Joystiq

Uncharted: Fight for Fortune card game announced for Vita, hits PSN Dec. 4

Sinan Kubba — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:30:00 EST

Sony Bend officially announced Uncharted: Fight for Fortune today, a turn-based card game coming to Vita via PSN on December 4, priced at $4.99. Fight for Fortune features card-based combat using heroes, villains, artifacts, and mercenaries taken from the action-adventure series. As the above video shows, players can take on others in asynchronous multiplayer, meaning turns don't have to be played while the other player's online. Fight for Fortune will also interact with fellow Vita series entry Golden Abyss, letting players use treasures earned in that game to aid them in Fight for Fortune's battles.

Fight for Fortune was outed earlier this month on Australian and Brazilian ratings boards, with One Loop Games noted as the developer. Sony Bend confirmed today One Loop is involved with the game.

Uncharted: Fight for Fortune card game announced for Vita, hits PSN Dec. 4 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Uncharted Vita postmortem details Sony Bend's struggles with writing a female lead

Mike Suszek — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST

Writer and Director John Garvin of Sony Bend recently discussed the development of Uncharted: Golden Abyss in a postmortem on Gamasutra. One of the topics covered by Garvin was the distaste focus testers had for the game's lead female character, Marisa Chase.

"The problem, we discovered, was the writing. In the script, Chase's character was a bit of a smart ass and a little sarcastic," Garvin wrote. The focus group determined that Chase was a "wimp," and that her character upheld a number of gender stereotypes.

"For gameplay reasons, we constantly put Chase into situations where Drake needed to take action. Call it lazy if you want, but we ended up with a few 'Princess Peach' scenarios," Garvin said. "It seemed that poor Chase was constantly being choked, shot at, knocked out, dragged around and kidnapped. We fixed that, as well as we could, by changing the scenarios to make Chase less of a victim."

In the second round of focus testing, Garvin was prompted to consider another change to the character. "What's that old adage? If a man acts forceful he's 'take-charge and aggressive, a real leader' but if a woman acts that way, she's being 'pushy and a bitch' -- an unfair gender stereotype, but one we had to deal with," he wrote. "How? By making her less aggressive and critical."

The rest of the postmortem on Uncharted: Golden Abyss is an interesting read, and includes notes about the game's environments and how further focus testing impacted its story and ending.

Uncharted Vita postmortem details Sony Bend's struggles with writing a female lead originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 10 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Uncharted is a 'pillar franchise,' nothing to say about its future just yet

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EST

"This show is about Naughty Dog and The Last of Us. So we're not talking about Uncharted for the future," Sony VP of product development and worldwide studios Scott Rohde told Joystiq in an interview this week. That doesn't mean there aren't things happening with the Uncharted franchise elsewhere at Sony, of course. "It's a Sony IP, but it's just not something we're talking about. Of course it's one of our pillar franchises," Rohde said.

The latest entry in the Uncharted franchise was the Vita's Uncharted: Golden Abyss - the series' first title not developed by Naughty Dog. Its production was instead handled by Sony's internal Bend studio, with Naughty Dog overseeing development. Rohde added that "it'd be ridiculous to say that we're not always thinking about [Uncharted], but we're just not talking about it right now."

Uncharted is a 'pillar franchise,' nothing to say about its future just yet originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Resistance: Burning Skies has a disease for your Vita

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST

When Resistance: Burning Skies arrives later this year on the PlayStation Vita, it brings with it a virulent infection. Moreover, said infection passes easily via the Vita's Near functionality, as explained in a recent interview featured on the US PlayStation Blog.

Continue reading Resistance: Burning Skies has a disease for your Vita

Resistance: Burning Skies has a disease for your Vita originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Resistance: Burning Skies multiplayer page revealed, removed

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EST

What's that, PlayStation Vita owner? You want to know more about multiplayer in Resistance: Burning Skies? Unfortunately, it seems that Sony isn't ready to share that info quite yet. After updating its game page with scant details on the game mode - Wi-fi-based "8-player online multiplayer across six unique maps and three modes" - Sony later removed said info.

Presumably the details were meant for a coordinated marketing push ahead of the game's May 29 launch date, but, uh, well, here they are! We've reached out to Sony for more info, but don't expect to hear much until the stars align (and Sony is good and ready to say its piece).

[Thanks, Knives Chau!]

Resistance: Burning Skies multiplayer page revealed, removed originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Uncharted: Golden Abyss TV spot runs for its life

David Hinkle — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 02:00:00 EST

We don't think Uncharted: Golden Abyss is quite this immersive, but you get the idea.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss TV spot runs for its life originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Uncharted Golden Abyss review: Grave rubber

Ludwig Kietzmann — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST

Presenting Uncharted: Golden Abyss as one of Nathan Drake's earlier adventures is a masterstroke. For one thing, it explains why people are still hiring him to hunt down relics. At this point, they just haven't heard of the handsome, half-tucked grave robber who breaks everything he climbs across, shoots everyone he sees, and goes through an awful lot of trouble for treasure that's invariably cursed, deadly or not really treasure at all.

But we're not interested in the chest full of MacGuffins at the end. We're in it for the hero's hazardous journey over crumbling handholds and vertiginous chasms. We like to see an ancient civilization lurch back into life with the aid of an unbelievably convoluted, one-use mechanism. And we want to spot that spark between the characters who get themselves into one mess after another, and yet another. If that's what Uncharted is to you, then you'll find very little has been lost in the transition to PlayStation Vita.

Continue reading Uncharted Golden Abyss review: Grave rubber

Uncharted Golden Abyss review: Grave rubber originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Uncharted: Golden Abyss trailer introduces the dangling participants

Ludwig Kietzmann — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:20:00 EST

Sony Bend's portable Uncharted adventure exhibits all the elements fans have come to expect from the franchise: vibrant graphics, treacherous environments, and cocky fortune hunters. Nice Meryl haircut, lady.

Continue reading Uncharted: Golden Abyss trailer introduces the dangling participants

Uncharted: Golden Abyss trailer introduces the dangling participants originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

There's an Uncharted: Golden Abyss video at the end of this short post

JC Fletcher — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 23:14:00 EST

The Uncharted series wowed us on two fronts this evening. After the break, courtesy of a kind stream-capturing YouTuber, check out the tinier of the two prongs, Uncharted: Golden Abyss for PlayStation Vita.

Continue reading There's an Uncharted: Golden Abyss video at the end of this short post

There's an Uncharted: Golden Abyss video at the end of this short post originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 23:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

NGP backwards compatible with all PSP games (on PSN); smoothing and dual analog support included

Christopher Grant — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:35:00 EST

The PlayStation Portable's lack of a second analog stick has always been a problem for shooters. Sony Bend's Resistance: Retribution had a clever - albeit complicated - solution for this shortcoming: let players tether a DualShock 3 controller to the handheld. So when Sony showed off the game running in emulation on an NGP last month, with full use of that right thumb stick, we assumed there was some benefit specific to Retribution.

As it turns out, all PSP titles¹ will be able to take advantage of that second analog stick, as well as other NGP enhancements. "All PSP titles that are currently available on the PSN can be played on the NGP," VP of product development at SCEA Scott Rohde told a crowd of game journalists. "And they'll take full advantage of the graphics smoothing capabilities of the system and the controls will be remapped to take advantage of the dual analog sticks."

While I can't say much about the graphics smoothing - it definitely looked like it was being zoomed up 400% - I can say that the second analog stick worked wonderfully in Retribution. The game originally mapped the right stick to the four face buttons. It's unclear how the tech will work with other games, and the representative we spoke could only say that the technology we were using was early. In fact, the sole NGP prototype that had the emulation software belonged to SCE's Shuhei Yoshida, who was taking it with him back to Japan that night.

We're hoping to learn more about how PSP games take advantage of NGP hardware at E3. Any specific questions or concerns, let us know in the comments.

¹: Of course, the list of PSP games that never appeared on PlayStation Network includes several high-profile titles, like Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, and Lumines.

NGP backwards compatible with all PSP games (on PSN); smoothing and dual analog support included originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Uncharted: Golden Abyss preview: Drake me out to the small game

Christopher Grant — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:43:00 EST

There's no better showcase of what the NGP is all about than Uncharted: Golden Abyss. With the NGP, Sony has created something of an uber-machine, so tricked out with bells and whistles, it would be an immense feat of creativity to simply use them all in one game; now, using them with purpose, that's a whole other thing.

Before kicking off a demonstration of Golden Abyss in Los Angeles last month, Sony Bend creative director John Garvin wanted to make one thing clear. "Golden Abyss is a brand new Uncharted game," he said. "It's not a port." In case the lack of Naughty Dog involvement makes you nervous, Garvin says, "We've been collaborating and working closely with Amy Hennig, the creative director at Naughty Dog, to make sure that our characters and story are authentic."

As far as characters go, we've got series' star Nathan Drake making a return, the role being reprised by omnipresent voiceover artist Nolan North. To capture that performance, Sony Bend is using the same mo-cap and sound studios that Naughty Dog uses for its Uncharted titles and, in the short cinematic I saw, it showed.

If there was one area that made it clear that the main Uncharted series still belongs to Naughty Dog, it may be the lack of a number on that title. "It's a standalone story that takes place before Drake's Fortune," Garvin explained. "It's not a prequel, but a standalone story." In other words, it's self-contained.

Gallery: Uncharted: Golden Abyss (NGP)

Continue reading Uncharted: Golden Abyss preview: Drake me out to the small game

Uncharted: Golden Abyss preview: Drake me out to the small game originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Uncharted NGP takes place before Drake's Fortune, more details coming June 2

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 23 May 2011 18:05:00 EST

Though Sony Bend is tasked with developing Uncharted for Sony's next handheld system, the franchise creators at Naughty Dog aren't above answering a few questions about Nathan Drake's NGP outing. In an interview with French site GameBlog.fr, Naughty Dog co-president Christophe Balestra placed the new game's setting between the first and second Uncharted games, but was later corrected by Sony. "It is an all-new story set before Uncharted: Drake's Fortune," Sony told us.

The correction is notable as Sony won't actually confirm any of the other details revealed by Balestra, telling us, "New information on Uncharted NGP (working title) will be released on June 2." The other details, however, are similarly intriguing: potential interaction between the NGP title and Uncharted 3 on PlayStation 3, and a focus on exploration over gunfights.

Let's hope we learn much more on June 2.

[Thanks, Elena]

Uncharted NGP takes place before Drake's Fortune, more details coming June 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 May 2011 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Portable Uncharted developed by Sony Bend, has 'camera mode'

Justin McElroy — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:12:00 EST

You know how it is when new tech is announced. You let the magic of the moment get to you, the whimsy, and suddenly you're thinking all kinds of crazy things like, "Maybe Naughty Dog is developing the Uncharted NGP game they just showed off!" Sure, we realize in the light of day -- as we sweep up the glitter and take down the disco ball -- that we were just a little too hopeful last night. But luckily, the reality isn't too bad at all: Game Informer reports PortaDrake (working title [ours]) is being developed by Sony Bend (Logan's Shadow, Resistance: Retribution) with oversight from Naughty Dog.

Across the web, hands-on impressions of the game seem to be positive, with the "gimmicky" features (swipe the device's back to climb a rope?) either working better than expected or being ignored without incident. Also interesting: PortaDrake features a "camera mode" that lets you use NGP's motion-sensing tech to look around your environment and take photos. No word on connectivity with Uncharted 3 yet, but no one's ruling it out.

Continue reading Portable Uncharted developed by Sony Bend, has 'camera mode'

Portable Uncharted developed by Sony Bend, has 'camera mode' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Resistance Retribution online tournament starts today

Jem Alexander — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST

There's $25,000 worth of Sony merchandise up for grabs in the new Global Gaming Resistance Retribution tournament, which begins today. With the game only just appearing on shelves, it's a level playing playing field for all involved. Simply head on over to the GGL website and register for either the 2v2 or 4v4 ladders. The top players as of May 10 will face off again in the bracket playoffs between May 13 and May 31.

The top players overall will win various Sony goodies, including "SonyStyle gear from PlayStation, PSP system prize packs, and Resistance: Retribution inspired leather bomber jackets." So get practicing and don't forget to register. Good luck!

[Via the PlayStation Blog]

Resistance Retribution online tournament starts today originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Joystiq Review: Resistance: Retribution (single-player)

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:01:00 EST

If only Resistance: Retribution hadn't been on the Playstation Portable. A game with such high production values that's a direct iteration of one of the PS3's flagship franchises could have been a downloadable episode for Resistance 2 -- and about five hours shorter. That's not even getting into the pacing issues, which are exacerbated by a number of dramatic difficulty spikes throughout.

Gallery: Resistance: Retribution

Continue reading Joystiq Review: Resistance: Retribution (single-player)

Joystiq Review: Resistance: Retribution (single-player) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Joystiq hands-on: Resistance: Retribution multiplayer

Randy Nelson — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:57:00 EST

click to enlarge (c'mon -- you can't resist)

Just before news broke of PSP's impressive new wave of first- and third-party support, we took Resistance: Retribution's multiplayer modes for a test drive. Our expectations were high, given that -- as far as we knew -- it was the only marquee game on the horizon for PSP. Still, even knowing that's no longer the case, we're nevertheless quite impressed by Sony Bend's shrink-raying of the console multiplayer experience.

Gallery: Resistance: Retribution Multiplayer

Continue reading Joystiq hands-on: Resistance: Retribution multiplayer

Joystiq hands-on: Resistance: Retribution multiplayer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Resistance Retribution video chronicles franchise story

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST

If you own a PSP, chances are you're excited about Resistance Retribution. But what if you've never played one of Insomniac's PS3 games? Will you be in the dark?

Most likely not. The story of the Resistance games are pretty easy to follow: evil alien things attack earth, you fight back. A new series of videos on IGN will chronicle some of the behind-the-scenes elements of the game. Today's video, which you can check out after the break, details the franchise's story and how it ties into the upcoming Retribution.

(Also, does anyone else notice the "Rise of the Chimera" title that's in the background? Most likely it's an early name for Retribution, but it would be hilarious if we accidentally discovered a new Resistance game.)

Continue reading Resistance Retribution video chronicles franchise story

Resistance Retribution video chronicles franchise story originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Sony working on new Syphon Filter for PS3

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 11:50:00 EST

Filed under: Action

A particularly watchful, Columbo-esque reader at Kotaku recently put a few widespread pieces of information together to draw an intriguing conclusion -- Sony Bend, the studio behind every Syphon Filter title to date, recently put up a help wanted ad calling for a full-time game tools programmer with PS3 or Xbox 360 experience. It's doubtful that they'll need to use the latter of those two, but it's enough to give rise to rumors that Sony's cooking up a current-gen installment in their decade-old action franchise.

But wait, there's more -- adding further fuel to the Filter flames is an entry on the Credits page of digital content creation company PCB Productions. About a quarter of the way down the page, the company acknowledges their mo-cap work for Syphon Filter 5, a PS3 title coming out of, you guessed it, Sony Bend. This one ranks pretty high on the likelihoodometer -- we'll be waiting with bated breath to see if Sony will confirm Gabe's triumphant return to home consoles.

Rumor: Sony working on new Syphon Filter for PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 15 Feb 2009 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Resistance Ret. pre-order demo also at GameStop, BB

Majed Athab — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: News, Resistance

Previously, we've reported that those who pre-order Resistance Retribution from Amazon would be getting an early access demo ahead of the game's scheduled March 17 release. However, now we've come to learn that other retailers like Game Crazy, Best Buy and GameStop will also be receiving the goods.

PS.Blog notes that GameStop patrons can pre-order via the online store, same with Best Buy (when their pre-order page goes up), but sadly Game Crazy is in-store only. For now, have a gander at that slick box art and make a decision -- pre-order and get demo? Or, uh, not.

Resistance Ret. pre-order demo also at GameStop, BB originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Telling stories: The next hurdle for story telling

Jason Dobson — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 09:45:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Interviews

Continue reading Telling stories: The next hurdle for story telling

Telling stories: The next hurdle for story telling originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Telling stories: The games that got it right

Jason Dobson — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Interviews

As games have evolved, so too has the role of storytelling in the titles we play. As we turn the corner on 2008, we asked multiple industry personalities across all walks of game development on titles such as Dragon Age: Origins, Bionic Commando and Guild Wars for their thoughts.

It's rare that story tellers get all of the pieces of their narrative to fit together exactly right in any medium. But in this industry, where story shares a balance with gameplay and endings often get the short end of the development stick, weaving a complete and compelling tale must be a daunting task. Now, gifts unwrapped and bellies full, our panel of industry personalities sound off on those games that they feel were up to the challenge, delivering storytelling experiences above and beyond their peers.

Continue reading Telling stories: The games that got it right

Telling stories: The games that got it right originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Telling stories: How much is that ending in the window?

Jason Dobson — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:18:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Interviews

As games have evolved, so too has the role of storytelling in the titles we play. As we turn the corner on 2008, we asked multiple industry personalities across all walks of game development on titles such as Dragon Age: Origins, Bionic Commando and Guild Wars for their thoughts.

Epic Games' Michael Capps recently caused quite an uproar among gamers with his suggestion to offer the conclusion to games as premium DLC rather than as part of the core experience. As the latest in our continuing week-long feature, we asked our panel of industry personalities what they thought of the proposal. Interestingly, much of the group was noticibly more tight-lipped in their responses than when answering other questions.

Continue reading Telling stories: How much is that ending in the window?

Telling stories: How much is that ending in the window? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Telling stories: What's up with lame endings?

Jason Dobson — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Interviews

As games have evolved, so too has the role of storytelling in the titles we play. As we turn the corner on 2008, we asked multiple industry personalities across all walks of game development on titles such as Dragon Age: Origins, Bionic Commando and Guild Wars for their thoughts.

While narrative has taken on a larger role, time and again we end up being left unsatisfied in the final moments with endings that fail to wrap up stories in interesting or compelling ways. In our continuing week-long feature, we asked our diverse collection of industry personalities why so many endings in the games we play leave us cold.

Continue reading Telling stories: What's up with lame endings?

Telling stories: What's up with lame endings? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Telling stories: Balancing gameplay v. narrative

Jason Dobson — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:25:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Interviews

As games have evolved, so too has the role of storytelling in the titles we play. As we turn the corner on 2008, we asked multiple industry personalities across all walks of game development on titles such as Dragon Age: Origins, Bionic Commando and Guild Wars for their thoughts.

How important are stories? How about endings? Over the next week this diverse group of personalities sounds off on these and other story-driven topics, starting today as we open up by asking whether or not narrative shares an equal burden as gameplay in carrying the video game experience.

Continue reading Telling stories: Balancing gameplay v. narrative

Telling stories: Balancing gameplay v. narrative originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Joystiq Interview: Resistance Retribution's Sam Villanueva

Jem Alexander — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:20:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Action, Interviews

click to embiggen

Resistance Retribution was a surprise hit last month at E3, and we had another chance to play it at last week's Penny Arcade Expo. With more playtime, however, come burning questions that need to be answered. Thankfully, Sam Villanueva, Senior Designer at Bend Studio, was at hand to answer our queries and make sure we could sleep soundly again.

Will you be optimizing Resistance Retribution for the PSP Brite?

That's a good question. We'll be evaluating this. We're pretty deep in development right now. We'd like to optimize, but that could potentially mess with launch time. If we can do it without affecting the date our game comes out, we will.

How does the game fit into the series?

Retribution fits nicely between Resistance 1 and Resistance 2. It's a continuation of the European campaign, whereas Resistance 2 is the start of the American campaign. You are James Grayson and you're going in to destroy another Chimeran tower. We wanted the story to deal with some pretty deep, dark stuff. Lots of drama and mystery. The game starts with your brother being infected and you're forced to kill him, for example.

Is there a multiplayer mode?

Absolutely. We've got lots of cool multiplayer stuff which we'll be announcing soon.

Gallery: Resistance: Retribution

Continue reading Joystiq Interview: Resistance Retribution's Sam Villanueva

Joystiq Interview: Resistance Retribution's Sam Villanueva originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Confirmed: Resistance Retribution is awesome

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Resistance

PSP may not have had an overwhelming amount of surprises at E3 this year, but one announcement can make up for an otherwise tame conference. Resistance Retribution is on its way to becoming one of the best games on PSP, bar none.

Simply listing all of Resistance's features doesn't convey the simple fact that Resistance Retribution is a lot of fun. Being able to switch to an auto-target and manual aiming mode on the fly is what really makes Resistance as playable as it is. It may seem strange at first, but pressing the Left button on the D-Pad to toggle between manual and auto aim comes rather easily. The proximity of the Left button in relation to the L shoulder button makes it an intuitive change. We were able to take cover, pop out and take out a few enemies, and then aim at a few snipers afar without struggling at all. Once again, Bend has crafted a control scheme that takes PSP's limitations into consideration.

Continue reading Confirmed: Resistance Retribution is awesome

Confirmed: Resistance Retribution is awesome originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Joystiq E3 hands-on: Resistance Retribution

James Ransom-Wiley — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:48:00 EST

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

Continue reading Joystiq E3 hands-on: Resistance Retribution

Joystiq E3 hands-on: Resistance Retribution originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Resistance Retribution: the full details (and trailer)

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:05:00 EST

Filed under: Resistance

Click for high-resolution image.

Yesterday, Sony surprised PSP fans by announcing a brand new PSP-exclusive expansion of the Resistance franchise. Very little was known about the game from its initial debut: all we knew was that it came to us via Sony Bend, the incredible studio that brought us last year's PSP Game of the Year, Syphon Filter. The engine that they developed for that third-person action title was stellar, but from the early looks of Resistance, the team at Bend has just begun flexing their PSP muscles.

Unlike Resistance on PS3, the upcoming PSP titles will play from a third person perspecitve, just like the Syphon Filter franchise on PSP. The story takes place in between Resistance and Resistance 2. Set in the weeks after Fall of Man, Retribution follows the story of former British Marine James Grayson. He is forced to kill his own brother inside a Chimeran conversion center, and thus inspires his bloodlust to destroy every conversion center he can find. Unfortunately, the Chimera have figured out a new way to convert humans ... and he must join the Mquis, the European resistance, in their fight against the deadly Chimera army.

Continue reading Resistance Retribution: the full details (and trailer)

Resistance Retribution: the full details (and trailer) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Resistance franchise on PSP

Majed Athab — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:44:00 EST

Filed under: News

Sony unveiled a major first party PS3 title heading for the PSP. Resistance for the PSP will be known as Resistance Retribution. It'll be a third person action game using an over-the-shoulder view. The game will be developed by Sony Bend, developers of the Syphon Filter PSP games. The game looks gorgeous. Pictured is Resistance Fall of Man and not the new PSP game.

Resistance franchise on PSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

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

Kyle Orland — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:38:00 EST

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.

Third-person 'Resistance: Retribution' coming to PSP in Spring 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

One last look at Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow

Andrew Yoon — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:05:00 EST

Filed under: Syphon Filter

Click for high-res image.

... Before the review. We've raved about the gameplay, the graphics and the story before. Now, with the release of the game finally upon us, we can share these new screenshots from both the single player and multiplayer portions of the game.

One last look at Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

PSP Fanboy hands-on: Logan's Shadow

Andrew Yoon — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Syphon Filter

Watch out. Logan's Shadow will redefine what gamers should expect from the Syphon Filter series. No, it will change what people should expect from handheld games in whole. The long-running franchise hits its peak in the upcoming PSP-exclusive Logan's Shadow and provides one of the most intense and immersive handheld experiences ever made. What makes Logan's Shadow so successful is its incredible production values. The graphics take full advantage of the PSP's true power. RUnning at 333MHz, the game outputs some of the system's best graphics, only falling shy of the upcoming SOCOM: Tactical Strike. The graphics found in the game best many PS2 games, with superior interactive water, beautiful volumetric smoke, and intense particle and shader effects. In addition, detailed animation and real-time physics bring the world to life.

The core of Logan's Shadow's success comes in its unrelenting pursuit of bringing a true console experience to the handheld. This is easily the most advanced Syphon Filter yet, allowing players to perform a variety of moves that establishes Gabe Logan as a true badass. Logan has a variety of moves at his disposal: stealth moves allow the player to grapple enemies and dispose of them in unique context-sensitive ways. Sneaking around, taking cover, peeking and blindfiring will be familiar to those that have played Gears of War, and its impressive that the controls translate so well on the PSP's admittedly limited interface. There are so many "wow" moments in the game that handheld gamers would never have expected. For example, in one of Logan's misadventures, he'll have to fight a submarine underwater. Given complete 360 degree freedom whilst fighting enemies underwater and figuring out how to defeat a submarine is one of the most epic experiences I've seen in all of handheld gaming ... and that's just one of the many brilliant set pieces to be found in Logan's Shadow.

There's a lot to rave about the game, but we're not allowed to talk about the game's latter half, which features some truly spectacular moments. Rest assured, it appears that Logan's Shadow will be the single best game ever made for PSP, provided you're a real hardcore gamer. Casual players will be offput by the complex controls and somewhat daunting difficulty level. The incredibly long levels also do the game some harm: gamers will have to devote a hefty amount of time to each level, with each individual level taking upwards of thirty minutes of continuous play. However, with a compelling story, great graphics, and exciting gameplay, you'll want to devote a lot of time to the game. Expect the full review soon.

PSP Fanboy hands-on: Logan's Shadow originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 15 Sep 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Logan's Shadow author attending PAX -- get your swag signed

Colin Torretta — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: News, Fan Stuff

According to Sony's PlayStation.Blog, Greg Rucka, the author behind Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow will be attending the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) in Seattle, WA this weekend and will be signing specially designed Logan's Shadow comic book covers for fans.

Greg is a long time comic book and novel writer, so there's high hopes for the story in Logan's Shadow. If you're going to be up in Seattle this weekend visiting PAX, make sure to stop by booth #516 between the hours of 11:00am-12:30pm and 2:00pm-3:00pm and say hi. If you butter him up (or bribe him), just maybe he'll tell you some cool secrets about the game's story.

Logan's Shadow author attending PAX -- get your swag signed originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Aug 2007 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Syphon Filter: Combat Ops beta hidden in Logan's Shadow demo

Andrew Yoon — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: News, Syphon Filter

Some time ago, hackers found an interesting beta for the multiplayer component of Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow. The multiplayer feature appears to be incredibly thorough, given its own presentation and title: Syphon Filter: Combat Ops.

There are five game modes in multiplayer, two of which are new to the franchise. In Sabotage, two teams must locate bomb codes and arm the other team's nuclear warhead. The other mode, Retrieval, is a virtual scavenger hunt of sorts, where players must retrieve items scattered throughout the map. In addition, Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and Rogue Agent modes all return.

The servers were taken down, and information about Combat Ops has been hard to find. Thankfully, a user has uploaded a ton of impressive images from the beta to his Picasa album. Inside, you'll find some very impressive graphics, and a plethora of options to choose from. Hopefully, it won't be too long until we get some official confirmation of a Combat Ops beta.

[Thanks, vladimir356!]

Syphon Filter: Combat Ops beta hidden in Logan's Shadow demo originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 Aug 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Building Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow's story

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Interviews, Syphon Filter

There's something truly compelling about the story of Logan's Shadow, the upcoming PSP-exclusive sequel to Dark Mirror. Greg Rucka, the story writer behind Logan's Shadow, talked to IGN at Comic-Con about building Logan's Shadow's story. Interestingly, he was pitched to "salvage" the story and turn it into something far more substantial.

It didn't take long for Rucka to figure out that there was a lot of potential in the Syphon Filter franchise: it just needed to take advantage of the story elements introduced from the previous games. "Coming off of Dark Mirror and the stuff that had happened to the character there, I know of was stunned to be like 'Why aren't you using any of this stuff you set up?' I mean, he now has a kid! He knows that he's a dad! There's all this fabulous character stuff here. So, we discussed that and sort of tried to find a way to use the relationships that really have been building throughout this series and turn them into good story ... that's what we got here."

The story puts into serious question the loyalties of those around him. Although Rucka doesn't want to give anything away, it seems that he wants players to stay on the edge of their seats for yet another Syphon Filter beyond the next installment: "We got, I think, a good, good story for Gabe and I think at the end -- I don't want to give anything away -- it's got a nice ending. It's got the kind of ending that I think -- hopefully -- people will be like 'Where's the next one?'"

Building Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow's story originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Syphon Filter infiltrates PSP's innards to enable full 333MHz

Jem Alexander — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 18:40:00 EST

Filed under: Syphon Filter

Chris Reese, Technical Director for SCEA's Bend Studio, has posted on the PlayStation.Blog to confirm that Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow will utilize the full 333MHz of PSP power. Reese claims the extra 67MHz will allow Bend Studio to create a look and feel that isn't possible using the original 266mhz. The increase in power will let them focus on adding detail and interactivity to the game's environments.

For those who are confused about 333mhz compatability, let us put your mind at rest. Games utilizing the 333 MHz clock speed will work exactly the same on a normal PSP as on a Slim PSP. The increase in power does mean that the battery in both models will drain more quickly than in other games, but for those who are picking up a PSP Slim you can use your old PSP's battery to lengthen the playtime. This does, however, come with its own problems.

Syphon Filter infiltrates PSP's innards to enable full 333MHz originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Jul 2007 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hands-on: Syphon Filter Logan's Shadow

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Syphon Filter

Has there ever been a better time to be a portable gamer? Nintendo DS owners are blessed with an incredible lineup of unique software, and PSP owners are finally getting games that are delivering on the system's promise of bringing console-quality gaming on the go. Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow expands upon the excellent Dark Mirror with a plethora of gameplay improvements that make it one of the most exciting games for Sony's handheld. It's rare to see a handheld game dare to do so much ... and succeed.

Logan's Shadow has a lot to showcase, and does a fantastic job presenting all it has to offer. The game begins with a fully voice cinematic that already reeks of international politics and betrayal. We loved the writing, and were even more impressed by the incredible voice acting. Afterwards, Logan can be found, manning a minigun in a helicopter. This on-rails segment adds a nice cinematic touch to the game, while having players adjust to the PSP's analog nub. Once on the ground, players will have to take out enemies by brute force.

We were surprised to see the incredible variety of moves that Logan has at his disposal. We were easily able to duck for cover, and start blind-firing at enemies. Much to our joy, we saw enemies also taking cover, trying to intelligently move. Of course, this being a video game, there were conveniently located explosive barrels that helped our fight considerably. Eventually, we were able to get close to an enemy, disarm him, and use him as a body shield. The button commands were easy, and made Logan feel like an appropriately lethal killer. Scattered throughout the levels were quick time events, which have the player pressing on-screen commands, a la God of War. These sequences simply break up the action, and help the game's pacing.

Logan's Shadow is an impressive game that features great graphics, and great gameplay. (Although, this game makes us long for a second analog stick!) Regardless, Logan's Shadow offers a truly compelling gaming experience for portable gamers that will make console owners jealous.

Hands-on: Syphon Filter Logan's Shadow originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Jul 2007 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Joystiq impressions: Syphon Filter Logan's Shadow (PSP)

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PSP, Action, E3

Has there ever been a better time to be a portable gamer? Nintendo DS owners are blessed with an incredible lineup of unique software, and PSP owners are finally getting games that are delivering on the system's promise of bringing console-quality gaming on the go. Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow expands upon the excellent Dark Mirror with a plethora of gameplay improvements that make it one of the most exciting games for Sony's handheld. It's rare to see a handheld game dare to do so much ... and succeed.

Logan's Shadow has a lot to showcase, and does a fantastic job presenting all it has to offer. The game begins with a fully voiced cinematic that already reeks of international politics and betrayal. We loved the writing, and were even more impressed by the incredible voice acting. Afterwards, Logan can be found, manning a minigun in a helicopter. This on-rails segment adds a nice cinematic touch to the game, while having players adjust to the PSP's analog nub. Once on the ground, players will have to take out enemies by brute force.

We were surprised to see the incredible variety of moves that Logan has at his disposal. We were easily able to duck for cover, and start blind-firing at enemies. Much to our joy, we saw enemies also taking cover, trying to intelligently move. Of course, this being a video game, there were conveniently located explosive barrels that helped our fight considerably. Eventually, we were able to get close to an enemy, disarm him, and use him as a body shield. The button commands were easy, and made Logan feel like an appropriately lethal killer. Scattered throughout the levels were quick time events, which have the player pressing on-screen commands, a la God of War. These sequences simply break up the action, and help the game's pacing.

Logan's Shadow is an impressive game that features great graphics, and great gameplay. (Although, this game makes us long for a second analog stick!) Regardless, Logan's Shadow offers a truly compelling gaming experience for portable gamers that will make console owners jealous.

Gallery: Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow

Joystiq impressions: Syphon Filter Logan's Shadow (PSP) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Jul 2007 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Free Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow demo UMDs [Update]

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: News, Syphon Filter

Various members of the IGN Boards have spotted Logan's Shadow demo UMDs at GameStop/EB Games. The demo will allow you to get a taste of what the media got to play at Sony's Gamer's Day. Lucian04 from the forums noted that "they just gave me the demo when I asked for it. No pre-order involved." You may want to do the same.

The incredible graphics, sweet new control options, and fantastic presentation all have us thinking Logan's Shadow can become PSP Game of the Year. Rush to your nearest GameStop, hassle an employee, and tell us what you think of the demo.

[Update: You can get a free UMD from Sony at the official website.]

Free Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow demo UMDs [Update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Jun 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Syphon Filter: Gabe's Shadow intro movie

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Syphon Filter, Video

Sony's starting to send out preview demos of the upcoming Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow and IGN has captured video of the game in action. We've seen the impressive graphics of the game at Sony Gamers Day, and the latest build continues to impress. Check out this intro video, setting up the Greg Rucka-penned story. For more gameplay footage, check out IGN.

Syphon Filter: Gabe's Shadow intro movie originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Jun 2007 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments