Joystiq

TGS 08: Resistance 2 infects PSP's Retribution, unlocks new features

Andrew Yoon — 2008-10-09T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, First Person Shooters, TGS

Remember Nintendo's attempts at GBA-GC connectivity? Well, Sony may be a generation late to the party, but at least they're doing it right. For this interesting gaming experiment, you'll need a PSP, a PS3, Resistance 2 and Resistance Retribution. And the results are quite interesting.

Earlier, we noted that you'll be able to use your DualShock controller with Retribution through a new feature called PSP Plus. However, there's even more fun to be had through the game's unique Infection mode. In this new feature, players can connect PSP's Resistance Retribution via USB cable to a PS3 running Resistance 2. From R2, players can go into the menu and activate Infection, which will almost instantly transform the PSP game.

Gallery: Resistance: Retribution

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TGS 08: PSP Plus adds DualShock 3 controller functionality

Andrew Yoon — 2008-10-09T02:55:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP

One of Sony's upcoming PSP games, Resistance Retribution, will utilize a newly developed technology called "PSP Plus." The feature will allow players of Retribution to connect their systems to the PS3, in order to enable use of PS3 wireless controllers. Using the DualShock will enable dual-analog control in the game. In addition, rumble will be supported. This potential use of connectivity was hinted at in a patent filed over a year ago.

Other games may be able to potentially utilize PSP Plus -- however, it is currently a Retribution-only tech. Stay tuned as we reveal the exciting additions PS3's Resistance 2 and PSP's Resistance Retribution will bring (together!).

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Resistance 2 Public Beta apps now accepted

James Ransom-Wiley — 2008-10-02T11:58:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Online

Look, you gotta understand, not everyone gets into a private party. But a public one? Man, you gotta have some bad luck -- or some funky smelling breath -- not to be invited in. Go on, prove that you're still worthy, apply for the Resistance 2 Public Beta. You can drop your answers here (remember, there's always a right answer, even if it doesn't count). Here's what Insomniac has to say:

"We'll notify you via e-mail if you are accepted into the Public Beta. Space is limited. So, if you want to get a chance to try out all the new multiplayer features in Resistance 2, such as the 8-player co-op and up to 60-player competitive multiplayer, apply now! Good luck!"

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

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Joystiq hands-on: Resistance 2

Andrew Yoon — 2008-09-23T16:09:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters

Are we allowed to say that Resistance 2 is "bigger, better and more badass" than the original PS3 launch title? Because that's exactly what it is. In many ways, R2 is incredibly predictable, offering all the improvements one would expect from a highly anticipated sequel. Improved visuals? Check. Better gameplay? Yep. More features? Of course.

While Insomniac has been largely focused on its ambitious 60-player online multiplayer offering, yesterday's demonstration finally let us experience the single-player campaign for the first time. Finally, we could see what the new engine was capable of -- and it's much, much more than what the multiplayer has led us to believe. The new lighting and particle effects are particularly noteworthy. The expanded color palette is a refreshing change from the grays and various shades of brown so prominent in the original. In fact, the vibrant particle effects and bright, sunny presentation reminded us a little bit of Ratchet & Clank ... that is, until a Chimera exploded into bloody chunks.

Gallery: Resistance 2 (9-23-08)

There's an increased emphasis on gore, we were told at the presentation, right after a man is torn in half by an invisible, Predator-like Chimeran enemy. Our single-player experience had enemies exploding into chunks, with organs flying in every direction. This is supposed to happen, we were told, but not quite as frequently as we were able to produce. This ready display of M-rated violence is supposedly a glitch, as every single enemy we killed ended up as little more than a potpourri of body parts. Hopefully, they keep this "glitch," as each kill left us with a satisfied grin on our faces.

Our demo took us through two levels in the single-player campaign. The first was the Iceland level, which takes place immediately after the end of the first game. This serves as a tutorial of sorts, introducing players to the basic controls utilized in the game. However, we should note that it felt like anything but a tutorial, as we were forced to take down a Goliath, which towered above us through the entirety of the level. Along the way, we went through various hallways, lined up with a copious amount of explosive (you guessed it) barrels. As Chimera poured in, we re-learned to take advantage of each weapon's primary and alt-fire. The default controls felt a little loose, but a simple change in the menu helped us tweak the sensitivity to our liking.

The entire introduction was incredibly polished, but that's not unexpected from a game from Insomniac. Everything about this level was rock solid, but no single aspect of the game really stood out as extraordinary. The next level showcased (Orick, CA) was a bit more ambitious, and it left us excited -- but there was no floor-to-jaw contact here either.

The level began with a cinematic said to be rendered using the game engine with post effects. From the looks of things, these post effects are rather substantial because as pretty as the game looks, it looks nowhere near as nice as this sequence. In it, your squad is ambushed by a surprise Chimeran attack, which kills a few of your men, and destroys your vehicles. Guess you're going on foot.

The Orick level took us through a dense fog, a lush forest, and ended up at a camp where the Chimera were building a stronghold. Here, the engine showcased its impressive dynamic water, believable volumetric fog, and stylish diffusive lighting. However, in spite of all this visual trickery, it still lacked the visual "oomph" to make it a showcase title for the PS3. Everything is solid -- but nothing is extraordinary.

It's always clear where players have to go, thanks to the mostly linear level design and an on-screen indicator that shows where the next objective is. There are a few nice set pieces, our favorite being the aforementioned Predator-like sequence. You don't have much time to respond when one of these cloaked enemies lunges at you. Their ability to insta-kill you in one hit certainly makes them terrifying. Being afraid of a small handful of enemies in a quiet, open space is a nice change of pace from the typical approach to other battles in the game.

While single player offered no real surprises, we're glad to report that online co-op is an absolute blast. When the game launches in November, it's clear this will be the mode of choice for players. Online co-op gives teams of eight a chance to go through a separate mini-story that parallels the main single player adventure. Insomniac has crafted a well balanced mode that offers the addictive nature of Call of Duty 4's XP, an emphasis on teamwork vis-a-vis Team Fortress, and an endless flood of enemies a la Serious Sam.

What does that even mean, you ask? Players in co-op mode will select one of three classes at the outset. The classes are rather straightforward: warriors will have the most firepower; medics will be able to heal others; and specialists will be able to drop ammo for others to use. It's the simplicity that makes co-op mode so easy to get into. These three classes perfectly complement each other as players will find a constant need for health, protection and bullets. The number of enemies that appear in co-op is almost absurd. You will be mowing down dozens (maybe hundreds?) of enemies in each sequence, and only proper teamwork will ensure success. The most effective strategy has the warriors out in front, as not only do they have protective shields, but can mow down the most number of enemies. All the support characters should stay back and pay close attention to their HUDs.

If your character doles out health, you'll be able to see health displays on top of every character, keying you to those that need your help the most. If your character distributes ammo, you'll see ammo. Playing as a medic was incredibly fun as we tried to keep an eye on the team, while still trying to kill as many enemies as possible. The medic may not be the strongest character -- but he's far from a wimp. Should the team start separating, as we did at one point, players will start dropping like flies. The Chimera are ruthlessly strong, able to take out enemies in just a few hits. Due to the deadly nature of these crowded and fierce firefights, everyone must cooperate and use their resources wisely.

As an observer, the mode looked absolutely silly. We thought fighting so many enemies would become tiresome very quickly. However, playing the game made us realize how important coordination and teamwork is. The experience system will undoubtedly hook a lot of people, especially because leveling up is so rewarding. During my first match, my medic leveled up from 1 to 2, and I unlocked the ability to use a new item: a healing ring that should be used in the most dire of situations. Each class will have its own experience track, encouraging players to play as different classes.

Taking down a number of super-Ravagers with other games journalists made for quite an entertaining evening, and it was easily the highlight of the event. Too bad our game ended rather abruptly, with a Network crash that kicked us all out. And we were right at the end of the level too! Ah, shucks. Online cooperative mode has the same level of polish we've come to expect out of Insomniac, but cranks up the "fun" level to new heights.

It's clear that Insomniac is offering a lot of content in Resistance 2, and after an evening with the game, we're pretty pumped for its release. While the single-player component plays like a rather unremarkable (but solid) FPS adventure, the online co-op mode has really reinvigorated our interest in the game. With so many different modes, and so much planned online functionality, it seems like Resistance 2 will offer a little something for everyone. As we wait for the game's November release, we can't help but think one thing: we feel sorry for you, SOCOM Confrontation.

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Ted Price: Resistance 2 is 'just about finished'

Jason Dobson — 2008-09-12T10:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Action, First Person Shooters

With Resistance 2 expected to drop into Chimera-occupied Chicago in early November, Ted Price, Insomniac's president and CEO, has come forward to confirm that the game is nearly complete. "The game is just about finished," commented Price in a recent interview with GameSpot, adding that the final three to four week push, dedicated to fine tuning and squashing bugs, is "always the most difficult."

Price also adds that the team has been "loath to cut any corners during development," making simply getting to the finish line with Resistance 2 something of a challenge for the developers. We appreciate the effort, honestly; the last thing we want to worry about when facing down an impossibly huge leviathan is if our game will freeze before we can bring the massive baddie to his equally gargantuan knees.

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Resistance 2 releasing Nov. 4, co-op beta starting early Oct.

Ludwig Kietzmann — 2008-09-02T09:50:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters

Gun-toting xenophobes, rejoice! Sony has confirmed that Resistance 2, much like all games ever, will have its North American release in the alarmingly crowded month of November -- the 4th, to be exact. Insomniac's ambitious first-person shooter will also arrive in the company of a fancy, $79.99 collector's edition, complete with the usual making-of videos, art books and snarling statuettes.

If you're the impatient type who simply can't wait to take some shots ~~with~~ at a digital Chimera, you'll be pleased to note that Sony has a multiplayer and co-operative public beta planned for early October. To gain "guaranteed access," you'll either have to pre-order Resistance 2 at Gamestop, purchase an annual subscription to the PSN's interactive magazine Qore, or simply purchase Qore Episode 3. There's a free option too -- register here -- but it does not guarantee entry to the beta.

Gallery: Resistance 2

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Resistance 2 Collector's Edition to be simply irresistible

Griffin McElroy — 2008-08-31T12:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters

Do you feel confident in saying that you despise the chimera more than anyone else that you know? To be more specific, would you say you hate them twenty dollars more? You can prove your disdain for those yellow-eyed jerks by picking up the collector's edition for Resistance 2, recently unveiled by Amazon.com, which is quickly becoming one of the most comprehensive (if not somewhat unlikely) sources for video game news. Seriously. We're worried.

Included in the bundle (which, for the mathematically challenged, is currently priced at $79.99) is a behind-the-scenes making-of documentary, video commentary from the game's developers, a "Twisted History" chronology video, an exclusive multiplayer character skin, a double-sided art book, and a preview of the heretofore unannounced Gathering Storm novel, which is based on the game. There's also a five and a half inch tall Chimera Hybrid action figure which, due to your unreasonable chimeric hatred, you'll probably just end up microwaving in effigy.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

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PlayStation 3 Greatest Hits Buyer's Guide

Ross Miller — 2008-07-28T15:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Business

Today marks the launch of the PlayStation 3 Greatest Hits collection, with nine games given a (slightly) new jewel case and an attractive $30 price tag.

Warhawk
MotorStorm
Resistance: Fall of Man
Call of Duty 3
Need for Speed Carbon
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Ninja Gaiden Sigma
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas
Assassin's Creed

But which of these games are worth your time and money? Our friends at PS3 Fanboy have done the research for you. Check out their Buyer's Guide to see recommendations, and which online retailers currently have these budget games in stock

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Resistance 2 beta in September for Qore subscribers, others [update]

Ross Miller — 2008-07-24T10:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters, Online

PlayStation 3 owners who subscribe to Sony's "interactive magazine" Qore will be able to participate in Resistance 2's beta this September (via IGN). The details are sketchy at the moment -- we're going to guess you'll have to pay the $25 annual subscription fee and not just $3 for the related episode -- but the thought of 60-player team deathmatch has us frothing at the mouth. No beta details revealed yet for the Qore-less Europe.

Update: Posting on myresistance.net, Insomniac Community Manager James Stevenson has clarified that "you will have many ways to get in" the beta. "The best way which will give you the earliest access to the beta will involve a pre-order program that should be announced soon," Stevenson writes. As for those of you residing outside of North America, don't worry, Insomniac has you covered ... somehow -- worldwide servers will be tested! [Thanks, Jay]

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Joystiq E3 hands-on: Resistance Retribution

James Ransom-Wiley — 2008-07-21T13:48:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PSP, E3

Can Sony Bend do no wrong? Resistance: Retribution was easily the best PSP game I saw in Sony's E3 2008 room, and arguably better than any PS3 game there as well (I didn't play all of them). Retribution is essentially "Syphon Filter PSP, Part 3," and players of that handheld franchise will instantly recognize visual and structural similarities. There are, of course, numerous designs that link this new game to Insomniac's Resistance games, despite the obvious perspective change (Retribution is third-person!).

PSP has a difficult time handling the demands of modern action titles. The lack of a second analog nub cripples most games that dare follow the trajectory of similar console-based efforts. Luckily, Bend has had two previous "trials" to get it right, and this time the gang nailed it. While the developer guiding my tour described the demo as a "before pre-alpha" build, I was amazed by the game's playability. At the core of Retribution's gameplay is what Bend's calling the "aim assist box."

Gallery: Resistance: Retribution

What's not pictured in the screenshot at the top (try this one) is a thinly outlined box that fills a decent portion of the inner screen. Any enemies within this box can be auto-targeted using the face buttons; the topmost enemy can be locked onto with a tap of the Triangle-button, the leftmost targeted by Square, and so forth. While it sounds suspect, the mechanic doesn't make Retribution easier, just easier to play. Other game actions are conveniently mapped to the d-pad, including an intuitive and organized weapon-equipping menu.

"I got a kick out of the familiar faces I encountered, and then obliterated."

The demo took place in the first segment of a Chimeran "conversion center" about midway through the game. Visually, in terms of art direction, Retribution looks more akin to its Syphon Filter predecessors than its PS3 namesake. Nonetheless, the various Chimeran models are easily recognizable, and I certainly got a kick out of the familiar faces I encountered ... and then obliterated (for the record, they were Hybrids and Steelheads). Insomniac president Ted Price insisted that Bend stay consistent with the series' trademark weapons. Resistance: Fall of Man challenged players to master the nuances of the game's eclectic arsenal and Retribution seems dedicated to the same goal. There won't be an entirely new bags of toys (I was packing a Carbine, Bullseye, Auger and LAARK, among other things), though some returning weapons' alternate fires have been tweaked.

As I worked my way deeper into the facility, I marveled at the vast, alien architectures towering around me. A Sony producer explained I was in a miles-deep gorge dug out by the Chimera and built into a sprawling conversion center, powered by a diverted Rhine river (don't you just love alternate history?). I moved in and out of cover, which is also automagic, fighting my way through swarms of enemies, throwing switches, riding floating platforms, venturing deeper into metallic caverns. The demo climaxes with a mid-level boss battle: a giant mech of a thing.

I was nervous at first, still not buying into the control mechanics. How am I gonna get through this one? I worried, imagining a tangled mess of fingers and wrists wrapped around the PSP, struggling for control. But, sure enough, Bend had given me all I needed, and nothing more. I downed that mech, ducking and dodging, firing rockets into its dome. Too easy? No, I died once. But it was no fault of Sony Bend's.

Resistance: Retribution is currently on schedule for a spring 2009 release. The game will also include a multiplayer component.

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Resistance 2 community sneak peek

James Ransom-Wiley — 2008-07-17T21:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Online, E3

Insomniac carved out its fourth "C" behind closed doors at E3 this week: Community. (Can you name the other three?) Bungie has put the pressure on other FPS developers to serve their dedicated player base, and Insomniac hopes to respond by relaunching myresistance.net alongside Resistance 2 this fall.

We were shown some concept slides of the new site design, beginning with a landing page with links to three distinct experiences. To the left was an entryway into the community pages, in the center was "game info," and to the right was "chronicles" (a section of the site that ties the franchise together with content like a timeline system). The landing page will be customizable to some extent. We saw a mock "ticker," which could run along the top of the page displaying various Resistance related feeds (news, developer updates, friends activity, etc.). But what happens when we jump into the community portal?

Step 1 is "your own personal baseball card." Literally, a virtual player card (um, gamercard?), this is your community identifier. Known as the "Combat Badge," the card displays icons for three distinct attributes that ideally represent a player's strengths and achievements. While users can handpick these, the system will actually recommend a set based on a player's play history in Resistance 2. We saw a card that featured icons for prefers multiplayer, grenade tosser and prolific forum poster (just the kinda guy we like to avoid -- good to know).

Delving deeper into the experience, we landed on the player page. Insomniac's design focuses on modules, which can be added, deleted and rearranged on the page to suit players' preferences. Example modules include: friends tracker, personal achievements, uploads, personal snapshot, active streams (who's doing what), and recent communications. The team is currently considering pushing some of this content to widgets that could be featured on external sites or dashboards, but a final decision has yet to be made.

The Resistance 2 community presentation was brief and conceptual. What we saw of the new myresistance.net looked familiar and usable, but nothing to topple bungie.net. The tools are there to support a connected, competitive hardcore base, and the rest of us will simply go on about our playing.

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PSP E3 2008 screenshot roundup

James Ransom-Wiley — 2008-07-16T06:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PSP, E3, Galleries

Liberation? Retribution? There's definitely something up with the jump to handheld third person ... Dive deeper into the mystery in the gallery below, and then check out Super Stardust (um, not in HD), and a pair of colorful sequels posted after the break.

Gallery: Resistance: Retribution

Gallery: Super Stardust Portable

Gallery: Resistance: Retribution

Gallery: Super Stardust Portable

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Third-person 'Resistance: Retribution' coming to PSP in Spring 2009

Kyle Orland — 2008-07-15T15:38:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PSP, First Person Shooters

At their E3 press conference today, Sony announced Resistance: Retribution, a new third-person shooter in the popular first-person Resistance series for the PSP, coming in Spring 2009. The game is being produced by Bend Studio, the people behind Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror. More as we hear it.

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Print ads hint at PS3 greatest hits: Resistance, Motorstorm, Warhawk

Ross Miller — 2008-07-13T17:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3

Two retail print ads have shown what appears to be three PlayStation 3 titles getting the "Greatest Hits" treatment. The trio shouldn't be surprising: Resistance, Motorstorm and Warhawk. A Kmart print ad shows box art with a red banner reading "Greatest Hits," while a Circuit City ad shows the same three games, sans new packaging, for $30. (You can tell it's the most recent ad since Soul Calibur IV is mentioned as coming out this week.) We expect an official announcement at Sony's press conference this week at E3 2008.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

Source - Circuit City ad
Source - Kmart ad

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See Resistance 2's Leviathan boss

Jason Dobson — 2008-07-03T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters

While GamePro is sharing the goods on Resistance 2 in its latest issue, we know that not everyone is a fan of getting their game news off the rack so we thought we'd share the first couple of screens from the magazine's cover story. Posted by the PlayStation Blog, the shots give us a look at Chimera-occupied Chicago as well as the city's resident boss, a massive 300-foot Leviathan. Honestly, we don't know if we're more excited to collect the Trophy for dropping this baddie, or simply watch him rip through downtown, Cloverfield-style.

Gallery: Resistance 2 (7/3/08)

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GamePro August issue sheds Resistance 2 details

Jason Dobson — 2008-07-02T08:05:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters

Let's not mince words, Insomniac's Resistance 2 is sure to be one of Sony's heaviest hitters during E3 later this month. But if you can't wait for what is sure to be minutes devoted to the Trophy-enabled shooter during Sony's pre-show festivities, you might want to take a peek at what GamePro has in store for its latest issue, which features a fold-out cover of the above art, with war-themed propaganda on the back. Nice!

Among the details promised, the mag will offer a look at the game's campaign, co-op, and competitive multiplayer modes, as well as a gaze skyward at a towering 300-foot tall Chimera that besets Chicago as the game's first end-level nasty. For more, we suggest heading to your favorite magazine rack to pick up the latest issue of GamePro, and let your eyeballs soak up the August issue's 10-page cover story on the upcoming FPS.

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New Resistance 2 footage hits YouTube

Randy Nelson — 2008-07-01T13:25:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters, Video

PS3 Fanboy brings word that a new slice of Resistance 2 footage has popped up on YouTube after appearing on (then disappearing from) Eurogamer TV. If you want a fresh look at Sony's big FPS for the fall, watch it while it's hot. There's a good chance this instance of the video will get pulled soon as well.

Update: We have removed the embedded YouTube player as a courtesy to Sony. (It's still up on YouTube though!)

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Insomniac's Dezern and McCabe talk new North Carolina digs

Jason Dobson — 2008-06-09T08:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Features, Interviews, Business

Insomniac's push eastward was one of last week's most intriguing items of interest, despite a lack of details concerning what exactly the Ratchet & Clank developer has in store for its new Raleigh, NC studio. However, while we don't know exactly what the Burbank, California-based developer has up its sleeves, we figured if anyone had the scoop it would be current Insomniac art director Chad Dezern and gameplay guru Shaun McCabe, both of whom will be given reigns over the company's eastern arm once it opens in January.

We recently spoke with both execs about the new studio, and we couldn't help but kick off the interview by asking the one nagging question on our mind: Why North Carolina?

"We wanted to expand Insomniac's capabilities while retaining the small team culture in Burbank. Opening up an office in The Triangle lets us do that while also offering an alternative for talented people who want to stay on the East Coast," Dezern answered. "Plus, Shaun and I are from the South and we missed the distant strumming of the banjo."

While Dezern will serve as the new establishment's studio director, current gameplay lead and five-year vet McCabe will take up a new role as the studio's production director.

Dezern also confessed to us that the expansion itself was "just a matter of timing" following Insomniac's recent releases, which include such games as PS3 launch title Resistance: Fall of Man and last year's Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction. Commented the exec, "Insomniac has shipped a string of successful titles and we feel that we've refined our approach to production to the point where we're ready to do this."

Once it's spun up, the new location will feature conservative staff size of just 25 to 30 developers. However, despite this, Dezern notes that "we'll be working on AAA projects with high production values...I just can't share exactly what that means yet." However, the exec did tell us that the group "will be content focused," and will use "tools and technology developed in Burbank."

Nonetheless, it's always interesting when an independent studio like Insomniac first expands to see how much of its company culture and how many familiar faces make the move, versus the studio making its own footprint in unfamiliar soil. To this Dezern responded, "We're hiring new people for the most part, and we're looking for the most obsessively detail-oriented designers, programmers, artists, and animators we can possibly find." Insomniac plans to begin posting ads for positions at the new office as early as this week.

Given the presence of Epic and other established developers in the area, we have to assume that the talent pool in North Carolina won't be especially shallow. But does Insomniac intend to poach employees from neighboring devs in order to fill its east coast ranks? To this production director Shaun McCabe piped up with a resounding 'No.'

"Insomniac has a policy of not actively recruiting employees from other companies, especially small independent developers," he told us. "While there are clearly a lot of great folks at Epic and the other area studios, we like to keep things open and honest when it comes to recruiting and we'll carry that mindset to our North Carolina studio."

Not to say there won't at least be a friendly rivalry in the air, however, once Insomniac's east coast studio is finally up and running. McCabe adds: "When it comes to the Insomniac softball team, Epic should be very, very afraid."

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Insomniac plans North Carolina studio

Randy Nelson — 2008-06-03T23:05:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Action, Business

Raleigh, NC had better stock up on Ambien. GameDaily reports that Burbank, CA based Insomniac Games - creator of Resistance and Ratchet & Clank - plans to have a North Carolina office open for business by January 2009. Insomniac art director Chad Dezern will head the studio, with gameplay lead Shaun McCabe taking on the role of production director. Both Insomniac veterans will head east once development wraps on Resistance 2.

The studio, situated in the same "Research Triangle" area of Raleigh-Durham as Gears of War developer Epic Games (no peeking, guys!) will be home to roughly 30 new Insomniacs working on current and all-new franchises for PS3. In his interview with GameDaily, Insomniac president Ted Price points out that a team of 30 should be just the right size for creating a big-time PS3 title using the company's refined tools and technology. PS3 fans should be (rightfully) excited by the prospect of Insomniac likely bringing another all-new franchise to the system by way of the new studio, as the Burbank home base continues to develop future Ratchet and Resistance installments.

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See Mirror's Edge in PlayStation Day footage [update]

Justin McElroy — 2008-05-06T13:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters

Update: Videos for Resistance 2 and Killzone 2 have been removed at Sony's request. "This was an internal video to show work in progress and was not ready for distribution." We will post new media when it is available.

If you were furiously pounding F5 to follow along with PS3 Fanboy's live coverage of PlayStation Day 2008, you probably felt a little pang of sadness as our man, Jem Alexander, got to see some new footage from Mirror's Edge, Resistance 2 and Killzone 2 while you had to make do with reading his text second-hand.

~~Now, you can make amends and see the videos directly from the show for yourself.~~ Oh, and you should know that the audio on the Killzone clip seems to become a little crazy at the end, but we're hoping you still get the idea. You can find Resistance Mirror's Edge ~~after the break~~ right here.

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