After a day of excitement and announcements, everything has drawn to a close. Sony closed out the day with, arguably, the best press conference. Though it’s not like Microsoft, EA and Ubisoft were firing on all cylinders. As per usual, Jack Tretton was Sony’s master of ceremonies – guiding us into each big announcement and the occasional bit of filler. Unlike Jack, I’m not going to be here for an hour telling you everything that came out of Sony’s press briefing. It’s far too late/early for that.

Sony Is Sorry

Sony’s first big announcement of the show was that it’s sorry for the recent PlayStation Network outage. Speaking on behalf of everyone at Sony Computer Entertainment, Jack Tretton made it clear that the company want to move past this and deliver quality content on consoles and handhelds.

Sony Provides Cheap 3D

Sony was pushing 3D technology hard at their conference this year, often requiring the audience to put on 3D glasses. Jack Tretton commented on the price barrier on 3D and how Sony wanted to break that barrier down. To do this they’re releasing a PlayStation-branded television. The 24-inch set comes with: one set of 3D glasses, a HDMI cable and a copy of Resistance 3 for $499. As a gamer living in a tiny room, this deal is rather appealing. They also announced that the 3D glasses would retail at $69.99 a pair and would allow players to see separate images with one TV. Madness!

Uncharted 3

Speaking of “quality content”, Jack threw the show over to Evan Wells and Cristoph Balestra from Naughty Dog. Wells showed off exactly what Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception was all about. Though it didn’t quite match up to the massive helicopter battle shown off for Uncharted 2 at E3 ’09, this sequence – in which Drake stealth kills his way through a sinking cruise liner before being consumed by the current – was really impressive and, I’m sure, pretty indicative of what we can expect from the game.

Announced alongside this was a partnership with Subway, which would grant users access to Uncharted 3′s full multiplayer suite before the release of the game. It’s a pretty unprecedented move, but one that could pay off for Sony and Naughty Dog.

Resistance 3

Sony’s other big ‘threequel’, Resistance 3 was also demoed. Having this follow Uncharted might not have been the best of moves considering the reception of the crowd towards the former. However, I was impressed with how good the game looked and the idea of small resistance camps, spread around America, really got my attention. Sony also announced a Move bundle for the game, which includes: The game, a Move want, a Navigation Controller, a PS Eye camera and a Sharpshooter accessory for $150.

More HD Collections

Jack stressed how much people loved Sony’s back catalog before announcing that God Of War: Chains Of Olympus and God Of War: Ghost Of Sparta would be bundled together, remastered in HD and re-released as God Of War: Origins. Team ICO Collection (ICO and Shadow Of The Colossus) were also mentioned. Both of these collections will be released in September.

Speaking Of Move…

A number of new Move games were demoed. All of these demos were pretty awkward, but they didn’t dwell on motion gaming like Microsoft did earlier in the day. Highlights included an NBA 2K12 demo given by members of 2K Sports and, Los Angeles Lakers star, Kobe Bryant. This was the most shambolic of the Move demos. It was followed by a new fantasy action game developed by the team behind Sports Champions. It looks like a re-skinned version of that game with an added story and the ability to move your character around environments. Didn’t look bad, but not all that intriguing.

BioShock: Infinite

One of motion gaming’s biggest critics, Ken Levine from Irrational Games came out to debut a new trailer for BioShock: Infinite. Guess what? It’s awesome. After the short trailer, Levine announced that the game would be getting Move support. He did stress that this would not compromise the game for the ‘core’, but would bring more people to the world of Colombia. Before leaving, Levine also teased a BioShock-related announcement for Sony’s new handheld.

Dust 514

The only, brand new, exclusive game announced for the PlayStation 3 at this press conference was Dust 514. This new sci-fi shooter is being developed by Studio CCP, the team behind EVE Online. This new game will tie into the PC MMO. Move support was also announced. There was a trailer, but no live demo.

PlayStation Vita

After a little more filler content in the form of an inFamous 2 trailer (why?), the original StarHawk announcement trailer (again, why?) and a short Sly Cooper: Thieves In Time teaser, Kaz Hirai took the stage to talk about Sony’s new handheld. The NGP codename has now been replaced with PlayStation Vita and it appears it’s got a lot of backing from both Sony and the third parties. A short sizzle reel showed off some of the previously announced titles. Uncharted: Golden Abyss was demoed live, this was followed by a new ModNation Racers and the announcement that Street Fighter X Tekken would be released on the system. This too was demoed and showed off that inFamous’ Cole McGrath would be added to the roster. LittleBigPlanet – with added touch functionality – was also announced and shown off in a trailer.

After the demos, Kaz reappeared to announce that the base model (WiFi only) of the new handheld would be released for $250/ €250 by “Holiday 2011″. This is a great move for Sony, as it puts it level on price with Nintendo’s 3DS. The announcement of a 3G enabled model was made. That iteration will be $299/€299, with a data plan exclusive to AT&T in USA. Needless to say, the boos ensued. Kaz just stood there, grinning and bearing it.

And that was that for Sony. There was no big ‘wow moment’ like there’s been at past E3′s, but they definitely had a decent showing. The focus on exclusive software is a big plus, the cheap access to 3D content is a great move and the price point of the PSV is certainly the star of the show. Nintendo are going to have to have something big with ‘Project Cafe’ later on today.

No PSN downtime apology

Many out there think that the beginning of Sony’s E3 press briefing will contain an apology for the problems the company has had keeping it’s online doors locked. I, however, do not. Sony has already apologised for the problems caused and the possible damage done to customers and business associates. Dwelling on this during the press conference is not a wise move. E3 is all about showing how things have been improved, about what’s coming next. Dwelling on the latest scandal is not going to do them any favours. I do believe that the issue has to be acknowledged by Jack Tretton in his opening monologue, but a full on apology is not necessary, even with all the mainstream press in the room.

The Last Guardian will be demoed/Team ICO Collection dated for North America

Team ICO’s latest game is perhaps the most highly anticipated game on the PlayStation 3 and, their previous two efforts, ICO and Shadow Of The Collosus are beloved by gamers across the world. Despite it being mostly unknown outside of the gaming enthusiast community, The Last Guardian will move systems. It’s been far too long now, this game needs a big E3 blowout. Following on from this, the Team ICO Collection – HD versions of the developer’s last two games – will be given a release date for North America, following on from the Japanese announcement last week.

The NGP will not be renamed ‘PS Vita’

Though ‘Vita’ was used as a codename during the development of Sony’s new handheld, the console’s official name will not be ‘Vita’. Following the trend of Sony’s other systems, the new device will be named the PSP2. Some say that, from a business standpoint, the ‘PSP brand’ is now synonymous with failure in the West. However, it is a brand that consumers know. Calling this system anything other than a PlayStation Portable could be a very bad move for Sony.

Rockstar will debut the first trailer for Agent

With LA Noire finally finished, Rockstar has only Max Payne 3 for people to be excited for. Sure, that logo for Agent was pretty damn exciting (or perhaps it was just “Rockstar Games” that had people excited?), but a trailer for that game would be a really big thing for Sony. The fact that it’s an exclusive game just sweetens the deal even more. I don’t think we’ll see gameplay, but a trailer along the lines of what we saw at LA Noire’s debut would be enough to get people in a tizzy.

Kevin Butler will not appear

Though Kevin Butler is, arguably, the most recognisable face at Sony, he will not appear at this year’s E3 press conference. A veil of seriousness needs to be applied by Sony this time around, so an appearance from the fake executive might not be appropriate. Not only that, but the joke of him appearing at the conference might just feel like a repeat of last year. He will appear in video form, but an actual ‘personal appearance’ doesn’t seem to be on the cards.

Maintenance began at 4pm (GMT) today. You will be able to access these services again at 3am.

Sony is yet to comment on what the maintenance entails. We should find out later today.

Media Molecule have yet to comment.

Source: Media Molecule via Joystiq

Image: Joystiq

Sony’s NGP looks like in an incredible step up from their first attempt at a handheld, and has got me all gitty with excitement. Everything I’ve seen so far looks almost full proof, but it’s what we haven’t gotten information on that’s got me a bit worried. Can we trust that Sony will deliver this time around? Honestly, I have no idea. Here’s what we like, dislike, and want from Sony’s next portable:

LIKE: Dual Thumbsticks

WHY: Why the hell not? I’m sure I speak for a lot of gamers when I say that dual thumbsticks is what kept handhelds of times past back from delivering a true console-like experience on the go. Most genres, most importantly the first person shooter, are now able to be played in true form. I’m fairly certain no one will miss the gimped aiming of using face buttons to attempt to recreate the experience.

DISLIKE: 3G Service

WHY: NGP stands for “Next Generation Portable”. Someone explain to me what is so next-generation about 3G service? When smart phones have been using the much, much faster 4G for quite some time (in technology years) and the NGP is proven to be one of the most, if not the most powerful portable device on the market, why would it only include 3G? I have a hard enough time getting a text off in my area (I live on Long Island, so it really shouldn’t be that much of a problem), so how does Sony expect me to download a game/play online? I understand it being nice to be connected all the time, but 3G may be a bit too slow to match the power this beast is already proven to have.

WANT: Quality, Not Quantity

WHY: The Wii sounded awesome when we first heard about it. Don’t deny it. Motion control sounded like something that could potentially add an entirely new dimension to gaming. Instead, “developers” decided to shovel heaps of trash onto store shelves that abused the systems features instead of embrace and use them in ways that could immerse the player further. Front and back touch screens, motion control, front and rear cameras; There’s a lot to work with hear. Developers; it’s not necessary for your game to use all (or any) of these features, unless they truly add to the experience. No Carnival Games, please.

Reality Fighters

LIKE: The Already Announced Lineup

WHY: Well, other than Uncharted, Call Of Duty, Killzone, Resistance, LittleBigPlanet and more being fantastic franchises to have announced for the NGP, it also shows that Sony is seemingly backing this thing to the fullest. We’ve seen footage of gameplay footage for Uncharted and Killzone, and both look damn incredible. If this is a hint at future endeavors, then I couldn’t be more optimistic.

DISLIKE: The Size

WHY: Portables. They’re meant to be….portable. The PSP-3000 is a bit to big to be considered portable to begin with. Sony’s NGP actually manages to be bigger than it’s predecessor. Quite noticeably bigger. If one good thing came of the PSP Go, it’s that Sony realized what portable meant. For that reason, I loved my PSP Go. It seems like a step backwards, and in a sense it is. If not for everything that Sony’s NGP is doing right, this would be more than a huge fault.

WANT: New IP’s, Please

WHY: Patapon. LocoRoco. Age of Zombies. All of these games got their start on Sony’s PSP, and helped to give the portable somewhat of its own identity. That’s why NGP needs new IP’s. Nothing sells a console like the best, original, console-exclusive titles. The franchises that began on the PSP were great, but a bit too few and far between. I may be asking a lot, but now’s the time to make it rain with titles that will make DS faithfuls jealous.

LIKE: No 3D

WHY: “B-b-b-but wait! 3D IS next-gen!”. Well, maybe. But it’s just not worth having when you look at what NGP has, and what it can already do. 3D means rendering two images at once; something that would take more processing power, more battery power, and hurt the visuals. When it comes to staring at a small screen for hours playing a game, do I really want my eyes to hurt faster than they already do without 3D? Maybe I speak for myself, but I’ve never sat through a 3D movie without having to take my glasses off and rub my eyes a few times. Sony made the right choice with leaving this feature out, and I have to applaud them for it.

Beautiful, is it not?

DISLIKE: The Likelihood of Having to Pay for 3G service

WHY: As I mentioned before, 3G service for such a device is just a bit too outdated and underwhelming when looking at something considered ‘next-generation’. So this is a simple one; a feature that’s already sub-par when compared to the rest of the device is disappointing in itself. Having to pay for that feature? Thanks, but no thanks Sony. If by some divine miracle it’s free, I’m sure it will suffice. There will most likely be a fee and possibly a data cap, so I’ll pass.

WANT: A Price That Won’t Require Taking Out A Second Mortgage

WHY: Aside from wanting to save money, it could mean the success/failure of Sony’s NGP. I would love for a $250 price to compete with Nintendo’s 3DS, but that’s about as realistic as the 3G service being free. $300 seems like the optimal price for the NGP, and would have me buying it on day one. Even if that means taking a bit of a hit fiscally in the beginning, it could mean a greater return in the long run. As long as the hardware, software, and value are there, they will come.

OVERALL: Love it.

WHY: The possibilities. Really, it’s the sheer possibilities of what this thing has the potential to do. My mind has been running away with ideas of an FPS where throwing a grenade required flicking the back touch screen, or taking a taking a penalty shot in FIFA with a similar motion. Uncharted’s scaling of cliffs with the touch screen and Reality Fighters using whatever plane your rear camera is facing as the fighting plane shows that developers are already getting the idea. Use of the NGP’s features should only get better with time, so let’s hope it lives up to my own personal hype.

Of course I love the trophies and the OLED screen and what not, but I could go on for days. What things do you guys like/dislike/want from Sony’s NGP? Leave some suggestions in the comments below.

Pix’n Love Rush is one of my favorite iPhone games and it’s been announced that the game is making it’s way to PS3 and PSP as a PlayStation Mini. The game was developed by Pastagames in conjunction with French publisher Pix’n Love and is a great retro throwback. The coin collecting platformer’s art style is what makes is so likeable and will tug on the heart strings of retro gaming fans everywhere.

The game is said to be coming “soon” and no pricing information has been given.

Engadet reported that Sony might be looking to partner the PlayStation brand with an Android 3.0 Sony Ericsson phone for their next portable. This listing just adds more fuel to the ever expanding PSP2/PS Phone fire.

Since it was pointed out that part of the listing has been removed. A suspicious move, without doubt. I’ll believe it when I see it, but there’s no smoke without fire (wow, double cliche).

Source: PlayStation Jobs UK

Kain (from FFIV) and Lightnight (from FFXIII) are the only new playable fighters confirmed, but I think you can expect to hear more with Tokyo Game Show just around the corner.

The big rumor is that this teaser, Code1935.jp (discovered by the good folks at Andriasang), could be a new sequel. The “top secret” site is adorned by the silhouette of a tank and isn’t to be “opened” until September 16th. Hey, isn’t that the first date of Tokyo Game Show? Indeed it is.

All the imagery definitely points to more Valkyria Chronicles. If 1935 bears any meaning, it could be that the new game takes place during the same time as the original game. The big question is, will this be another PSP adventure or will the franchise make the switch back to PS3?

So many questions.

Black Panther: New Yakuza Chapter is a spin-off to Yakuza’s main story, and will allow those interested in beating people up as stylish, Japanese teenagers to do just that. Just go over to 4Gamer and do a bit of clicking to get the demo downloaded direct to your PC or Mac.

Andriasang are also reporting that, come the end of the demo, players are given a password. This password will supposedly unlock content in the main game, although said content is unspecified. The game’s got a lot of customisable features, so it wouldn’t be surprising if this code was for some exclusive clothing.

Source: 4Gamer