http://jonathancullen.goonlinegames.net/2009/04/14/e3-2009-how-sony-could-steal-the-show/
And while we did get some things like the Video Store, Firmware 2.40 (which was only announced the day after we published that article), Resistance 2 and LittleBigPlanet, there was of course things that we didnt see coming.
We asked for Final Fantasy XIII, we got it, but not from Sony. I dont think I need to tell you what happened, I think you know what happened so I’ll spare you. Also, we got God of War III which, we did ask for, just in gameplay, not CGI. And then came something which bewildered people: MAG. 256 player online battles, the first thought that came into people’s heads was one word: impossible.
But moving away from 2008, the PlayStation family has gotten off to a great start particuarly PS3 and PSP. The momentum started with Killzone 2 and more on the way before E3 with inFamous, while the PSP will get a great ton load of games, particuarly the load of games announced at Destination PlayStation like Assassins Creed, LittleBigPlanet (which we asked for last year), Motorstorm: Arctic Rift and more.
But here’s the thing, what can Sony do THIS year to blow people away at their E3 press conference on June 2nd?
PlayStation 2:
The price cut has been and gone, the PS2 retails at $99/£99 (the UK price has been that for a while) as it, sadly, goes into its 10th and final year as part of Sony’s 10 year plan. As far as seeing anything dramatic for the PS2, its doubtful, but Sony could show a bundle like they did last year with the Batman Lego PS2 bundle.
Other then that, dont expect anything big on the PS2 front.
PlayStation Portable:
Like I said at the top of the article, the PSP has got off to a good start this year with LittleBigPlanet being revealed and in development by Studio Cambridge, with Assassins Creed and Motorstorm: Arctic Edge also coming as well.
It is more then likely we’ll see them lot in action at E3.
But of course, you cant not go into a disscussion with E3 and Sony without bringing up the PSP2. It is more then likely gonna materise during the conference at some point, it has been 5 years since they revealed the original PSP at E3 2004 so now seems to be the perfect time to show off the console and see when its out and what games will support it at launch.
So watch the hills, PSP 2 is certainly coming and it will most likely be at E3 2009.
PlayStation Network:
Well, any hurdles that the PSN has faced since last year has long gone, particuarly the launch of PlayStation Home. Home is out there at last and over time, from the closed public beta last August to open beta last December, it has gotten better and better.
But Home still has a fair bit to go I feel, more spaces and other drastic improvements still need to come. For example, know the Xi space, maybe something similar at E3. Also, when we can know about other specfic dates for Home spaces like the Motorstorm space, Killzone and maybe a LittleBigPlanet plus many more.
But its not just Home, it’s stuff that was promised a while back, particuarly VidZone and the Video Store in Europe and Canada. It has been ages since we have heard a peep of VidZone, and while it is an SCEE project and not a SCEA project, it still would be nice to hear about it at E3.
And the Video Store in the EU and Canada is long overdue, its nearly been a year since it launched in the US (if you’ll remember, it launched straight after the E3 conference) so please, we need to get it soon, I wanna be able to download Season 7 of 24 ont my PS3, that way, I can see Jack Bauer kicking ass on my PS3.
And of course, there are the games. There hasnt been many big PSN game announcements this year but hopefully, we’ll see some at E3, particuarly The Punisher. We havent seen that in a while, maybe it’ll show its fact then.
As for PSP games, I have no complaints and suggestions, they’re doing the way they’re doing now very well with distrubution. That said, maybe they’ll announce they’ll sell LBP PSP on the Store as well as UMD. As for PS1 games, we need to see some big time classics on the Store like Metal Gear Solid for one, the other being a game that everyone is clammering for, Final Fantasy VII.
PLAYSTATION 3:
And so we come to the biggest one of the lot. To get things swiftly under way, no price cut will happen, that will come before Christmas, probably during the Tokyo Games Show. As for the games themselves, already, the PS3 has a huge line-up of first party games for this year. Already, they have released Killzone 2, inFamous coming in May and as well as that, you have Uncharted 2 and Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time, all confirmed for this year.
Its a fair bet to say they’ll be there and shown live. As for other games, like God of War III and Heavy Rain, we’re unsure of their dates but hopefully, we’ll see them at E3. God of War III shown live with a big kickass trailer or gameplay demo with a late 09/early 10 release date, followed then by a presentation of Heavy Rain, which I think will be announced for 2010 at the conference as we have not seen it in ages.
Eat, Sleep, Play is an other company which all fans need to keep their eye on. David Jaffe is working on something big for the PS3, the biggest assumption would be Twisted Metal PS3. We will hopefully see that at E3. But you know what else we need to see too? What Dylan Jobe is up to.
He’s moved away from Incognito and set up a new studio but it seems like the first project already could be Warhawk 2. Leaked concept art got out and it is viable that WH2 could be in development, but we have to see yet whats happening from Jobe, but whatever it is, hopefully we’ll see it teased at least during the show.
As for Zipper Interactive, we’re still to see gameplay footage from MAG, we should be able to see that before E3 or during the conference. But then, rather sooner then later for Zipper and MAG.
And its been a while since we have heard a peep from Polyphony Digital, hopefully we’ll hear as to what they’re doing with Gran Turismo 5: Prologue, but of course, they’ll say they have done nothing to it, why? BAM! Gran Turismo 5 itself, shown at the conference. It’s been a while, but development is surely ongoing at Polyphony for Gran Turismo 5.
But the one game that everyone want is dying to see, you wanna see it, I wanna see it, hell, every PS3 owner probably wants to see it. I am of course referrign to Fumito Ueda and Team ICO. We do not have a clue what his team is working on infact, we know absolutely nothing on it other then it’s based on contact and it’ll consist more of ICO then Shadow of the Colossus.
Considering that Ueda came out to GDC to talk at a panel with Suda 51, you can place your house as a bet, we WILL see that Team ICO game at E3. You can put your house on it.
But, what about 3rd party stuff, hmm? Well…
To start with, you have to go with Mass Effect 2. BioWare have said the game will be out next year for the 360 and PC but no PS3 version… yet. BioWare havent exactly denied a PS3 version of the game will be coming at some point so for Sony to show the game at E3, while not as big, will be a big stab in the back to Microsoft, similar to them and Square last year.
And what about Hideo Kojima? It’s the most likely thing ever that he’ll announce his newest game at E3 and excluisve to the PS3, particuarly the game in question being Metal Gear Solid 5. Okay, he hasn’t come out and said MGS5 but his GDC keynote seriously hinted at that, but personally, I want Zone of the Enders 3. But whatever Kojima is working on, I’ll be looking forward to it with great excitement.
Which brings us to the last piece in the jigsaw, probably the biggest 3rd party of them all, and one that delievered the biggest knife to the back to PS3 owners last July: Square Enix. To start off with, new footage of Final Fantasy XIII & Final Fantasy Versus XIII shown at the conference, hopefully gameplay, but a trailer will do at least. But you know that the one game that everyone will be asking for will be that remake of Final Fantasy VII.
It would be the biggest announcement ever, so much so, that you’d think the sky is falling, thats how big that announcement could be compared to the Final Fantasy XIII announcement at the MS conference. Well, that or Kingdom Hearts III.
And then Yuich Wada and Tesuya Nomura will walk on stage together, after the reveal trailer of either one, to talk about the game only then for one of them to pull off a rubber mask, find out its Kojima and for him to say “did you rike it” to let us know that the dream is stil a pipedream.
So, thats what Sony should do, what about the other two?
