PlayStation Move hits NA Sept. 19, Twisted Metal PS3-bound

LOS ANGELES--Although the PSP Go has proven less than popular, it could be argued Sony began a comeback of sorts at the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo. At its press event last year, the company showed off some major exclusives, such as MAG and the award-winning--and top-rated--Uncharted 2. It also unveiled some sure-to-be fan favorites, including Team ICO's the Last Guardian, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, and Final Fantasy XIV. Then there was the not-so-small matter of the PlayStation 3's motion-control system, which emerged from the shadows via a tech demo.

Christened the PlayStation Move at this year's Game Developers Conference, the motion-control system will be a centerpiece of Sony's E3 2010 press briefing. Also likely in the cards will be a taste of the 3D gaming initiative, which the electronics giant launched this week, and a look at a highly anticipated upcoming 3D title, Killzone 3. Some of the wilder speculation in the gaming press also pegs a PSP 2 debut as being possible at the event, though Sony, having learned its lesson last year, is keeping mum on any surprises.

Come back Tuesday for a live blog of Sony's press briefing or watch a live video stream of it on GameSpot's E3 2010 event page.

[11:57] After being forced to enter the shrine auditorium a 1/2 the audience is suddenly being told the conference is starting.

[11:58] Cue thunderous montage showing Sony products and games.

[11:58] Little Big Planet 2, Gran Turismo 5, Killzone 3, Peacer Walker.

[11:59] Heavy emphasis on Move--Kevin Butler clip makes not so subtle jab at Kinect.

[12:00] Enter SCEA president Jack Tretton, who walks out into a raised dais in the middle of the stage. He takes a jab at Microsoft's Cirque du Soleil performance, saying "don't worry I won't spit--you don't need any ponchos."

[12:01] Obligatory promotion of the PS3's feature set. Blu-ray, unrivaled gaming experiences, and "an expanding range of network services."

[12:04] He gives props to the PS3's multimedia functions.

[12:05] And then he introduces the big cheese, SCEA group president Kaz Hirai.

[12:05] He says that the next year will take "innovation and content to a whole new level."

[12:05] Says he wants to do for 3D what the PS3 did for Blu-ray.

[12:05] Promises 20 titles made for native 3D will be coming to PS3 by March 2011.

[12:05] Cue demo of KIllzone 3, which will be in native 3D.

[12:07] Guerrilla Games comes on stage to show the game off, and tells the audience to put on their 3D glasses.

[12:07] A Helghan helicopter releases troopers in jet packs, and an intense firefight ensues.

[12:08] One Helghan takes fire to his jetpack, causing it to fly out of control.

[12:08] More intense close-quarters combat, and one of the players steals a jetpack.

[12:09] He flies over a frozen wasteland, entering a derelict building.

[12:09] He searches and then flies over a ravine--I guess Killzone is a platformer now.

[12:10] The player uses the pack to rise above enemies' cover and deliver death from above.

[12:11] He also uses the pack to take cover on roofs and neutralize the enemies' height advantage.

[12:11] The jetpack trooper then helps a human dropship assault a raised position.

[12:12] Killzone 3 due out February 2011, only on PS3--and will be completely compatible with the PlayStation Move at launch.

[12:13] With SOCOM 4, that means there are now both a core third-person and first-person shooter in the works for the PlayStation Move.

[12:15] The Sly Collection will be in 3D--as will Grant Turismo 5, Shaun White Skateboaring, Tron Evolution, Crysis 2, and more.

[12:15] NBA 2K11, as well.

[12:16] Now one last 3D surprise…

[12:16] Montage of PS3 hardware.

[12:16] The new Mortal Kombat will also be in 3D, as will EyePet.

[12:17] MLB 10: The Show, Tumble--which appears new.

[12:17] Mortal Kombat shown off with graphic fatalities--definitely a hard M.

[12:18] Lights come up, Tretton comes out.

[12:19] Tretton dismisses talks of life cycles, saying its about the quality of immersive entertainment. Since it's the PS2's 10th anniversary, it gets its due. Nielsen says it's still the second-most played platform in the US.

[12:20] Since last year, there has been a big spike in PS3 sales as well. Yeah, a price drop will do that.

[12:20] PlayStation Move now up, which he says will be more realistic than other controllers.

[12:21] SCEA marketing head Peter Dille comes out to tout his wares.

[12:22] He said that the Move and 3D are proof that the PS3 is "future proof" since they are being introduced four years into its product cycle.

[12:22] He touts the Move's one-to-one tracking with the PS Eye and controller, which has three sensors built inside of it.

[12:23] Cue montage of Move's developers.

[12:24] Footage of scientists is intercut with Kevin Butler ads delivering thinly veiled jabs at Kinect.

[12:25] Sony finally has a good PS3 ad campaign, and they are playing it up. The LACC has a giant 50-foot poster of Butler plastered on the front.

[12:26] Dille says that the Blu-ray has so much capacity, they can often put two full versions of a game on one disc--the Move version and the regular version.

[12:26] Dille now promises to reveal some brand-new games.

[12:27] First game is called Sorcery, an all-new fantasy game designed just for the PlayStation Move.

[12:27] It will provide a "total sense of immersion."

[12:28] He pulls out a Move controller and navigation controller.

[12:28] The game is cartoonish fantasy, with a young sorcerer holding a wand in a dungeon.

[12:29] The demonstrator puts the game through its paces. Spells are cast by waving the move controller at the screen as though it were a wand.

[12:30] Spells are selected from a radial menu brought up by a button.

[12:30] Movement is controlled with the subcontroller.

[12:31] He prepares a spell to change him into a rat. The LED ball at the end of the controller changes colors to match the spell.

[12:31] He casts a whirlwind spell and sucks an enemy into a vortex by twhirling his wand in the air.

[12:31] He then combines it with a fire spell and creates a fire tornado.

[12:32] He casts an area effect spell by swinging his wand toward the ground.

[12:32] Demo ends.

[12:34] Dille promises that the move will revolutionize sports gaming as well. Cue the head of EA Sports development Andrew Wilson with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11.

[12:35] After calibrating the controller, he gets ready to take a swing. He said the controller can measure power and will be about one long motion "not just a flick of the wrist."

[12:36] He hits a strong shot which goes into the sand trap. It looks like he's really swinging.

[12:36] Swings again--sand trap again.

[12:37] Third swing, he just misses the green.

[12:37] The onscreen action does indeed look like it is one-to-one in sync with the player.

[12:38] Fourth stroke, and it's in the hole. Where's Rodney Dangerfield to make a wisecrack?

[12:39] Tiger Woods will get Move compatibility via a PSN patch when the system launches this fall. It will also be on the "Move demo disc," which will presumably come with the system.

[12:41] Whoa, wait what--all new game, Heroes on the Move--which will feature Jak and Daxter, Ratchet and Clank, and Sly Cooper.

[12:41] Move will be promoted with the help of Coca-Cola, which will advertise the game.

[12:43] Out walks Kevin Butler--or more accurately the actor who plays him. He said he needs to get something off his chest and kicks Dille off stage.

[12:43] "So am I crazy or did I see 100 French acrobats prancing around the other night."

[12:44] "I think its time to focus on what's really important--the games." He pronounces his love for games with a series of wisecracks. "Gaming is about staying up to 3 a.m. to own a trophy that isn't real."

[12:45] "With PlayStation Move, your mom can make your mom jokes when she schools you at table tennis."

[12:46] "And we can all box with characters with important features like arms and necks." Laughter.

[12:47] Cue fake patriotic ad. "We all serve one master, one king. And his name is…GAMING. Forever may he reign!" Applause and laughter as Butler walks off.

[12:48] Move launch details: EU Sept 15, NA Sept. 19, Japan Oct. 21.

[12:48] Controller is $50, navigation controller is $30

[12:50] PS3 bundle with console, Move, PS Eye will be $400. $100 bundle with Move, the PS Eye, and Sports Champions.

[12:50] RUSE, Singstar Dance, echochrome II, and EyePet will all support Move.

[12:50] Cue Move montage to--yes, seriously--Bust a Move.

[12:50] Also, those bundles will include the Sports Champions minigame compilation.

[12:51] Now they're mixing in "I like to move it move it"

[12:52] Montage shows TV superstars, SOCOM 4, and a Time Crisis game, amongst others.

[12:52] Montage ends, lights come out.

[12:55] Now its on to the PSP, with Tretton back on stage. He says the PSP is the only portable platform for the serious gamer.

[12:56] Cue series of ads which features a new spokesperson, a sassy young African-American kid named Marcus.

[12:58] Tretton back out, and holds up Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker as an example of a great core game on PSP.

[12:58] After briefly mentioning the PSP-camera game Invizimals, a trailer for God of War: Ghost of Sparta unspools. Developed by Chains of Olympus shop Ready and Dawn, the game will be an origin story for Kratos.

[12:58] Both games will be part of hardware packs this fall.

[12:59] Tron Evolution and UFC 2010 also coming to PSP.

[1:02] Monatrion Racers, Ace Combat Joint Assault, Gravity Crash Portable, Dragon Ball Z Tenkachi, Hot Shots Tennis Get a Grip, Madden NFL 11, Patapon, Tetris, EyePet, Piyotma, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, The 3rd Birthday, Persona 3 Portable, and Ys: The Oath in Felgana are all teased in a montage.

[1:02] Now its PlayStation Network, which has 50 million users right now. Tretton said its the most connected console on the planet.

[1:03] Oh, and the second series of the Tester will begin casting tomorrow!

[1:03] PSN video store is getting content from NBC and Nickelodeon.

[1:04] The Sony E3 2010 booth was completely replicated in PlayStation Home, so those who can't make it to E3 can explore it.

[1:05] Out comes Alex Evans from Media Molecule to demonstrate Little Big Planet 2.

[1:07] He talks about the ethos of Play, Create, and Share, and goes over some new creation tools, including the ability to make games in any genre.

[1:07] He shows a competitive game which looks like tournament Tetris of sorts. Then he has a new game called "Crashy Crash," which is a combination between sumo wrestling and bumper cars.

[1:09] Now he's showing off a Joust-like competitive platformer, which he says is easy to build.

[1:10] Now teasing an R-Type like shooter, one of dozens of games made by Media Molecule developers. They also created top-down racers and a full-fledged real-time strategy game.

[1:12] Tretton back out to tout how the PSN will remain free with its current feature set. However, there will be a new paid level called PlayStation Plus, which will require a subscription. He said the service will offer "hundreds" of dollars of value, including early demo access, beta invites, free games, free themes, and a host of other new content.

[1:13] It will launch later this month for $50 a year, three-month subscription is $18.

[1:13] All content will be owned for the "duration of your subscription"--i.e. you unsubscribe and you lose access to it.

[1:14] During the first month, gamers get Wipeout HD, a demo, two PSP mini games, and select avatars.

[1:15] Now it's on to third-party support, with EA being called out as a big booster of all things PlayStation.

[1:15] EA COO John Schappert--who used to be an executive at Microsoft--takes the stage.

[1:15] He's here to announce two new titles will have exclusive PlayStation 3 content.

[1:15] The first is Medal of Honor and executive producer Greg Goodrich takes the stage to describe it.

[1:16] He is rocking a big bushy beard just like that of the soldier on the game's cover.

[1:17] A new character named Deuce--an elite Tier One operator--is introduced in a trailer.

[1:18] Montage introduces a whole Tier 1 Operator squad, and shows vehicles such as ATVs and helicopters will be driveable.

[1:18] Due out on October 12 (previously known), the game will feature a complex customization element courtesy of DICE, which is making the multiplayer.

[1:19] Characters will have unlockable beards!

[1:20] New multiplayer map in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan is shown.

[1:20] Action looks intense with airstrikes, melee kills.

[1:21] A limited edition of Medal of Honor will be available on October 12, and will include a remastered version of the 2002 game Medal of Honor Frontline.

[1:22] Now it's on to Dead Space 2, which sees Isaac Clarke facing off against a monster boss that's several stories high.

[1:22] He escapes the behemoth, only to face a still-huge creature in some ventilation shafts.

[1:23] The two engage in some tough melee combat, and Isaac enters a room where he faces the huge boss again.

[1:24] Dead Space 2 limited edition will have a PlayStation Move-optimized version of Dead Space Extraction completely free.

[1:25] Extraction will be on the game disc.

[1:25] Tretton leaves and is interrupted by GLaDOS, the computer from Valve's Portal.

[1:26] Out walks Gabe Newell, Valve Software founder and one of the PS3's most vocal critics.

[1:27] Portal 2 is coming to the PS3 as well, and will bring a series of Steam features to the PlayStation 3.

[1:27] First Portal 2 trailer ever unspools.

[1:28] Shots of the wrecked interior of the Aperture Science building.

[1:28] Coming to PS3 in 2011.

[1:29] Newell said it will be "the best console version of Portal 2." Damn, talk about a change of heart.

[1:30] Now its time for a look at Square Enix's upcoming MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV. Cue montage of scary beasts and stylish warriors with nice hair.

[1:30] 2K Games now being called out, thanks to exclusive day-one PS3 exclusive content for Mafia II.

[1:31] The PS3 version will have exclusive missions.

[1:32] Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood will also have exclusive missions, and its multiplayer beta will be available only on PSN.

[1:33] New characters appear to be a shape-shifter, a jester, and some group of warriors.

[1:34] Cue video montage hyping the PS3's upcoming lineup, which includes some multiplayer titles.

[1:34] Dead Space 2, Madden, NBA 2k11…

[1:36] Gran Turismo 5 has a prominent place--yes, it's still coming. No, really!

[1:38] Tretton comes out to show a dedicated Gran Turismo 5 trailer, saying "we are finally going to get our hands on Polyphony's masterpiece." He does not give a date.

[1:39] The trailer is indeed near-photorealistic, with the cars shining and skidding. If you like Top Gear, you will want this game. It even has a runway test course that looks like the celebrated auto show's.

[1:40] COMING NOVEMBER 2, 2010. Finally.

[1:40] Lights coming up, then go down again for a look at Infamous 2 from Sucker Punch.

[1:42] Protagonist/antagonist runs through the street showing lighting and fire powers. He faces a massive beast at the end.

[1:42] Tretton is back and says "we have one last surprise for you." Lights come back down.

[1:44] Advertisement shows cabbies arguing over what was the best car combat game on the PS1 and PS2.

[1:45] A clown emerges from the shadows and sets his hair on fire--a huge TWISTED METAL logo comes up and fake fire coats the stage.

[1:45] A battered ice cream truck goes on the stage. David Jaffe gets out, and says the new game is coming in 2011, and will have many of the original developers working on it.

[1:46] A multiplayer match is shown, where a helicopter gun mows down a car battle in a city.

[1:47] The game will feature two-player split-screen multiplayer play, and there will also be a campaign mode.

[1:48] Now they're showing off a new game mode, Nuke, which will be about objective-based multiplayer gameplay.

[1:51] Players will each be part of a faction, and that faction must capture and hold their rival faction's leader near a missile launcher. Once powered up, the missile launcher will deploy its ordnance, which must be guided into a statue.

[1:51] Twisted Metal will be playable in the Sony booth.

[1:52] Tretton back out now, wrapping up.

[1:52] He thanks everyone, and that's it!