Nerd Rating

Tag: Sony

  • Lightbox Interactive Forced To Layoff Employees.

    Starhawk Developer To Focus On iOS Development.

    In some sad news it was announced by Lightbox Interactive’s founder and president Dylan Jobe that the company would be cutting 24 jobs from their workforce and would be getting out of developing games for consoles, instead focusing on iOS games.

    Jobe has asserted that the company is not shutting down completely and that all 24 employees were told ahead of time of the layoffs to give them time to get their resumes and portfolios in order. The employees will also be receiving severance packages.

    Sony has gone on record officially saying that their partnership with Lightbox has ended as well.

    “Sony Computer Entertainment can confirm that it has amicably ended its working agreement with developer LightBox Interactive, Inc. We have had a positive and long-standing working relationship with this talented studio, and wish them the best of success in their next endeavor. Starhawk and Warhawk will continue to be supported by Santa Monica Studio.”

    This is very disheartening to hear especially since Starhawk was such a wonderful game. I had a blast playing it earlier this year even if the multiplayer kept kicking my @**. The game did not sell as well as Sony would have hoped and one has to think that it played a huge part in what is happening with the studio now.

    You can still support Lightbox by buying [amazon_link id=”B005185SDA” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Starhawk[/amazon_link] and seeing how much work was put into the game and how much fun it truly was. It is a hidden gem that should be experienced.

  • Review: Little Big Planet PS Vita

    Can Sack Boy Save The Vita?

    It has been a rough summer for Vita owners. After the system’s initial launch there has not been much to be truly excited about. The games have been on a slow trickle out to retail with Gravity Rush being a small bright spot. There are only so many PS Minis and AR titles one can download before thinking that your cool piece of handheld technology is becoming a $250 paperweight.

    But there is a change coming and it began with the (early) release of Little Big Planet PS Vita as well as Sony giving the system some practical uses (PSOne classics, Cross-Buy) and a fall lineup that is shaping up to be better than expected. But right now, this is Sack Boy’s system.

    Little Big Planet PS Vita had me wondering if Tarsier could take over for Media Molecule and not only bring a complete LBP experience to Sony’s handheld but make use of all the Vita’s bells and whistles to change the way you play the series. Quite simply, the answer is a resounding yes.

    If you are familiar with the Little Big Planet series then initially you are not in for many surprises. You will be introduced to our hero Sack Boy and taken to the comfort of your world hub, known as your Pod. Here you will choose between three worlds of adventures. The first being the games story mode, the second is the community creations world where you download all of the weird (sometimes really weird) levels made by other Vita players and the third being your world of your own wonderful creativity.

    When beginning the story mode there is a comforting voice at the beginning, that of Stephen Fry which returns to give Sack Boy a new journey. Now trying to explain a Little Big Planet story is like explaining War and Peace to a five year old, there are some things you just don’t try to put into words. Like all other stories in the series it is perfectly understandable if you are in a constant state of….let’s say consciousness. (This site would never endorse illegal smoking) Sack Boy’s journey begins with a tutorial that will introduce players to all of our hero’s skills including all the new uses of the touch screens, both front and rear, as well as jumping and grappling. In no time you will be swinging and pad bouncing around like an old pro.

    Community Is King

    The level design in Little Big Planet is second to none and that is before you even leave the story mode to explore the creative community. Here is where you will find creations from all other LBP players all over the world. The best part about this is discovering what people can create with just a mind for creation and a lot (A LOT) of time on their hands. Levels range from the truly remarkable to the downright frustrating especially when you fight through a level and see that the creator really made no way to beat it. Annoying? Yes, but the beauty is in looking around and discovering the truly amazing levels of creativity that even puts some real game makers to shame.

    One of the best features to the entire game is the Memorizer. With this you can actually save inside someone’s user created level. This essentially means that people around the world can make entire games, not just one off levels. Imagine if someone wanted to make a LBP version of Gears of War. There are almost limitless possibilities with the use of this tool and really does make the game almost never ending.

    Now on the opposite side of playing other people’s levels is the level creator itself. Now I will just go ahead and tell you that this is one part of the game that I am not in love with but that is not to game’s detriment, it is to my lack of time to truly sit down and create the levels that are swimming in my head. Some of the menus are a little difficult to navigate through and place items exactly how you want them but as I said I lack the patience as some people to really delve into the nuts and bolts and focus all my energy on it. I have created a few basic levels involving jump gaps and grappling but when I think about the amount of time it took me to create them against some of the community levels I have played it staggers my mind to imagine how much time was spent crafting those levels. Again, that is not the game’s fault but my own feeble brain.

    If you have played through any of the first two Little Big Planet’s on Playstation 3 and own a Vita then this should be an instant buy for you. I would even recommend buying the system to get your fix for LBP. It is really that good. While the story mode is a little on the short side that does not affect the game at all with its robust and seemingly never ending user created content that should keep the game fresh and playable for months and maybe years to come.

    Nerd Rating- 9/10

    [amazon_enhanced asin=”B0050SW2NA” /]

     

  • Sly Cooper: Thieves In Time Release Date Announced

    Next February Just Got More Crowded .

    Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time will be coming on February 5, 2013 just in time to join a crowded month which includes the likes of Bioshock, Metal Gear and Dead Space.

    Fans have waited almost seven years on the stealthy raccoon’s PS3 debut. The game was originally slated for this fall but was pushed back and was also added to the PS Vita lineup. Thieves in Time will be one of Sony’s Cross-Buy titles which means that when you buy the Playstation 3 version of the game you will be able to download the title onto your Vita for free.

    Along with Cross-Buy the game also has Cross-Play functionality so you can swap saves between systems. Playing at home and have to head out of the house? Simply swap your save to your Vita and continue from where you left off. Both of these features is what Sony (and myself) are hoping will push Vita sales.

    Will you be getting Sly Cooper come February or is the month too full of great games already?

    [amazon_enhanced asin=”B0050SXU3Q” /]

  • Sony Shows Off Lighter, Thinner PS3.

    Two New Models And Bundles Announced

    Sony started off TGS 2012 by revealing what had been leaked weeks ago, that we would be getting a new model for the Playstation 3. The new model is 20% smaller than the current “slim” version and weighs 25% less.

    The system will come in a 250GB and 500GB versions and will be available in limited edition bundles. The 250GB system will be released on September 25th and retail for $269.99. It will come packed with Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception: Game of the Year Edition as well as a $30 voucher for CCP Games upcoming free to play shooter Dust 514.

    Dust 514 is a first person shooter based in the EVE Online universe where your online battles actually affect the real outcomes and economy of the EVE online community. The game is free to play but will have different items and weapons available through microtransactions and $30 should be a good start for anyone wanting to start on this new shooter.

    The 500GB version of the system will be available on October 30th to coincide with the release of Assassin’s Creed 3. A special bundle will be ready with the system coming packed with the highly anticipated game and a free month of Playstation Plus for only $299.99. The Playstation 3 version of the game also includes four exclusive levels that can only be played on Sony’s system.

    It looks like Sony is making a big push this year to get more PS3’s into homes before next year when it is presumed they will show off their next home console for the first time.

  • Playstation 4 May Run At 4K Resolution

     

    Sony wants your Playstation 4 (or Orbis, who knows) to look very, very clear. Rumors are circulating that Sony’s next iteration of the Playstation will come ready to support the high resolution televisions. Right now the only way that will happen is if you are worth more than most Sony executives since their own brand of 4K television will be releasing this fall in an 80 inch version for a cool $30,000.

    But this is always how Sony operates. They are known for future proofing their systems. The PS2 coming equipped with a DVD drive and the PS3 with a Blu-Ray player were huge reasons why those platforms became a mainstay in homes worldwide so this is just another smart move by Sony to ensure the PS4 has a long shelf life.

    I will be taking donations for a new 4K TV soon. Hello Kickstarter.