TGS 2009: Valkyria Chronicles 2 – your questions answered, multiplayer confirmed

I’ve made no secret of my love of last year’s Valkyria Chronicles, the beautiful PS3-exclusive strategy RPG. I know I’m not alone in that regard, based on the favorable reaction to last week’s announcement of Valkyria Chronicles 2, coming next summer to PSP.

We caught up with who answered some of your questions, confirmed online play modes, and indicated openness to create another Valkyria game for PS3.

What made you decide to develop the official sequel for Valkyria Chronicles on the PSP? (Submitted by user: Trollkotte)

For the original PS3 version of the game there were two key features: The Canvas graphics system and the BLiTZ combat system. So when we were discussing the sequel we obviously wanted to bring these two features over, but we wanted to upgrade it somehow. When we looked at the BLiTZ battle system specifically — especially in the Japanese market — co-op play and wireless play is becoming more and more popular and we felt that would expand the gameplay for the title in a great way. When we went further in that direction we discovered that the PSP is the perfect platform to take advantage of that.

Are you adding new unit classes, weapon types or vehicles? Will there be any returning characters from Valkyria Chronicles 1? (Submitted by user: BigBoss712)

Yes. In terms of new weapons and units, not only will there be more of each, but there will be expanded customisation options for both. We have Scouts and Stormtroopers, as we did in the first game, but Scouts may branch into Scouts who run faster or are more meant for battle. In that way, each of the units will branch into new units. In terms of weapons, in the first game a rifle might branch into three different rifles as you progress in the game. The amount of variation is even greater in the sequel. In terms of returning characters, you’ll definitely see Alicia and Welkin come back and you might see other members of Squad 7, too.

We can also customise tanks this time around. You can equip different weapons and change the colour, which will affect how the tank moves. There are many ways for you to customise your own troops, just based on all the different character, tank and weapon options.

With Valkyria Chronicles 2 going portable next year there have been rumours of its return to the PS3. Is that likely? (Submitted by user: G-Force08)

We’re still developing Valkyria Chronicles 2 so, to be honest, we’re not really thinking about Valkyria Chronicles 3, 4 or 5 at this point. Just in terms of how our team develops titles and our way of thinking when we choose the platform for each of our titles, it’s not necessarily “let’s make a PS3 game!”. It’s more a case of “what kind of game do we want to make?”. For example, the first Valkyria was on the PS3 because of all the features we wanted to incorporate into the game and we felt the PS3 was the most suitable platform, so that’s how we develop games in our team. So potentially Valkyria Chronicles 3, or another title that we work on next might be on the PS3, it might still be on the PSP, we don’t know at this point.

Because we’ve already got experience of working on the PS3 and now we’re developing another game on the PSP, that just adds to our level of experience and understanding of these platforms and will definitely help us in determining what is the best platform for the next game that we make.

The PSP is seeing a lot of success, particularly in Japan, with regards to its online and ad-hoc multiplayer. Will you be taking advantage of that in Valkyria Chronicles 2?

We are incorporating wireless ad-hoc play into the game, which will feature both co-op and versus modes. We can’t really talk too much about it in detail yet.

Are there any plans to add a versus mode to Valkyria Chronicles 1?

Valkyria Chronicles’ engine wasn’t made for this sort of gameplay, so we can’t just patch a versus mode into the first game. But if fans really want that, and the development team really feels that it would be a compelling addition to the Valkyria Chronicles franchise, then that might be when we create another Valkyria Chronicles game for the PS3.

How does the difficulty of Valkyria Chronicles 2 and the character progression system differ from the first game?

What has changed the most is the way the game flows. If you remember back to the first game, it’s like reading through a book, with a certain number of missions per chapter. So if you hit a particularly hard mission you have to use trial and error to get past it, or you’ll never progress. But Valkyria Chronicles 2 is mission based, so if you reach a mission you can’t clear, you have the option of trying other missions before returning to the more difficult one. By doing that you can level up your characters or you might meet someone who can help you clear this mission. It’s a different method of progressing through the game. Overall the game’s difficulty will be about the same as Valkyria Chronicles, but because the game flow is different you might find the game is easier or, depending on the player, more difficult.

After the interview, we went down to the show floor to go hands-on with the game for the first time. As a fan, I can safely say that Valkyria Chronicles brings everything that I loved about the original game to the PSP: It handles very similarly, looks great, and has the added benefit of portability.

SEGA also released a new batch of (Japanese) screens for VC2, you can find some of them here.

Credit : blog.us.playstation.com

PlayStation Store Update

Hi Everyone – It’s time for the weekly PlayStation Store Update.

Updates

Brain Challenge Price Drop (now $4.99)

Brain Challenge Expansion Pack Price Drop (now $1.99)

Droplitz Temporary Price Drop (now $4.99)

25 Guitar Hero World Tour songs are on sale for $1.50 this week!

Downloadable Games

Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 Commander’s Challenge ($9.99)
Fight for world domination in the all-new Red Alert 3 Commander’s Challenge! Do you have what it takes to withstand the brutal onslaught and relentless taunting of the world’s toughest commanders, including Ric Flair as Commander Hill? Find out as you attempt to conquer the world in 50 challenges featuring explosive new units such as the Giga Fortress, Desolator, and Cryo Legionnaire!
ESRB Rated T
File size: 2.17 GB

Zombie Apocalypse ($9.99)
The world as you know it is gone. A zombie infection has swept the globe and the undead now outnumber the living, but you have plenty of ammo and it’s time for payback! Destroy as many zombies as can and try to save any remaining survivors. Up to four players can battle the zombie apocalypse with an arsenal of deadly weapons, including mini-guns, flame throwers, grenade launchers, and a chainsaw for when it’s time to get in close!
ESRB Rated M
File size: 741 MB

Game Demos (free)

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Demo
The most intense, challenging, action-packed ninja adventure is back! As Master Ninja Ryu Hayabusa, you roam the world and hunt down the Demon Statue that was stolen by the Black Spider Ninja Clan to prevent the resurrection of the evil Archfiend. Download the demo and get a taste of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 as you play in Story Mode as Ryu or Ayane!
ESRB Rated M
File size: 692 MB

Zombie Apocalypse Demo
A zombie infection has swept the globe and the undead now outnumber the living, but you have plenty of ammo and it’s time for payback! Destroy as many zombies as can and save any remaining survivors. Up to four players can battle the zombie hordes with an arsenal of deadly weapons, including mini-guns, flame throwers, grenade launchers, and a chainsaw for when it’s time to get in close! Download the demo now and stop the Zombie Apocalypse!
Rated M
File size: 741 MB

Lost Planet 2 Co-Op Campaign Demo
Join the fight! Download the campaign demo for Lost Planet 2. This demo shows off four-player combat, gigantic enemies, and the lush jungle stage.
ESRB Rated RP
File size: 492 MB

Wolfenstein Demo
Unleash the Nazis’ own dark powers against them as you battle unimaginable evil and unexpected foes.
ESRB Rated M
File size: 531 MB

Punisher: No Mercy Demo
Download The Punisher: No Mercy demo now and jump straight into frantic Vigilante action, playing either as the ruthless vigilante known as the Punisher or his sworn archenemy Jigsaw in this free for all multiplayer mayhem. Buy the full game to play all levels and have access to all the features!
ESRB Rated M
File size: 430 MB

Add-on Game Content

Batman: Arkham Asylum Prey In The Darkness Map Pack (free)
Become the Invisible Predator and experience the unique FreeFlow combat system in these 2 new Challenge Maps for Batman: Arkham Asylum set in original locations from Arkham Island.
File size: 118 MB

Fallout 3: Broken Steel ($9.99)
Continue your existing Fallout 3 game and finish the fight against the Enclave remnants alongside Liberty Prime. Broken Steel moves the level cap for your character from 20 to 30, allowing you to experience even more of the game, including new perks and achievements. To use this download, you will need FALLOUT 3 with product code BLUS-30185.
File size: 746 MB

Guitar Hero
For all song credits please visit www.guitarhero.com.

• “Munich” by Editors ($1.99)
• “The Geeks Were Right” by The Faint ($1.99)
• “Dull Life” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs ($1.99)
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs/The Faint/Editors Track Pack ($5.49) – Downloadable Track Pack featuring “Dull Life” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Munich” by The Editors, and “Geeks Were Right” by The Faint. Please Note: Many songs are available both as singles and as part of a Track Pack, so please carefully consider your purchases before downloading.

File size: 30 MB – 42 MB (singles) 108 MB (track pack)

Madden NFL 10 AFL Legacy Pack ($6.99)
Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the AFL with Madden NFL 10’s Legacy Pack. Complete with authentic AFL uniforms for eight NFL teams, you will instantly feel like you went back in time. In addition, play in games where even the referee uniforms are throwbacks and the team logos on field are old-school. Download Madden NFL 10’s Legacy Pack today.
File size: 100 KB

Midnight Club LA Police Car Pack (free)
Now you can dodge the cops by downloading the free Midnight Club Los Angeles Police Car Pack. Race in the Border, Highway or Squad Patrol cars (choose from the 1996 Chevrolet Impala or Dodge Charger SRT8) for the ability to evade the cops at red lights and race at high speeds – but don’t trespass or the chase is on. Download the pack now, and get your cop cars from the vehicle showroom as they unlock.
File size: 41 MB

Rock Band
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visitwww.RockBand.com.

• “Amongst the Waves”— Pearl Jam ($1.99)
• “Force of Nature”— Pearl Jam ($1.99)
• “Got Some”— Pearl Jam ($1.99)
• “Johnny Guitar”— Pearl Jam ($1.99)
• “Just Breathe”— Pearl Jam ($1.99)
• “Speed of Sound”— Pearl Jam ($1.99)
• “Gonna See My Friend”— Pearl Jam ($1.99)
• “The End”— Pearl Jam ($1.99)
• “The Fixer”— Pearl Jam ($1.99)
• “Unthought Known”— Pearl Jam ($1.99)
• “Supersonic”— Pearl Jam ($1.99)
• Backspacer (Album) — Pearl Jam ($17.99) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game album: Backspacer (Album) – Pearl Jam. Some tracks in this album are instrument-only and cannot be played by vocalists. Please make sure you have the latest Rock Band update.

File sizes: 16 MB – 31 MB (singles) 273 MB (track pack)

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 Sheshan Golf Course ($7.50)
This 18-hole course is located in Shanghai, China. Sheshan uses bent grass for its greens and Seashore Paspalun for its fairways. The course also has a 1,000 year old Ginko tree on the 4th hole. The two feature holes, the 16th and 17th, play around and over the quarry giving awe inspiring views.
File size: 248 MB

Game Videos (free)

Pulse 9/24 Edition
Join host Christina Lee for PULSE presented by the PlayStation Network. This edition features a preview of several games for the PSPgo, including the slick visuals of Gran Turism. New video releases include X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Adventureland, and Seth MacFarlane’s American Dad.
File size: 255 MB (HD) 423 MB (1080)

PS3 TV Spot Desperate Dad
File size: 22 MB (HD) 37 MB (1080)

PS3 TV Spot Rumor Monger
File size: 22 MB (HD) 37 MB (1080)

Motion Controller Update Part I
File size: 168 MB (HD)

NBA 2K10: Draft Combine Trailer
File size: 144 MB (HD)

Fallout 3: Broken Steel Trailer
File size: 72 MB (HD)

Fallout 3: Operation Anchorage Trailer
File size: 67 MB (HD)

Fallout 3: The Pitt Trailer
File size: 53 MB (HD)

WET Official Trailer
File size: 75 MB (HD)

Shatter Trailer
File size: 49 MB (HD)

FIFA Soccer 10 Virtual Pro Tutorial
File size: 153 MB (HD)

Demon’s Souls Intense Action Trailer
File size: 75 MB (HD)

Themes

B17 Flying Fortress ($1.99)
File size: 3.85 MB

Globulars Theme ($1.99)
File size: 7.44 MB

Wallpaper (free)

Fate/Unlimited Codes Wallpaper 2
File size: 641 KB (1080)

PlayStation Store for PSP

Downloadable Games

Valhalla Knights ($19.99) (also available from PS3 storefront)
Experience a unique, customizable adventure with real-time battles as you build the ultimate six-member battle party from a selection of five races (human, elf, dwalf, halfling, machine) and eight different job classes (Fighter, Mage, Priest, Thief, Knight, Samurai, Ninja, Anchor).
ESRB Rated E10+
File size: 601 MB

Power Stone Collection ($19.99) (also available from PS3 storefront)
It’s a Battle Royale, CAPCOM style! The arcade-style 3-D fighters Power Stone 1 & 2 come together in one download with brand new features and enhancements exclusive for this definitive version. Classic fighting system that is sure to meet any Capcom fan’s highest expectations.
ESRB Rated T
File size: 305 MB

Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition ($19.99) (also available from PS3 storefront)
The series that took racing from the tracks to the open urban streets is raising the stakes even higher. Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition is the definitive racing experience for the PSP Portable Entertainment System, delivering an unparalleled level of speed
ESRB Rated E10+
File size: 952 MB

Manhunt 2 ($29.99) (also available from PS3 storefront)
An experiment at a secret research facility has gone catastrophically wrong. Daniel Lamb and Leo Kasper are the only surviving subjects. The Pickman Project will stop at nothing to hunt them down and stop the truth from getting out.
ESRB Rated M
File size: 1.03 GB

Midnight Club L.A. Remix ($19.99) (also available from PS3 storefront)
Race at breakneck speeds through the streets of modern-day L.A. in Midnight Club L.A. Remix, the ultimate racing experience for the PSP. Drive the hottest real-world tuners, muscle, luxury and exotic cars and superbikes on the streets today. Customize your vehicle with the best after-market performance parts and custom kits. And exclusive to Midnight Club L.A. Remix, travel to Tokyo to test your skills against the best racers in the world. Street racing with no track and no rules: Welcome to the Midnight Club.
ESRB Rated T
File size: 573 MB

Game Demos (free)

Half-Minute Hero: Evil Lord Demo (also available from PS3 storefront)
Get ready to save the girl and punish evil in 30 seconds in this fast-paced Strategy RPG! An Evil Lord has turned your girlfriend into a bat, and it’s up to you to lift your beloved’s curse. Summon monsters, collect powerful spirits, and destroy all that stand in your way, just make sure you do it under 30 seconds! With your obnoxiously good looks and devastating magic, victory is assured!
ESRB Rated E10+
File size: 6.94 MB

NBA 10 The Inside Demo (also available from PS3 storefront)
Try out some of the great modes of NBA 10: THE INSIDE that have made it the #1 Rated NBA Sim on the PSP 3 YEARS IN A ROW.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 191 MB

Add-on Game Content

Rock Band Unplugged (also available from PS3 storefront)
Build your Rock Band Unplugged library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

• “Flathead”— The Fratellis ($1.99)
• “Wake Up Dead”— Megadeth ($1.99)

File sizes: 16 MB – 17 MB

Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce Pack 5 DLC (free) (also available from PS3 storefront)
Quest Pack #5- Send your Strikeforce in for the ultimate test with these new missions. Also includes all previous Quest Packs. To learn more about this pack and about Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce go to www.koei.com/strikeforce
File size: 1.13 MB

Game Videos (free)

Pulse 9/24 Edition
File size: 47 MB

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona Trailer
File size: 7.44 MB

PSP Themes

B17 Flying Fortress PSP Themes 1-3 ($1.99 each) (also available from PS3 storefront)
File sizes: 373 KB – 509 KB

Globulars PSP Themes 1-4 ($0.99 each) (also available from PS3 storefront)
File sizes: 588 KB – 607 KB

Credit : blog.us.playstation.com

The Zombie Apocalypse is Upon Us!

Today on PSN a shambling mass of rotting corpses have appeared and are threatening the safety of the human race on Earth. You can do your part to fight back the zombie hordes in our new game,Zombie Apocalypse, developed by Nihilistic Software and published by Konami. For $9.99 you’ll shoot loads of zombies with one to four players fighting cooperatively in an online enabled zombie kill fest.

When Nihilistic first sat down and thought about creating a downloadable title, we immediately wanted to do it in the horror genre. We’ve got a lot of zombie and horror fans here. Not to mention some hardcore fans of old-school shooters. Combining the two felt logical and Zombie Apocalypse was born.

Thematic inspiration was drawn primarily from classic zombie films of the 70s and 80s. Two films in particular are ZOMBIE (aka Zombi 2) by Lucio Fulci, and Nightmare City by Umberto Lenzi. The first level in Zombie Apocalypse is set in an airport which is a homage to Nightmare City. If you haven’t heard of either of these films and don’t mind some bad acting they are both incredible zombie gore fests. They are definitely not for the squeamish!

The game design was inspired primarily by two old-school shooters. The first was Robotron, a classic and innovator in the dual-stick shooter genre. In fact, the internal codename for Zombie Apocalypse during development was “Zombitron”. At the beginning of Zombie Apocalypse’s development, we held an internal Robotron tournament to get prepared. The second was gamer favorite Smash TV. We built upon the gore and arena combat of Smash TV by adding environmental hazards into our arenas that will tear zombies to shreds, blow them up, or light them on fire when you blast zombies into them.

Zombie Apocalypse is all about survival and scoring big. When playing with friends either on the same console or online, the team is working toward a shared score. So to do well and hit the top of the leaderboards you’ve got to work together. Here are three PlayStation Blog-exclusive tips for hitting as high of a score as possible, applicable to either single or multiplayer:

• The survivor characters all have chainsaws that you can pull out at any time. Use the chainsaw to grapple by pressing and holding the L1 button to score an instant kill on a zombie and to increase your score multiplier by three. Just be careful to not use the attack in the middle of a group of zombies, as it leaves you vulnerable for a moment as it ends. Try to lead a lone zombie away from the group then chainsaw them in half.
• Make use of the environmental hazards. For example, blast zombies with your shotgun into the wood chipper in the Logging Camp level. Each hazard kill gives you an additional 5,000 points on top of the points you would have scored otherwise.
• Use the zombie bait grenade not just to kill a bunch of zombies but to lead them to environmental hazards to score more points. In the Graveyard level you can throw the bait into the open grave and then shoot zombies directly into it to put them back to rest and get your hazard bonus.

If you reach the point where you think you can easily handle a Zombie Apocalypse and want an even bigger challenge be sure to unlock Hardcore Mode, one of our six unlockable game modes. Hardcore Mode restricts each survivor to starting with just one life and no extra lives are granted. That means you’ve only got one chance to try to score big on the special Hardcore Mode leaderboard. To unlock Hardcore Mode, complete seven consecutive days (missions) in the normal game mode without dying. Additional unlockable modes include Blackout Mode, where all the lights turn off except for one small light per player, and 7 Days of Hell Mode, where the survivors are tasked to survive through a week of sepia toned zombie mayhem.

So hit the store later today and get Zombie Apocalypse for PS3! But we are not just developers — we’re givers too! So to celebrate the launch of Zombie Apocalypse we will be giving away 25 codes for the game on the PlayStation Twitter feed. But make sure you’ve read this post, as there might be little pop quiz via Twitter! So keep your eyes peeled to Twitter later today after our PlayStation Store Update goes live!

Hope to see you online fighting back the zombie invasion with me!

Credit : blog.us.playstation.com

First Look at New Brandon Roy NBA 10: THE INSIDE Trailer, Demo Available This Week

Hoops fans, to get you fired up for the October 6 launch of NBA 10: THE INSIDE, have an exclusive look at the new trailer featuring our cover athlete, NBA superstar Brandon Roy.

video

For those who can’t wait for the game to hit shelves, head over to the PlayStation Store later today and you’ll be able to download a free playable demo of NBA 10: THE INSIDE, which includes:

• NBA Regular Season Gameplay – Pick from two selectable teams and play a full four quarters at a smooth 60 frames per second.

• Block Party Mini-Games – Looking for the lighter side of basketball? Then check out some of the new mini-games in our Block Party…

 

• Open Lanes – Three frames of our brand new min-game, a traditional 10 frame bowling game with…you guessed it…an NBA look and feel.

• Cherry Pickin’ – One board of our other new mini-game, a puzzle based game where players shoot colored orbs that stick to a game board made of additional colored orbs. The goal is to line up at least three orbs of the same color to remove them from the board. Once you clear out all the orbs on the game board, you can proceed to the next level.

And if you’re looking for even more behind-the-scenes insight into NBA 10: THE INSIDE, check a recent Q&A with our producer Bob Staite on GameZone.com and some early previews onESPN.com, GameSpot.com, IGN.com and Kotaku.com.

Credit : blog.us.playstation.com

The Last Guardian: Interview and New Video

Short and sweet: Just shown at the end of a media event for White Knight Chronicles, this interview with Team ICO Director and Game Designer Fumito Ueda. Following the Q&A, see some brand new game footage of The Last Guardian. The video does fade to black, before coming back up so be patient! Enjoy!

Video

 We’ll have an in-depth interview with Ueda-san later from the show!

Credit : blog.us.playstation.com

God of War III E3 2009 Demo Included in God of War Collection

You have seen the videos and you have seen the screens, soon you will have the chance to play what the lucky hundreds experienced at E3, Comic-Con and PAX. Coming this fall, we are happy to announce to fans that God of War Collection will include the long-awaited God of War III E3 2009 Demo. Each copy of God of War Collection will include a voucher code that can be redeemed through PlayStation Network on the day of purchase. This is your chance to experience God of War III before it hits store shelves March 2010.

Just recently announced on the blog, God of War Collection features remastered versions of bothGod of War and God of War II on a single Blu-ray Disc at full 1280 x 720 resolution with 2x anti-aliased graphics. Both critically acclaimed games, which were originally developed for the PS2, are running at 60 frames per second for a smooth gameplay experience on your PS3. Additionally, the Blu-ray Disc compilation will bring PSN trophy support to the franchise for the first time. God of War Collection will be available in November. Keep an eye out for video gameplay soon.

Credit : blog.us.playstation.com