Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Hold Off The Zombie Horde Until Late September

Zombie killing fiends will have to wait until late September to play Dead Rising 2, as the game was delayed today by Capcom.  No specific reason was mentioned other than Capcom stating, “We are happy to confirm today that Dead Rising 2 is set for release across North America on September 28th, 2010″.

It is undetermined whether or not this will affect the Xbox 360 downloadable prologue “Case Zero”.

Dead Rising 2 will be released on the PC, Xbox 360, and the PS3 on September 28th in North America and October 1st in Euroupe.

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Red Faction Downloadable Game To Hit Before Armageddon

THQ’s VP of core games Danny Bilson said to expect a Red Faction Downloadable title due for the XBLA and PSN release 3-4 months before Armageddon hits store shelves in March.

There’s going to be a Red Faction Arcade game that ships about three or four months before Armageddon. “What’s interesting is that we will sell it to the fans, it will have content you can download that is TV show-related, it will build up to the new game and also we can use it to drive pre-orders, too; we can give codes and aspects of it, we can give the whole thing away.”

Bilson also says to expect the same treatment for other upcoming titles like Saints Row 2 and a couple of others.

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Sony Planning To Release More PS2 HD Collections

With the popularity of the God Of War Collection, Sony has revealed that they are in fact looking into other PS2 titles to give an HD makeover. As we already know from E3, The Sly Collection is already in the works, and both Ico and the Shadow of the Colossus has been rumored for quite some time now for a possible release in Q1 of 2011.

It’s nice to see Sony working on HD versions for some of the classic games from the PS2 era, especially if you have a PS3 that’s not backward compatible.

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Listen in as Eric Bouchard shares his viewpoint of the first official day of E3, along with his impressions of Nintendo’s and Sony’s press conferences.

E3 2010 Podcast Ep. #3

After Guerilla Games showed off Killzone 3 today at Sony’s E3 Press Conference, they announced to expect Killzone 3 in February of 2011. That would put the game two years after Killzone 2. Also worth mentioning is the game will have full 3D support and functionality of the Playstation Move at launch.

Vengeance is pretty much the only thing on Kratos mind. You can probably guess what he is going to do to the Greek gods he holds accountable for the death of his wife and child. It’s going to involve a lot of shouting and gratuitous amounts of blood. You always know where he stands. You’re knocking off legendary Greek gods like it’s going out of style. Have no misconceptions, God of War 3 is exactly what you expect. It’s God of War fun with the visuals on steroids. This is 3rd person gaming action at its finest.

Gameplay

Not much has changed in a mechanical sense for the third addition in the God of War series. You’re going to be swinging your chain swords (?) at enemies big and small and dusting off the big boys with fantastic finishing moves preformed in quick time format. Sometimes you’re fighting appropriately sized opposition and other times you’re fighting a semiconscious sky scraper. Expect to be opening chests and enjoying goodies inside as well as collecting red orbs of fallen foes for upgrades, and blue for magic. You still upgrade your weapons and moves in the same old way to more effectively deal out massacres, but why fix what ain’t broke? The sense of scale is still stunning. There you are thinking the camera work does a great job of showing off the set pieces, then you realize you can control Kratos while this is all happening. I was fooled more then once into thinking I was watching a cut scene. The game features awesome sets, gorgeous environments and a interesting story that has been built up in the previous two games.

Things are about to get bloody

As well as being able to decimate the god population, Kratos can solve a puzzle like no buddies business. The game divides your time between murder and puzzle solving, which can be a nice break from the carnage. It’s sort of like a Prince of Persia style to puzzles, only not as fun or satisfying. You’re going to be turning cranks and raising water levels but it all feels like it’s going through the motions. It’s by no means bad, but compared to the action segments of the game, the puzzles eventually feel like playtime extending add ons. The game also throws some different gameplay mechanics at you throughout the game. You will get to enjoy mini-games similar to Guitar Hero and Tekken. It’s a nice kick in the pants when you think you’ve figured out the best strategy for every situation. You can also choose your own style by picking one of the 4 main weapons that best suit your own play style. I was a cestus man, pummeling my foes with gigantic steel boxing gloves.

I actually enjoyed the story.

I didn’t think I would, but they got me. I’m a sucker for Greek mythology. Maybe I’ve seen Disney’s Hercules one too many times, but I was all ears through out the length of the game. And what’s better then seeing creative interpretations of all the legendary Greek gods? How about knocking them off one by one? If you don’t think that’s awesome, then this game isn’t for you. It isn’t going to rewrite how people approach story telling in this medium, but it’s more then good enough. Something about this fantastic take on Greek mythology grabbed me. I was interesting in meeting all the famous Gods and eventually dealing out my raging vengeance upon their heads. The gangs all here, but they won’t be here for much longer thanks to Kratos.

God of violence

Attack!

If being violent was God of War 3′s profession, I would suspect it was on performance enhancing drugs. The intestines will spill, heads will be ripped from their shoulders and there will be blood…oh yes, there will be blood. Throw some nudity in there and a cheesy sex mini-game and you’ve got one game you wouldn’t want your family watching you play. That M on the cover stands for mature, no fooling. You are literally using Helios severed head as a lantern throughout the game. On multiple occasions the screen is covered in a victims blood. This is probably the most outright violent game I have ever played to completion.

If you’re not too squeamish or a fan of the the genre, you’re not going to be dissapointed by God of War 3. But please, put the kids to bed before you turn this one on.

Digital Distribution is definitely starting to be a new trend in gaming. However, unlike motion controls, I am more apt as a gamer to move with this trend. Digital distribution is not something new to the consumers however. The 360 uses it with movies, even Xbox originals. while there are very successful forms of digital distribution i.e. Steam, it can also be a gamble i.e. PSP Go. So what are our thoughts?

Eric Bouchard: The Two Edged Sword

Whether we like it or not, Digital Distribution is here to stay. It’s the direction things are headed. The 360, PSN, Steam…everyone is coming up with ways to deliver their product directly to the consumer. Some people really like the idea of being able to directly download games, music or movies. Personally, I have never been a big fan.

Some of the people who know me may find that hard to believe. After all, I own an iPod with my entire music collection on it, I have ripped several of my movies onto my hard drive and I have digital copies of more than a few of my games. The main difference there is I own physical copies of almost everything. I like having the actual copies in case something ever went wrong. As I have gone through 2 different MP3 players before getting my current iPod, having physical copies of the CDs has been very important to me.

And that brings me to one of my biggest issues with Digital Distribution: you do not really own the product. Anyone who has had to change 360′s knows that. Though Microsoft allows you to redownload any of the arcade games you have bought, you have to go through a rather extensive process to have them relicensed to your new machine. Otherwise you cannot play the games while not connected to XBox Live.

So is Digital Distribution all bad? Not by a long shot. One of the advantages it has is it has allowed smaller developers a channel to release their games. Without it, games like Flower, Groov and Audiosurf would never have been released to the general public. Even larger companies can take advantage of the freedom allowed by Digital Distribution as well. After all, do you really think Epic would have created Shadow Complex if the only way to distribute it had been standard game discs?

Then there are groups like Good Old Games. For those of you who do not know, GOG takes older games, gets them working on current machines and operating systems and then sells them over the net. GOG has two major things going for it. First, many of the games you can download off GOG are not available in a format that is playable on anything current. The other is the company does not believe in attaching DRM to any of its files. In other words, when you buy a game from GOG, you can install it on as many computers as you like and redownload an unlimited number of times if you have the need. Instead of just buying the right to download a playable version of the game, you are buying the rights to the game itself, just as you would if you owned the physical copy. Steam doesn’t even give you that.

Whether we like it or not, Digital Distribution is here to stay. While we can all hope more companies will take the approach Good Old Games has when it comes to DRM, most will not out of fear of piracy. What that will mean for the consumer as far as the question of ownership and usage rights still remains to be seen.

Laren Hawkins: The Future of Gaming

I have to agree with Eric, Digital Distribution is definitely a growing trend in gaming. So much so that Sony recently released an all Digital Distribution hand held. The PSP Go is a big step in the growing strength of Digital Distribution. I was very skeptical of the PSP Go at first. I have always liked owning a physical copy of a game. There are many problems that can come with Digital Distribution. 1: Many people will make the argument that you will never truly own that game and I have to say that is a pretty good argument to make. 2: Many gamers like to trade their games after they are done with it, me included. With something like the PSP Go, you can’t do that, once you drop that money, that’s it. 3: Many consumers may not be comfortable with only buying content online and owning no physical copy of that game. I know I had many concerns about the PSP Go and many questions. So, I hopped on to the information super highway and did some research.

1. What if a friend wants to borrow a game? (There is a feature on the PSP Go that is similar to that on the DS’s download play. I am not sure however how many games are compatible with this feature.)
2. What if your little brother some how manages to delete a game? Like in iTunes, there is a history of your purchases and you have to do is re download it
3. What about the slow internet speed on the Go? That was one of my biggest concerns however, after doing some digging I found a solution. Sony released a software that comes with the Go in which you can transfer music, movies, photos and download games. You can use your computer to download the games and have a faster download speed depending on your internet.

So, are there any positives to Digital Distribution?

Well, yes. For one, you don’t have to make a trip to Gamestop. ( That is enough to make me cry tears of joy and break into a chorus of Hallelujah) With systems like the go all the games are right there on the system you don’t have to carry UMDs. You may still have a question, why am I so wrapped up in the Go? Well lets just say that was the only thong on my Christmas list. Albeit, I am taking a bit of a risk but, what better to understand Digital Distribution then to fully experience it? Like with many things in life, Digital Distribution has both positives and negatives. For now, we can only sit back and watch what Digital Distribution brings to the table in the future.

PixelJunk Monsters, in case you didn’t know, is a tower defense game that was originally released on the Playstation Network back in January of ’08. An expansion pack titled “PJM Encore” was then released in May of ’08. PJM took advantage of the remote play function of the PS3 and PSP but it looked blurry and wasn’t even comparable to the crisp look of playing it on the PS3. The way I looked at it was that if I was in the house then I may as well play it on my PS3. A few months back Q-Games announced that they were releasing PixelJunk Monsters on the PSP. Nobody knew whether it was going to be on UMD or if it was going to be digital download only. Later on more details surfaced stating that it would be packed full of new stuff, hence the official name “PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe.” I’ve been siked about PJMD since it was announced and am happy that it has finally arrived. PJMD is available on the PSP as a digital download and costs $19.99. That may seem a little steep to you but to anyone who has played PJM it’s no problem.

PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe is definitely the ultimate version of PJM. It brings new music, new enemies, new towers, challenge modes that unlock goodies, all the maps that were included in the original game and the expansion pack and even a whole new island. While the graphics of PJMD have been redone for the PSP it still looks beautiful. The art style is what makes PJM stand out and it continues to shine, even on the PSP. I was really impressed with how they kept the total download size under 70MB, that’s crazy for how much stuff is packed into the game.

If you would head on over to the About page of this website you might notice that PJM is currently #4 in the list of my top ten favorite games of all time so maybe I am not the best person to be reviewing this game. This is why I am going to cut my review short and say this: If you like tower defense games then you should definitely play PixelJunk Monsters, it’s the game that took tower defense genre to the next level. If you’ve never really given TD games a try PJM is the best one to bring you into the genre. And for all the TD haters out there it may be the game that changes your standpoint. Bottom line – If you have a PSP buy PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe no matter what. It’s awesome. If you don’t have a PSP and you do own a PS3 then make sure you at least buy the PSN version of the game.

Below is a video so you can see PJMD in action:

Apparently, Sony filed a patent for ” Laugh Detection”. Okay, you can stop laughing now, it is actually pretty interesting. Essentially, they want the PSEye to detect body gestures in concurrence with laughter to detect your mood. Sounds to me like Sony is trying to play keep up with Microsoft. Personally, I am sensing some patent disputes in the future. I do think that it would be impressive for a game to detect your laughter. Also, kind of creepy. What’s next, playing a game with a coffee mug? Oh wait, Sony filed a patent for that too!

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There are 4 modes: Rescue the Princess, Snatch N’ Grab, Team Deathmatch, and Invasion. Rescue the Princess has to be the most popular of the group as I would say it’s what the game is built around. Each team has the other teams princess locked up in their castle, the object of the game is to steal your princess back and bring her to your castle so that you have both princesses in possession. Then you must defend the castle for a short amount of time. The Team Deathmatch mode is self-explanatory. Each person you kill is worth one point, first to 250 wins. In the Snatch N’ Grab mode you are to capture the enemy princess as many times as possible in the amount of time given, once you capture her she goes back to the castle to be captured again. The team with the most captures wins. The last mode, Invasion, has both teams trying to capture and hold outposts while defeating the enemy team.

Fat Princess is a very overwhelming game at first. When I started playing it for the first time I had no idea what I was doing. The “How To Play” section helps a bit but really it’s a lot of reading and you won’t understand the game until you play a few rounds. There are 5 different classes in FP: The Mage, the Priest, the Ranger, the Warrior, and the Villager. The Mage can throw fire and ice from it’s magic wand. The Priest can heal teammates and suck the life from enemies, the Ranger uses ranged weapons like the bow and arrow and when upgraded, a gun. The Warrior has a sword and shield and when upgraded can use a longer sword. The Villager is in my opinion the most interesting class. The Villager is the work force, he is responsible for cutting down trees and mining for silver. If enough wood and silver is collected the Villager can then upgrade the classes. The Villager can also build stuff such as ladders to the enemy castle, catapults, and even trampolines. When upgraded the Villager can throw bombs at people.

Fat Princess is in my opinion a great game but the game really depends on who you play with. Sometimes if you get lucky you will have an awesome group who knows how to use teamwork, other times you are stuck with people who run off and try to win the games by themselves. FP relies heavily on teamwork, when the team works together it almost always results in a victory. My only complaint would be that there are not enough people using headsets. Every once in a while I hear someone say “good game” and didn’t even hear them say a word during the match.

But honestly, I love the rush I get when I capture the princess and slowly make it back to the castle with all of my teammates defending me. It’s a great feeling. If you have a PS3 and $15 to shell out for Fat Princess then I suggest you do it. You will have a great time.

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The Top 5 Things The PS3 Needs to Do
Well I gave Sony there day in court and proved irrefutably, with my Top 5 Reasons to own a PS3, why if you don’t own a PS3 by now you’re a dork (give or take). Okay “irrefutably” and “dork” might be a little strong. Never the less, I believe there are some very compelling reasons to own the system and hope I have demonstrated if nothing else why you should legitimately consider picking one up.

That being said, now it’s time to get our hands dirty. It’s time to stop patting backs and start kicking butts. A little friendly beat down never hurt anyone and in the spirit of constructive criticism I pull no punches as I offer my take on what Sony needs to do, stop doing, improve and outright fix, to start gaining ground in the console war.

The Playstation 3 is a great system and on a strictly platonic level I like the system even more than my 360, but even though I consider the PS3 a better designed, more powerful, more reliable system, these are simply objective observations. My preference for the system is in this regard theoretical, but in practice, unexpressed. Simply put I play my 360 far more as I’m sure most gamers who own both systems can similarly attest.

To spite my admiration for Sony’s powerhouse, there’s simply no denying the advantages of the 360 in terms of games and features. Numbers don’t lie either and there’s a reason the 360 consistently outsells the PS3 on a monthly basis. I can talk about the benefits of the PS3 all day but in the end, ultimately, it’s second fiddle (excluding the Wii, which I play even less) both in terms of usage and sales.

Since Sony seems to be taking their sweet time figuring out what they’re doing it’s apparently up to me. Sony I know you’re reading this. You no longer have any excuse for not being on par with the 360. I give you The Top 5 Things The PS3 Needs to Do.

5. Quit losing exclusives
Let’s start with some basic first aid. The first thing you need to do on a sinking ship, if you’re going to save it, is plug the holes. One of the defining factors in this generation if not the defining factor is the quantity and, interchangeably, the exclusivity of games on a given console. Quite simply, exclusives define a system. Their importance can not be understated. Even cross platform titles are distinguished by exclusive features such as better performance or DLC on a given console. The acknowledged fact is that in terms of exclusivity, of games, DLC, or simply quality of performance, the Xbox has more and does better. But it isn’t just the number of exclusives the system has that’s significant it’s the strategy of what, how, and where.

Not only has Microsoft beaten Sony to the punch for new IP’s like Bioshock, Mass Effect and Left 4 Dead, they have also dealt blows to Sony by ‘borrowing’ some of theirs. What seems unthinkable in the past, and detrimental to Sony’s success, now seems routine, even, company policy. The loss of major AAA exclusives has plagued the troubled system from the beginning. Names like GTAIV and FFIIIX have been the pride and glory of Sony fanboys everywhere, synonymous with the company and platform. Microsoft had Halo but the popularity of these franchises was hard to touch even for a 7′ tall space marine. They are prime gaming real estate and were the major reason for gamers to spend their precious few hundred on Sony’s system instead of another. To see them drift into neutral waters as cross platform titles is a significant blow to the prestige of Sony’s exclusive repertoire and a major coup for Microsoft.

In this case it wasn’t about gaining new exclusives but maintaining the lead in this area by preventing Sony from doing so. Fans of Final Fantasy no longer have a reason to have to buy a PS3, this alone is a major victory for Microsoft since the franchise likely would have been a console mover. There is also a deficit of great JRPG’s on the PS3 and while FFXIII will help to alleviate this they gain nothing on the 360′s library in this respect as it benefits simultaneously. In the case of GTA IV Microsoft has also leveraged the advantage of exclusive DLC.

It may have been Microsoft’s head start or the financial advantage they gained because of it but whatever the reason Sony needs to find a way to stop the bleeding and secure the precious exclusive IP’s they still retain. They’ve been asleep at the watch and Microsoft has been plundering their camp. They still have plenty of new IP’s such as Heavy Rain, M.A.G. (Massive Online Game) and LBP as well as reliable heavy weights such as God of War, Jak and Daxter and Shadow of the Colossus, but they need to make sure they keep them. Though paying the big bucks for exclusives is hard for a company that still loses money on every console, they may need to reach even deeper into their pockets and do so but there is another very important thing they need to do that will make an even bigger difference as time goes on.

4. Get the PSN up to snuff
Something important in consideration of saving exclusives is the enormous popularity of online gaming, the growing demand for downloadable content and their effects on the future of games. If a game features multiplayer it’s becoming essential that it includes robust online functionality, and even games that don’t are expected to take advantage of the internet in some capacity. Whether it’s multiplayer, episodic installments, user generated content, or add-ons, the increasing integration of the online experience into the composition of games is changing the way we perceive them, and how developers approach their creation. It makes sense to focus on the system that will take advantage of this new dynamic most effectively and allow their DLC reach the most people. It’s important Sony finds themselves at the forefront of this frontier.

Yes I realize I included the PSN as one of the top 5 reasons to own a PS3 and that including it here may seem hypocritical but I still stand by my original recommendation. The PSN is a nice network if you choose to take notice of it and enjoy it for what it is. What it is, is free. But let’s face it, free mints after dinner are nice but I don’t go to a restaurant based on the quality of their mints. The PSN has good functionality and enough content and members to keep you occupied, so in it’s defense, yes, it’s a great reason to own a PS3. But if Sony want’s to compete on the same level as Microsoft they’re going to have to step up their game and the PSN for all it’s value and content has one major problem; it’s not Xbox Live.

Microsoft wisely implemented an online platform in the last generation and it gave them several years head start over the competition that has paid off handsomely. Xbox live is the gold standard of online gaming and the multiplayer scene. It is also, in a gaming generation quickly becoming identified as an online culture, one of the primary reasons Xbox enjoys the popularity it does. By establishing the “Live” brand Microsoft gave a name to this new phenomenon while it’s competitors where still just dabbling in it. The Xbox planted a flag in the planet of online gaming while Sony’s half-generation behind PS2 was just barely capable of breaking the stratosphere of even reaching the internet (Nintendo still thought the earth was flat at that point.)

To spite their delay, there is no reason for the Playstation Network to still be wallowing in stagnant mediocrity at this stage. It’s biggest problem is that it suffers from an identity crisis. Online communities are a pillar of hardcore gaming in this age and Sony has taken far too long establishing a recognizable online presence. The interface is minimal, bland and lacks the personality of NXE. The feature set is a sparse reproduction of XBL’s own and simply feels like a second rate alternative to the gold standard. Sony needs to quit dragging it’s feet and decide exactly what the PSN is, and what kind of image it wants to project. They seem to be attempting this with Home and new concepts like Qore but they need to start bringing it all together. It’s all just disjointed parts right now without any distinguishing form.

Funny thing, when someone talks about XBL, you know exactly what they’re talking about. Familiar images of it’s interface and features come to mind as you regard it with a certain spacial palpability, almost as if XBL, with NXE’s slick structured organization, was a tangible place. Now try and get the same sense of recognition, and most importantly orientation, by thinking of the PSN. Sony’s network desperately needs to find itself. And while it’s looking, it also really needs to…

3. Find it’s ‘Halo’
To spite the opinions stalwart PS3 defenders may ardently maintain, Resistance is not as good or anywhere near as big as Microsoft’s FPS juggernaut, Halo. It’s not even quite on the same level as, Gears of War, though the two more recent shooter franchises are oft compared as fanboys butt heads in forums across the internet. What Sony needs, perhaps more than anything, is a franchise as revered, envied and, most importantly, purchased as Bungie’s epic FPS.

Halo is more than just the Xbox brand’s bread and butter killer app, it’s a phenomenon; one of the most recognized and successful game franchises of all time. It put the original Xbox on the map, giving it the credibility and gravitas it needed in the early stages of it’s existence to help it stay in contention, and though Microsoft did not win the last console war it did what Sega and others could not in the end: it survived. It may still have made it without Halo but it’s future and appeal would have been in greater doubt.

Halo and in particular Halo 2, were also a major factors in the success and popularity of Xbox Live. Though online gaming was inevitable, the popularity of the franchise, stamped “cool” all over the idea and the legions of fans that migrated into the online arena, stimulated it’s growth early on. It’s contributions to the platform have been immeasurable selling both consoles and Live memberships as it continues to do to this day.

Halo has become the poster child for hard core gamers and helped the Xbox brand dethrone the Playstation as the go-to system. If Sony is going to reassert itself as the console to own, it’s going to need a franchise that’s just as dominant as Halo and a character as iconic as Master Chief.

More important than the specific character however is the game that makes them big. If Halo had sucked we’d have thought Master Chief was a stupid name and nobody would have remembered it. Halo however, not only didn’t suck but blew previous FPS conventions away, invigorating the genre with a host of new or improved features that are now standards in most shooters. It’s hard to imagine what we did before we had rechargeable health, vehicles, or secondary grenades, but the innovation and originality of Halo still resonates to this day, informing the fundamentals of modern shooters and influencing their design.

Halo was epic, it was innovative, it had an awesome soundtrack, great controls, and cool new features. With it’s cavalier gameplay and open worlds, it was a departure from the claustrophobic humdrum of typical shooters and felt more like a thrilling space opera than a cliche or tired retread of ideas. It did everything well and became an instant classic as it’s popularity exploded exponentially.

Whether it’s a shooter or something else. Sony needs a game that captures the same Gung-Ho adventure, groundbreaking innovation and epic scale of the original Halo, as well as a hero to embody it and the good fortune of opportune timing that it capitalized on. Who knows where they should look though. Bungie came out of relative obscurity and it’s entirely possible, maybe even necessary, that the next big thing come from a developer less settled than the big studios; someone still flexing their creativity. This is another reason why it’s so important to…

2. Get developers committed to the Hardware
Thus far the technical advantage of the PS3 has been kept largely at bay by the success of the 360. As I’ve already mentioned it makes sense to develop games preferentially for the 360 since it has the larger install base, then simply port them to the PS3. But you’re only as fast as your slowest horse or in the case of graphics, your least powerful console.

Since the 360 is the priority platform for most developers they won’t exceed it’s capabilities in their games. At the very least, this effectively cancels one of the PS3′s greatest advantages. At worst it makes the system appear inferior, as software developed on the 360 often exhibits inferior performance on the unique hardware architecture of the PS3.

In contrast, when a studio develops a game exclusively for the PS3 they are able to harness it’s full power rather than limiting it. This is apparent with the beautifully rendered Metal Gears Solid 4 and Guerrilla Studio’s phenomenally pretty Killzone 2. Other titles developed solely on the console exhibit similarly impressive results. The first Uncharted is still one of the best looking games around and Little Big Planets deceptively charming style features some impressive effects and whimsical realism. When a developer is serious about creating a game on the system the results are almost always visually outstanding. Yes, Haze was terrible but it was also an exception.

The PS3 is capable of truly great feats that we are just beginning to glimpse. It’s a powerhouse and it’s success or failure hinges on whether or not it can deliver the goods and establish itself as the best hardware on the market. For this to happen, securing the commitment of developers is paramount. Games like Killzone 2, M.A.G. and LBP are great starts but the trend must continue. Sony needs to get developers excited about the system and convince them that it truly is the future of gaming and the system that will allow them to push the limits of digital entertainment. Get developers to commit to tap into the system’s potential and the games will follow and so will the gamers.

At the moment, superior hardware is one of the only definitive and unchanging advantages Sony has, which is why it’s so strategically essential that they capitalize on it. It’s one of the only ones Microsoft can’t eliminate but, as long as the 360 maintains it’s popularity and in turn, the favor of developers, they can effectively mute it.

In order to start winning the hearts and minds of gamers Sony needs to get their attention and the prettiest one at the ball will turn the most heads. If Sony can consistently distinguish itself as as the superior console in terms of pure, dazzling, visual wonderment, players will finally have a clear reason to think twice about which system to buy. They’ll have a good argument, they can see with their own eyes, for the Playstation’s cause.

Of course at that point potential buyers will still have to clear the biggest hurdle facing anyone considering, wanting, hoping to pick one up. Sony are you listening? I implore you…

1. Lower the Price!!!
Please! Please! Please! Pretty please with sugar on top!

Without a doubt the biggest deterrent for those looking to pick up Sony’s big black box, is the big fat price. I imagine it could have been easy to mistake 20 somethings for wealthy business tycoons but Sony really should have gotten their marketing analysts together with their hardware engineers when they where in the planning stages of the PS3. The system launched for the obscene price tag of $500, a mere pittance if you’re an oil tycoon, to the average gamer, however, you might as well have asked them to buy a space shuttle from NASA.

I realize the cost is proportionate to the tech we’re getting and not unduly inflated but the price point is still more than most gamers are willing, or able, to pay for what the system offers. Sony realized this after the enormity of it’s price stifled sales at launch and stigmatized the system thereafter. A series of reconfigurations followed as the company tried to figure out how to make their super computer financially accessible to the people who actually play it.

The hardware rearrangements haven’t done any favors to Sony’s image, or their standing with gamers either, becoming a messy and confusing debacle of discontinued models and multiple SKU’s. In the end, sacrificing backwards compatibility (how is that expensive to include?), some USB ports, and excessive hard drive space, they eventually got it down to $399, which is where it stands now. This is attainable, but still high and considering the 360 has lowered it’s price even faster, Sony hasn’t really gained any ground. The price ratio has remained similar and other systems, consistently, and attractively, cheaper.

If Sony wants to compete, there are a lot of things it needs to do but the one thing that will make the biggest difference the fastest, is to find a way to drop another $100 off the price. Right now there are more exclusives on the 360 and most of the biggest and best games on PS3 are cross platform titles. Even with blockbuster franchises like MGS4 and Resistance, Sony’s exclusive lineup can’t quite go toe to toe with the 360 and a slew of games like Halo 3, Mass Effect, and Gears of War. They simply haven’t the edge in the software department right now so if they want to have a prayer this generation they need to compete in the price category.

It is absolutely essential that they find a way to make the machine accessible. It would even the playing field and prompt people to begin to consider the system’s other unique qualities.

There are plenty of reasons to own the system instead of a 360 but none so obvious as the extra $100-$200 it will cost you to do so. It doesn’t matter if you prefer the system or not, like Sony better than Microsoft, or Solid Snake more than Master Chief. If you’ve only got about $300 to spend on a console, guess which one you’re going home with.

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Another Take: Eric Bouchard

As much grief as I have given the PS3 over time, you may be surprised to hear that when they were first announced, I really wanted Sony’s new console. I had no real interest in the 360, even though I had owned an Xbox and enjoyed the games on it. Gears of War was the game that changed my mind. After getting a hold of it and a 360, I have not looked back.

The Playstaion 3 is a great system. People who do not acknowledge that are just being ridiculous. There are some things Sony’s powerhouse can do that the 360 cannot, but Microsoft has done a much better job leveraging the advantages it does have, including online presence, a larger install base and a lower price.

Microsoft has one other major advantage, however, and Sony has given to them. Sony entered this generation with a bit of bravado. Some can argue the company had a reason to be confident. After all, the Playstation 2 was an absolutely dominant system, having won the battle for the last generation without question. It even continued to sell strongly after the new consoles were released. Problem is that Sony’s confidence soon turned to what many gamers perceived as arrogance. Questions about Sony’s rather high price for its console was met with comments that people would just have to work more to be able to afford it. And this was only the beginning:

-Sony criticized Microsoft for using software driven backwards compatibility when its systems were able to play almost all of the PS2 games. Just over a year later, backwards compatibility was a thing of the past for Sony.

-Sony pointed to the fact that Microsoft had three skews for the 360 and said it was confusing to console consumers. Since then, Sony has managed to release several different versions of the PS3, so many that it can become confusing even to those who make it a point to learn which system is which.

-Sony pointed to PSN saying “We allow you to game online for free!” The company has used that line to bury its head in the sand, and its stubborn refusal to change the online play to make it more user friendly has been baffling. Sony touted Home as the thing that would close the gap between PSN and Live, but in its present form, Home is nowhere close.

-Sony’s stubborn refusal to lower its price last holiday season hurt it severely, especially in light of the current economic state.

If I was going to add one piece of advice to this debate, it would be for Sony to realize just where it stands right now, in third position in the current console battle and not gaining any ground. The company needs to drop the arrogance and start actually trying to reach out to gamers again. This starts with a price cut, but that cannot be the end of it. In order for Sony to really become competitive in this generation, it needs to realize it is no longer the lone dog in the fight. It needs to stop putting its foot in its mouth and work to recapture the hearts and minds of gamers.

In the end, gamers are a forgiving bunch, and most of us really do want to see the PS3 succeed. It can be hard for us to really want to back the system, however, when Sony continues to act like it can do whatever it wants and we’ll just sit back and take it. The sales of this generation of consoles and multi-platform games should be enough to give Sony a clue that it is time for an attitude adjustment.

If the company waits too long, the PS3 will suffer, and so will gamers.

It’s not easy going from first to last in the console wars, or for that matter, having your last generation system outsell your current one. It’s been a hard couple of years for Sony as the expensive Playstation Tres struggled to keep up with, let alone make up ground to, this generations hardcore console of choice, the Xbox 360. Lost exclusives and occasional inferior performance on cross platform games has plagued and even defined the system’s troubled existence.

It’s a unique accomplishment when a system incurs derision and hate even outside of the fanboy camps but somehow the PS3, for whatever flaws, has inspired a gaming subculture of enemies; people as dedicated to hating the system as fanboys are to loving it. Still, sluggish sales and stinging criticism hasn’t dampened the spirits of die hard Sony loyalists and it shouldn’t stop you from considering investing in this generation’s most powerful system.

If you can pony up the cash (you might need a couple ponies) the PS3 actually does offer plenty in return. If you haven’t bought a system yet listen up. Even if you already own another console there are still good reasons to consider the PS3 as a second or, yes, even third, system. In short, to spite the lofty price point, and the nay sayers the system is worth it, every penny of it. Why? I’m glad you asked. I happen to have the top 5 reasons right here.

5. The Playstation Network

Everybody knows that Xbox Live is the online gaming scene, but you pay for the quality and quantity offered with a $50/yr. membership charge. You get your money’s worth but it’s still $50 more than you’ll pay for access to a lot of similar features on the PSN. Though Sony’s service still trails in functionality, it won’t cost you a shiny nickel to access in it’s entirety and it still offers enough variety of similar features and unique content that you won’t complain about not getting your free’s worth.

In addition though somewhat less impressive than it’s XBL counterpart, the PSN marketplace (Playstation Store) keeps in step and boasts a splended collection of original downloadable games and content. With an emphasis on inventive gameplay and imaginative art design, games like the Pixel Junk series, Flow and the upcoming Flower provide fun experiences that promote artistry and unconventional creativity, while the recently released Demoscene, “Interactive art” experience, Linger in Shadows confirms Sony’s dedication to exploring new possibilities and expanding the boundaries of the medium.

The backbone of the PSN and it’s true advantage over XBL is it’s free multiplayer experience. Though a less popular alternative it none the less hosts a small army of games which take full advantage of the service and offer truly great multiplayer experiences that rival anything on the 360.

Early on, the now overlooked, Warhawk jumped right into the PSN scene with a combat flight game designed exclusively for multiplayer matches. Resistance: Fall of Man provided some respectable online FPS action early on and Insomniac didn’t pull any punches with the online features in it’s sequel Resistance 2, delivering one of the most robust online experiences available with over 60 player matches, a separate 8 player co-op story mode with scaling difficulty and a wealth of other options. Metal Gear Solid 4 offers a refreshing change of pace from frenetic FPS matches with stealth strategy as does the tactical team based Socom: Confrontation.

Yet even as impressive and exhilarating as tactical precision team play and frenetic 60 player matches are they’re little more than training skirmishes compared to the ambition of Socom developer Zipper Interactive’s forthcoming effort. A modern military shooter reminiscent of Socom, the apltly codenamed MAG: Massive Action Game was announced at E3 08 and boasts future online matches on the unprecedented scale of 256 players! I’m not sure if you can even do that with the 360 but the PS3′s tendency to constantly push the envelope seem to confirm the significance of another one of it’s advantages.

4. More Powerful Hardware
Practically any way you stack it against Microsoft’s machine the PS3 is a more robust, more powerful, more advanced system and even on a a simply tactile level it’s a much nicer machine. The PS3 looks and feels, well…sturdier. It’s heavier, it’s components seem more compactly assembled, it runs quieter, isn’t subject to the RRD or anywhere near the percentage of 360 hardware failure, it features a simple disc slot instead of a noisy “please accidentally break me” tray and it’s super slick finish looks far more sophisticated than the dull white or black of the 360. In short, the quiet, stout, reliable construction makes the 360 seem downright flimsy by comparison.

Beyond simple glamor however the PS3 is just as impressive under the hood and packs more firepower in terms of graphical capabilities and future ready components. This of course adds up to prettier games and although a general lack of dedicated exclusives and commitment on the part of developers have limited the hardware’s full potential thus far, games like Uncharted, Ratchet and Clank, and MGS4 have allowed us to glimpse it’s glorious unfettered capabilities.

When not held back by cross platform development the graphics on the PS3 are nothing short of stunning. Games developed exclusively on the PS3 for the PS3 such as Uncharted and Killzone 2 are optimized for it’s unique hardware architecture. Able to take full advantage it’s capabilities these games force every last ounce of processing power out of the system and the results are simply gorgeous. Sadly only a few titles have really begun to push the platform but with gradually more exclusives down the road, such as Uncharted 2 and God of War 3, you can expect to see some real lookers in the near future.

At this stage, though, the difference between the PS3 and 360′s graphics is negligible and with so many cross platform games (many optimized for the 360) the potential superiority of the PS3 isn’t definitive enough to make a difference, yet. Expect the gap to widen as time goes on, however, until finally the difference is irrefutable. As the 360′s potential is quickly being maxed out, Sony’s beast is just getting warmed up.

In addition to the superiority of it’s graphics the PS3 is a consummately more future oriented machine. The price advantage of the low end 360 model compensates for the system’s technical limitations to an extent but by the time you pay nearly $100 for an external WiFi adapter and $60 for a larger hard drive the total price is significantly less competitive. Compared to the base model 360 and the collection of peripheral paraphernalia you need to to bring it up to speed, the entry level PS3 comes ready out of the box with a larger hard drive (80gig), wireless ready internal Wifi, and of course…

3. Blu Ray
With the Hi-Def dvd wars well behind us and Blu-Ray the victor, consumers will gradually start migrating to the new standard in home entertainment. The price of the PS3 is hefty when compared to other systems but if you’re Hi-def ready the inclusion of a Blu-Ray player is a huge advantage. A stand alone player is going to run at least $200  and the one inlcuded in the PS3 is still one of the best on the market. If you buy a Blu-Ray in addition to a 360 you’re looking at at least $400 and that’s the Arcade model without the larger hard drive and of course no Wifi. When considered in this respect the PS3 actually offers more value for the hardware.

Even if you aren’t interested in watching movies in sparkling, clear high definition the Blu-Ray format has another advantage as a gaming medium with it’s greater storage capacity approximately 6x that of standard discs. Games developed on this format can contain far more content which is especially beneficial for highly cinematic games such as MGS4 and RPG’s such as the upcoming FFXIII. Instead of splitting the game into individual discs that have to be swapped out during play, like Lost Odyssey for the 360, the entire epic experience streams off of a single disc without interruption (bathroom breaks not included.) Welcome to…

2. The Future of Gaming
Microsoft has had a considerable advantage during this console war that began when they launched their system a year ahead of Sony. They traded hardware power for a strategic advantage in install base that has so far paid off. The 360 is the go-to system and with a larger contingent of hardcore gamers playing, is more appealing from a business standpoint to publishers looking to sell software to as many people as possible. Only time will tell but as smart as it seems now this ‘first in’ strategy may have been a little short sighted. Though it’s a powerful system the 360 is still not as strong as the PS3 and it’s lack of future ready components may cost Microsoft in the long run.

On the other hand as we have already pointed out, the Playstation 3 is a far more advanced system. It’s expensive and over engineered as of right now but that’s a temporary setback that will evaporate with time. Where Microsoft’s hasty launch of the 360 may limit them in the future, Sony’s extensive development invested in the PS3 may pay off as the technology finally comes into fruition. Buying a console based on it’s future potential is a gamble but when you consider the forward thinking Sony has conceived the PS3 with, their strategy makes more sense. As time goes by the hardware will age better than the 360′s, the price will drop and the system will become more and more appealing.

The most important thing that Sony has going for it in the future is a bevy of top tier franchises it has yet to take advantage of. God of War has finally been announced but there is still a cache of gold IP’s just waiting to be ushered into the Hi-Def era. Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, and the Jak and Daxter series come to mind.

2008 finally saw a PS3 lineup as good if not better than the 360′s and as the landscape of 2009 comes into focus it seems to favor Sony even more so with sequels and new IP’s like Heavy Rain, Killzone 2, God of War III, and Uncharted 2. Clearly PS3 owners are looking at a blockbuster year as the system finally generates momentum.

In terms of pioneering innovations, hardware and graphics the PS3 continues to distinguish itself as an outstanding platform and though stigmatized by price and an identity crisis it’s the system’s extraordinary potential that truly defines it as a console. And nowhere is it’s exciting capabilities more evident then in the system’s greatest triumph.

1. The Games

You heard me. With any system, ultimately, it’s all about the games. Fancy hardware is awesome, an online community is great, but at the end of the day it’s all about the games to use them with. I don’t care if your console makes french toast and doubles as a mechanical bull if it doesn’t have kick butt games your hardware is already obsolete (French toast wouldn’t hurt though.) To spite being overshadowed by the 360′s popularity the software lineup on the Playstation 3 is none the less hard to argue with.

Insomniac gave the PS3 a solid shooter to hang it’s hat on with it’s Resistance franchise. The developer also delivered one of the system’s first truly jaw droppingly pretty games with Ratchet and Clank before producing another solid installment in the Resistance series. Naughty Dog unearthed another gem when it launched Drake’s inaugural expedition with the first of the ongoing Uncharted series and Metal Gear Solid 4 brought it’s acclaimed saga to a thrilling conclusion with classic stealth gameplay, thrilling action sequences, and phenomenal graphics.

Sony has also demonstrated a commitment to artistic and unconventional titles with this year’s Little Big Planet and a host of PSN exclusives such Flower, Pixel Junk Eden, and Flow which push the limits of creativity and artistic design in games.

Something that’s often overlooked, by those toting the vastness of the Xbox library is that in addition to an impressive resume of fine exclusives the Playstation 3 also stays in the game (no pun intended) hosting some of this generations best cross platform titles right alongside the lauded 360. Call of Duty 4, The Orange Box, Fallout 3, GTAIV, and Bioshock are some of the greatest games of this generation, and they are all available on the PS3.

At the end of 2007 there was no contest between the 360 lineup and the PS3′s but with killer apps like MGS4, LBP, and Resistance 2, as well as the late debut of Bioshock, 2008 saw the 360′s software advantage nearly evaporate as the PS3 finally delivered stellar titles showcasing the system’s awesome capabilities, and with 2009′s promising lineup of first rate exclusives Sony is finally beginning to assert itself as a hardcore contender.

If you’re only choosing one console the decision is hard, but whether it’s your first console or not don’t write off the PS3. The console war is far from over and Sony knows what it takes to be the best console on the market, just ask the Playstation 2.

We thought about baking a cake in celebration of this occasion, but instead we decided to count down the top five console exclusives for each of the platforms. In a collaborative effort we, the staff of EDG, bring you our picks. So, without further ado here it is.

Nintendo Wii:

5. Metroid Prime 3

The side scrolling adventure turned FPS during the Gamecube era made it’s wonderful Wii debut with this title. While it lacked the multi-player mode made popular in the DS iteration (Metroid Prime Hunters) the story and game-play more than made up for this. This title features some of the best Wii motion controls of any game to date on the Nintendo console.

4. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

What’s a Nintendo system without a little Zelda love? Twilight Princess had Zelda fans foaming at the mouth for the triumphant return of Link. Easily the best launch title for the Wii – TP had gamers pouring hours of their life into the little, white machine right off the jump. With it’s incredible story, hours of game-play, and solid focus on action, rather then waggle controls, TP is still one of the best titles to grace the Wii.

3. Wii Sports

This incredible tech demo turned pack-in title for the Wii is easily one of the most recognizable games for the system. Wii Sports had gamers and non-gamers alike bowling, golfing, boxing, playing baseball, and tennis until they developed elbow arthritis (or threw a wii-mote through their HD TV). Definitely the best game to show off the controls and function of the Wii-mote, Wii Sports has set the bar high for waggle based game-play.

2. Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Nintendo’s unique brawler is easily one of it’s most successful franchises. Series faithfuls have been throwing down since the N64 days, and were certainly pleased with this outing. SSBB has you controlling your choice of video game character (mostly from traditional Nintendo series’) and facing off against three other human or A.I. controlled opponents. Brawl introduced online play to Nintendo’s fighting series, which continues to develop into one of the best fighters available on any console.

1. Super Mario Galaxy

The plumber may have missed the Wii’s launch, but that didn’t stop his game from selling millions worldwide when it finally did hit store shelves. Galaxy built upon what Mario 64 started by expanding it’s open world feel and sending Mario into space.  If any game ever justified owning a system solely for it’s playing, Galaxy is definitely it.

Honorable Mention: Zack & Wiki, WarioWare: Smooth Moves, Lost Winds, Wii Fit

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Playstation 3

5. MLB ’08: The Show

The Show presented 2k’s baseball series with it’s only video-game rival, and easily became the best game of stick ball available for any console. 08′ incorporated some in depth features including “Road to the Show” which takes the traditional “create-your-own-player” mode to a new level. With it’s slick performance, crisp graphics and flawlessly executed game-play, The Show is video game’s equivalent to the Yankees (I hate the Yankees).

4. Ratchet & Clank: Future

One of Sony’s flagship titles, Ratchet & Clank, made it’s PS3 debut to critical acclaim. Future took the R&C series, and threw in “Pixar-like” graphics to create, not only a fun, but also one of the most beautiful platformers ever. Ratchet & Clank continues to please fans, and offers one of the few family friendly titles that is still able to appeal to the “hardcore”.

3. Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune

Naughty Dog’s Uncharted presented gamers with a “tomb raider” who was able to compete with Ms. Croft. One part Tomb Raider one part Gears – Uncharted had gamers seeking out treasures, fighting off bad guys, and exploring jungles as pretty boy Nathan Hale. The games gunplay, while not flawless, was solid enough to add a new element to the traditional cave exploration game type. It looks like Sony has another blockbuster franchise on it’s hands.

2. LittleBigPlanet

Platformer? Puzzle game? Shooter? LBP’s the game that is whatever you want it to be. With it’s robust game creation tool-set players are able to create whatever type of level or game that their mind can think up. Rather just play? You can also jump online and download user created levels, or just play the one’s that come with the game. The game’s Sackboy character has quickly become a face that Sony can rally behind (and hopefully save the life of the PS3).

1. Metal Gear Solid 4

Snake may be old and near death, but this game is full of life. Kojima’s MGS series has long been a staple of Sony’s consoles, and this outing is possibly the best. This game presents some of the most realistic and beautiful environments that any console has ever seen. Possibly the best game of 2008, it’s no wonder it made the top spot on our list.

Honorable Mention: PixelJunk Monsters, Warhawk, Resistance 2

When I had first played the demo of PixelJunk Eden I was a little frustrated with it. The controls were hard to get used to and I didn’t understand why people said it was a relaxing game, I thought it was very intense. Well once the full game was out I decided to purchase it because I knew I had to give it more time. I am a huge fan of the Pixeljunk series and knew that I would like Eden if I would just take the time to learn it. I am very happy I took the time because this game is great. There is some out-of-this-world feeling you get from playing this game. The colors are beautiful and the game is such a work of art. I know that it takes place in a garden but part of me relates this garden to outer space. I think of the pictures I saw before of the Eagle Nebula and it Eden reminds me very much of deep space. The higher you get the more this is made plain. Once you learn the controls and get good at playing Eden the game is taken to another level. You get sucked in and everything starts to flow.The main thing to remember is take your time and don’t try to rush or else you will end up falling and you don’t want that to happen.

The majority of the time I play PixelJunk Eden with my wife. I find it really fun to play with her. We have to work as a team and make sure that we stay together or else we will get penalized for either of us going off screen, this is the one thing that makes co-op play sometimes frustrating. If you go to fast and don’t wait for the other player then that player will go off-screen and you will lose half of any pollen you’ve collected in the pods. This is not good especially when you are in a time crunch. I understand that co-op would be too easy if they hadn’t made it like this.

This game also sports a YouTube video upload function. This lets you record yourself playing the game and upload it directly to your YouTube account. I found this feature pretty pointless. The quality isn’t the greatest which makes it hard to even see your grimp and I don’t think anyone will really be interested to watch them as there isn’t really that many interesting things you can do in Eden other than collect pollen and spectra. It may be put to good use if you want to show your friends the game to convince them to buy it but that’s about it.

PixelJunk Eden is a great game. It’s very fun and addictive and I highly recommend it. First impressions may not be the greatest but if you stick with it for just a little longer you will see why everyone’s making such a big fuss about this one. PixelJunk Eden is proof that games are definitely art.

Everyday Gamers: In short, how did you get to where you are today?

Dylan Cuthbert: Blood, tears, sweat and a lot of work.

Did you plan from the beginning to release different types of games all under the PixelJunk name? What was your initial vision of what PixelJunk would become?

This is exactly what my vision of PixelJunk was – right from the start I planned to make it a brand for PSN games of a certain type, not casual and bland, but invigorating and interesting.  We don’t do anything the normal way, why copy when you can innovate?

What made you decide to focus strictly on the Playstation 3 console and PSN?

I have a long history with Sony and I like the way their console set its sights solidly on Full-HD/HDMI.  This was really important for the PixelJunk series.

How do you come up with a title as unique as PixelJunk Eden? Where do you start?

You keep trying and throwing out stuff that doesn’t work, then when you think you have it just right, you give it yet another long hard think over.  We were tuning stuff even right at the very end to get everything as exquisite as possible.

Why do you think PixelJunk Eden is a game that everyone should play?

Not just Eden, but the whole PixelJunk series – the games are considered hard but I want to try and encourage players to not be afraid of new things, otherwise everything ends up with the same controls and the same kind of scenarios.  Racers, Monsters and Eden all have some hard core elements in them – these hard core elements are where games originated from.  We’ve tried to wrap them up in a way that allows people who don’t necessarily play games to try them out and feel that “rush” we all used to feel in the era of video arcades. (70’s-80’s)

The more people feel that “rush”, the more they will search out games that give them unique experiences rather than just the “Hollywood blockbuster” type games the market is inundated with at the moment.

Any advice/tips on how to make the most of PJE?

Take it easy!  Learn the rhythm of the game…

Do you have any plans to release more gardens as DLC?

Most likely we do, but no comment as of yet.

How is the future looking for Q-Games and the PixelJunk franchise?

Right now, a day after the simultaneous worldwide release of Eden, it is looking pretty good!  It’ll be interesting to see what is happening around this time next year though.

…one last question, Will you become a fan of Everday Gamers on Facebook?

When I get the hang of Facebook I might just do that.

Stop back for my full review of PixelJunk Eden in the coming days.