Diablo III on PlayStation 4 Uses the DualShock 4 Touch Pad for Inventory
Sony has released a new PlayStation 4 Creator Conversation video with the creators of Diablo III over at Blizzard, which focuses extensively on how the game’s UI has been tweaked for a console and a specifically PlayStation-based experience. Director John Hight and designers Joshua Mosqueira and Jason Bender explained that getting the game’s control scheme right was very important – and that meant making use of the best tools for various jobs, like using the PS4 touch pad for inventory scrolling and transforming menus into a radial style.
The way the touch pad being implemented should sound familiar. So far, most Wii U games use the second screen for inventory functionality, though of course the PS4 touch pad doesn’t display information – it just receives it.
Click below to see what else the team has cooking for the PlayStation versions.
You’ll Be Able to Play The Last of Us During Download
The Last of Us will be a same-day digital title when it launches for PS3 on June 14, and Naughty Dog has confirmed that you’ll be able to play it even while it downloads. Taking a leaf out of PS4′s book – the new system is supposed to allow you to play your games while they’re downloading virtually instantly – once the download makes it to about 50%, players will be able to start up the game.
It’s an interesting preview of a next-gen feature on a current-gen device. The Last of Us will be available the day after E3 2013 concludes.
Source: Game Informer
Lots and Lots of Gran Turismo 6 Info and Screenshots, PS4 Version Being Considered
Gran Turismo 6 has only been officially announced for PS3, but the team hasn’t ruled out the possibility of a PS4 version to bring the series into the next generation as well. Speaking to IGN, series creator Kazunori Yamauchi said, “We actually do have a PlayStation 4 version in mind, but for this holiday season, we thought it would be best for users to release on PS3 for now.”
So it looks like Sony wants to release the game where the userbase is first, and possibly extend its life on another platform later on. In the meantime, Gran Turismo 6 is looking gorgeous enough as it is, even without being on PS4. Click below for more information and lots and lots of screenshots.
April 2013 NPD: Injustice on Top Despite Overall Sales Decline of 25%, Huge Drop in Hardware
Another NPD reporting period gone by, another month of decline for the games industry. Overall sales fell about 25% compared to March, with a 17% drop in software sales, 19% drop in accessory sales, an a whopping 42% drop in hardware sales. NPD cites a decline in the releases of new titles as a large reason for the slump. However, despite the month-over-month decline, year-over-year sales actually increased about 118% in unit sales and 130% in dollar sales, meaning those fewer titles were better drivers than the ones released last year.
The biggest-profile release of the month – Injustice: Gods Among Us – unsurprisingly fared best among April’s new games, with older titles like BioShock Infinite, Black Ops II, and Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon still charting.
Click below for the top ten titles of April 2013.
Amazon Lists Price, Release Date for Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection
Konami recently announced that a new Metal Gear Solid bundle was slated for a June release on PlayStation 3. Containing all main series Metal Gear and Metal Gear Solid entries, as well as Peace Walker and some extras, Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection is the perfect price for any fan of Hideo Kojima’s legendary franchise. Konami has not yet released the specific price or release date, but an Amazon listing suggests a similar release window and a lower price than what Japan will see.
Sega Has Trademarked Something Called ‘Sonic Lost World’
Sega recently filed a trademark and registered domain names for something called Sonic Lost World (or “Lost Worlds”), which we presume is one of the company’s big Sonic titles for this year. And by “recently,” I mean “within the last week” – the trademark was filed yesterday, and the domain names popped up on the 13th. That’s suspiciously close to E3, and so I imagine they’re holding a Sonic announcement for the big show next month.
Right now SonicLostWorld.com and SonicLostWorlds.com don’t even redirect to another Sonic-related site, but we imagine this will change in the coming weeks and months now that the domain registration info is out there.
Sony Japan Studio Reveals Panopticon
A mysterious countdown timer for something called “Panopticon” just ended today, revealing a trailer for what appears to be a video game by Sony Japan Studios. Or is it a movie? I’m not sure – which just goes to show how spectacular the art style is. The project uses a cel-shaded anime style that pulls off a blend of cartoonish characters and realism better than almost anything else I’ve seen to date.
The setting is a dystopian future – and if you know anything about the panopticon in theory, you know that a big theme is going to be close surveillance and heavy policing to enforce order.
If it is a game, it looks like it’d be either an action game or RPG. But, again, aside from what’s seen in the trailer – which mostly looks like a blur between cinematic and perhaps a few clips of gameplay – we don’t know anything about Panopticon yet. More info is due to arrive on May 21.
Click below to check out the trailer.
Pachter Estimates 55,000 Wii U Sales for U.S. in April, Vita Does Even Worse
Just ahead of NPD’s sales reveal, infamous Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter released his estimates for game hardware sales for the month of April. Highlights from the report: Xbox 360 is still on top with over 200,000 consoles sold, while PS3 picks up a close second in the home console department with 165,000 systems. As for Nintendo: 75,000 Wiis sold…and only 55,000 Wii Us. We’re talking January-level lows, which I suppose you might expect given that there was only one major Wii U title released last month, and it wasn’t even an exclusive. Even combining Nintendo’s hardware sales, they don’t even approach Sony or Microsoft.
Meanwhile, the handhelds situation is very different. Pachter estimates that 3DS managed an almost 50% jump over last year’s numbers with 185,000 units sold. PS Vita, on the other hand, dropped an impressive 57% year-over-year to 30,000 units.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Under the Black Flag Trailer
Ubisoft has already introduced us to the new protagonist of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag – Edward Kenway – on numerous occasions, but today they’ve given him a chance to speak for himself. Mr. Kenway explains what drives him to piracy in the latest trailer, subtitled “Under the Black Flag.”
The trailer also gives us closer glimpses at some of the game’s locales, including the vast Caribbean Sea, the lush tropical islands therein, and towns and ports scattered across those islands. Click below to hear Mr. Kenway speak.
Gran Turismo 6 Drives Onto PlayStation 3 This Holiday
It’s long been rumored, but Sony has finally confirmed that Gran Turismo 6 is heading to PS3 (not PS4) this holiday season. The game will feature, among other things, a new physics engine, seven all-new tracks (including the suggested Silverstone Circuit), “several thousand” personalization options, social features integrated with smartphones and tablets, and increased flexibility in terms of game smoothness and DLC expansions.
Gears of War Judgment, God of War Ascension DLC Out This Week
This is shaping up to be a big week for major titles to be getting additional content, which should please many fans of the Gears of War and God of War series. One of the content pieces is actually sponsored by a major magazine company, the second time this occurred and nonetheless interesting.
Read on to see what the DLC pieces are, as well as how much the content will, or will not, cost…
Three New Seaworthy Costumes For Resident Evil: Revelations
Resident Evil: Revelations is making the change from a 3DS exclusive to a cross platform title, with enhanced graphics and gameplay. The game is set to release May 21st for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii U. There are many new features coming to the enhanced edition, including more playable characters such as the busty Rachel.
Now, along with new enemies and playable characters, Capcom a has revealed some seafaring unlockable costumes for the re-release. Chris, Jill, and Keith are all gaining new costumes, though Keith is probably the only landlubber in his ninja costume.
You can get a better look at their costumes in the gallery.
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