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7 CommentsKillzone: Mercenary coming Sept. 10, one week early
By Samit Sarkar on May 17, 2013 05.17.13
Killzone: Mercenary will be released Sept. 10 on PlayStation Vita in North America, one week ahead of its previously announced release date, publisher Sony Computer Entertainment announced today.
The first-person shooter will be released Sept. 4 in Europe and Sept. 6 in the U.K., according to the European PlayStation Blog.
It's perhaps worth noting that Sony revealed the old release date, Sept. 17, in late January — just before Rockstar Games announced its plans to launch Grand Theft Auto 5 on that date.
Players who pre-order Killzone: Mercenary will receive a code that gives them double XP for the first two days after launch, along with bonus Vektan Cash that will allow them to buy a new weapon without playing a single mission. U.S. GameStop pre-order customers will get an...
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2 CommentsRatchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault launches May 21 on PS Vita
By Samit Sarkar on May 17, 2013 05.17.13
The long-delayed PlayStation Vita version of Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault will be released May 21 on PlayStation Network, Insomniac Games announced today.
Full Frontal Assault, which brings tower defense elements into the Ratchet & Clank franchise, was supposed to launch Nov. 27 simultaneously on PlayStation 3 and PS Vita. But in mid-November, publisher Sony Computer Entertainment pushed back the PS Vita release to January, saying that the port — which was developed by Tin Giant — wasn't ready. The company delayed the PS Vita version again in early February, this time to spring, saying, "We still need more time to bring the game up to the standards expected by our fans."
Owners of the PS3 version of Full Frontal Assault will receive a free downloadable copy of a...
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4 CommentsCounterSpy merges mythologies of the Cold War with espionage platforming
By Tracey Lien on May 17, 2013 05.17.13
Dynamighty's debut title, CounterSpy, is a platforming game inspired by the bizarre mythologies of the Cold War, the art of Saul Bass and the aesthetic of the espionage genre from the 1960s, according to developer David Nottingham.
In a demo of the Cold War-era action espionage game, Nottingham showed Polygon an early build of CounterSpy where the player — working as a member of a politically-agnostic, non-government agency — has to enter a missile facility and sabotage the efforts of a hostile faction to stop it from launching explosive rockets. Each level has a countdown to the rockets launching, so players have disarm them as quickly as possible. But first, they have to navigate their way through the facility, performing stealthy take-downs and leaping into action through...
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0 Comments11 images
Atomic Ninjas coming to PS3, PS Vita this year from Grip Games
By Samit Sarkar on May 16, 2013 05.16.13
Atomic Ninjas, a 2.5D multiplayer platformer, is in development at Grip Games and is set for release on PlayStation 3 this summer and PlayStation Vita this year, the studio announced today.
According to the game's website, it will be available on PS3 this summer and PS Vita this fall.
The Prague-based company describes Atomic Ninjas as the love child of Fat Princess and Crash Commando, in terms of its charming humor. It's an arena-based multiplayer combat title, although unlike something such as Super Smash Bros., you can't directly attack other players. Instead, you have to use objects like falling crates and environmental hazards like laser beams to do your dirty work for you. You'll have super powers at your disposal like flying, invisibility and telekinesis.
Atomic Ninjas will...
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4 CommentsInfinite skateboarding runner OlliOlli heading to PlayStation Vita in November
By Megan Farokhmanesh on May 15, 2013 05.15.13
OlliOlli, a 2D skateboarding game from indie developer Roll7, will launch this November as a PlayStation Vita-exclusive, according to the developer's website.
OlliOlli is a hand-drawn, pixelated infinite runner where players attempt to complete different skateboarding combos. It features infinite, randomly generated levels, more than 100 obstacles for players to avoid and tricks to learn.
Players will skate through five different levels in one of three different modes. Career mode includes infinite running and unlockable stages. Spots mode is for players looking to track their scores against friends, and Daily Grind provides a new challenge every day.
You can watch the video above to see OlliOlli in action. The game will be playable at E3 in June, where Polygon will be reporting...
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2 Comments16-bit platformer Putty returns this summer in Putty Squad from original dev System 3
By Samit Sarkar on May 15, 2013 05.15.13
London-based System 3 is planning to bring back its Putty series from the early '90s with Putty Squad, a side-scrolling 2D platformer set for release this summer on PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Wii U, Windows 8 and Nintendo 3DS.
The studio released the original Putty on Amiga in 1992, and a Super Nintendo version of that game was released in 1993 as Super Putty. The sequel, Putty Squad, launched on Super NES in 1994, but the Amiga and MS-DOS versions were never released.
System 3 released a teaser trailer today for Putty Squad that shows off the platforming action featuring the series' pliable blue ball; you can watch it above. The company originally planned to release the game as a PlayStation Vita launch title, but said today the game won't be available until this...
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18 CommentsAmalur, Demon's Souls, Ico and Shadow of the Colossus coming to European PlayStation Plus
By Griffin McElroy on May 15, 2013 05.15.13
The European PlayStation Plus service will have its Instant Game Collection expanded with Kingdoms of Amalur: Recknoning, Demon's Souls and more later this month, according to a post on the PlayStation Blog.
On May 29, European Plus members will be able to grab three (technically four) games for free: EA and 38 Studios' action-RPG Kingdoms of Amalur: Recknoning, From Software's hardcore RPG Demon's Souls and the Ico and Shadow of the Colossus HD Collection. On the same day, three games will be leaving the Collection to make room: Hitman Absolution, Joe Danger 2 and Dead or Alive 5.
One week later, Rayman Origins and Coconut Dodge Revitalized, two PS Vita titles, will be added to the Instant Game Collection for European subscribers, while shmup Sine Mora will be removed.
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2 CommentsJapan Review Check: Shin Megami Tensei 4, RE Revelations HD
By Kevin Gifford on May 15, 2013 05.15.13
A quick look at the highlights among the games coming out in Japan this coming week, courtesy the review pages of Famitsu magazine:
- Resident Evil: Revelations HD (9/9/10/8, 36 out of 40 points): Famitsu's editors gave the same score to the Wii U, PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of this game, a souped-up port of the 3DS original. "The portable version was pretty," editor Reona Ebihara wrote, "but having this on the big screen results in a totally different experience. Each section is just the right length, making it easy to play. The volume to explore is already beyond what you'd expect from a portable title, and they've now added a new difficulty level for experts to get into. There's also new characters and parts in Raid Mode, too, giving you more to play around with."
The review crew...
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28 CommentsSony's largest investor calls for partial sale of Sony Entertainment
By Dave Tach on May 14, 2013 05.14.13
Dan Loeb, CEO of Sony Corporation's "largest owner" Third Point LLC, called for the company to sell as much as 20 percent of the Sony Entertainment division to increase performance in a letter today written to Sony president and CEO Kazuo Hirai.
Third Point LLC and the entities that it manages holds $1.1 billion in Sony stock, about 64 million shares. The hedge fund provides pooled investment services worldwide, and its proposal would have Sony offer 15-20 percent of Sony Entertainment to current shareholders as a means to incentive performance and increase profit margins.
"Sony Electronics has suffered frustrating results for the past decade, brought about by low margins, persistent losses, and weak returns on capital," Loeb wrote. "While it is true that Sony has excellent products,...
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3 CommentsSound Shapes goes electronic with '80s and dubstep sound packs this week
By Samit Sarkar on May 14, 2013 05.14.13
Queasy Games will add new sounds this week to Sound Shapes, its well-received musical platformer, with sound packs for '80s and dubstep music, publisher Sony Computer Entertainment announced today.
The '80s Sound Pack highlights the dance-oriented pop tunes of the decade with synthesizer samples and drum pad beats. Players looking for more modern sounds can pick up the Dubstep Sound Pack, which contains the heavy drops and wub-wub noises we've come to associate with every other video game trailer. Each pack features new notes and loops, along with five new PlayStation Network Trophies and five additional Beat School levels.
Each of the two packs will cost $0.99, just like previous sound packs. The new packs will be released today in North America, tomorrow in Europe and Asia and...
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3 CommentsJacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery coming to PS Vita today, iOS Thursday
By Alexa Ray Corriea on May 14, 2013 05.14.13
Liverpool-based Lucid Games will launch its episodic adventure puzzler Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery this week for PlayStation Vita and iOS, the company announced on Twitter.
The Vita version will be available today after the PlayStation Store updates and the iOS version will hit this Thursday, according to tweets from the dedicated accounts for the developer and the game. The Vita game will cost $2.99.
Looks like the cat is out of the bag then, Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery is out this week, iOS release is on Thursday #jacobjones
— Lucid (@LucidGamesLtd) May 13, 2013
Looks like there will be a Bigfoot sighting this week on iOS and VITA!
— Jacob and Biggie (@JacobandBiggie) May 13, 2013
Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery follows young boy Jacob and...
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4 CommentsKillzone Mercenary trailer shows the gory side of war on PS Vita
By Emily Gera on May 14, 2013 05.14.13
Sony has released a short trailer for its upcoming PS Vita title Killzone Mercenary, offering a glimpse of bloody combat and (literal) below-the-belt targets.
The Guerrila Cambridge-developed title is slated for release Sept. 17 in North America. Earlier in the year, Polygon got a closer look at the game during Sony's PlayStation Media Showcase. Check out our preview of the game here.
The title is likely to make another appearance during Sony's PlayStation E3 event scheduled for June 10.
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23 CommentsAccused PlayStation hacker destroys machines, dodges 20 years in prison
By Jenna Pitcher on May 14, 2013 05.14.13
Todd M. Miller, suspected hacker and accused participant in the group who brought Sony's online game servers down in 2008, was sentenced by a federal court to three years probation, a year of house arrest and ordered to complete a high-school equivalence certificate for obstructing a federal investigation, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
The Columbus, Ohio resident potentially faced 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. After Miller was interviewed by the FBI in 2011, he destroyed his machines and disposed of his hard drives before the authorities could return with a search warrant. The FBI could not charge Miller with hacking offenses due to the lack of evidence.
The judge said that because Miller had a troubled childhood and now had stability and a full time job, that...
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2 CommentsMetro: Last Light, Grid 2 discounted for PlayStation Plus members
By Megan Farokhmanesh on May 13, 2013 05.13.13
PlayStation Plus members will be able to grab Metro: Last Light for 20 percent off ($47.99) and the Grid 2 pre-order at a 10 percent discount ($53.99) starting this week, according to a post on the PlayStation Blog.
Following the update, cross-buy platform adventure game Knytt Underground will also be added to the Instant Game Collection. PlayStation Plus members will be able to pick it up for free, while regular PSN members can grab it for $14.99.
Darksiders and Tekken 6, meanwhile, will no longer be available through the Instant Game Collection as of May 21. Darksiders joined the Instant Game Collection in Janurary of this year, while Tekken 6 became available in March.
Check out the full details for this week's PlayStation Store update here.
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2 CommentsFrozen Synapse dev on going multiplatform while staying indie
By Samit Sarkar on May 13, 2013 05.13.13
Frozen Synapse developer Mode 7 Games exists in a challenging indie development climate, and the studio is responding by attempting to make bigger games and go multiplatform, said co-founder Paul Taylor in an interview with GamesIndustry International.
Oxford, U.K.-based Mode 7 launched Frozen Synapse, a squad-based strategy title, in May 2011 to a warm reception. At the time, the company was just trying to get noticed, and although the game brought Mode 7 a community of dedicated fans, Taylor said the indie competition has gotten significantly tougher since then. Countless studios of all sizes are now trying to revive so-called classic PC gameplay, including through Kickstarter, and controversial personalities in the indie scene grab headlines over developers doing relatively...
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28 CommentsDragon’s Crown trailer brings the Amazon to battle
By Megan Farokhmanesh on May 12, 2013 05.12.13
Atlus released a new Japanese trailer for Vanillaware's upcoming beat-em-up, Dragon's Crown, featuring the Amazon class.
The side-scrolling game features six classes: Amazon, Fighter, Elf, Dwarf, Sorceress and Wizard, which you can view here. The Amazon class is specialized for heavy weaponry. You can watch the video above to see her deal serious blows to foes.
Dragon's Crown launches Aug. 6 in North America for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. Those who pre-order the game will receive a 64-page art book featuring character and environment designs.
