafe camera mode."

You'll be able to get your hands on the PS2 version of Secret Agent Clank on May 26. Alternatively, you could save yourself the wait and pick up the PSP version right now. What do you mean you don't have a PSP yet? We hear there's a bunch of cool stuff coming out in 2009.

Rumor: High Impact Games working on new PSP title

by Andrew Yoon { Feb 17th 2009 at 11:05AM }

High Impact Games, developers of the handheld Ratchet & Clank games, may be working on a brand new PSP game, according to a sound designer's LinkedIn page. Discovered by PlayStation LifeStyle, the resume of Haroon Piracha lists Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters, Secret Agent Clank and "UNANNOUNCED TITLE (PSP)." A next-gen listing is also on the resume.

Considering the developer's history, it would be unsurprising if High Impact was working on a new Ratchet game. However, we're hoping for something new. A different PlayStation franchise we'd love to see back on the handheld: Sly Cooper, perhaps?

Ratchet's Quest for Booty is 2.3 GB in NA, 3.2 GB in Europe

by Alexander Sliwinski { Aug 20th 2008 at 4:00AM }

We were a little startled when Eurogamer revealed Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty was a 3.2 GB download. We knew the game had junk in the trunk, but the last we heard it was around 2.3 GB. With no Blu-ray disc planned for North America, the less time we have to spend waiting for the interminable download from the PSN (plus install) this Thursday, the better.

We contacted Sony and were told that the difference between the European and NA version could be blamed on the 11 languages being included with the former, with two .pkg files containing 5-6 languages each. Not that a file size would have stopped us from getting the $15 game, but why do the Europeans keep getting Blu-ray releases of PSN games while North American consumers learn to macrame waiting to download another hefty PSN title? Come on, Sony. We're North America, we're not used to gaming inequity like Europe. Give us the disc and make them wait. It's just the way things are supposed to be.