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Killzone 2 CG intro wins Roses Design award

by Andrew Yoon { Nov 2nd 2009 at 1:00PM }

The Roses Design Awards have recognized Killzone 2 with six nominations and one award, according to a report by GI.biz. This is the first time games have been allowed to compete alongside graphical, visual design and architecture categories.

Axis Animation won a gold award for "Best Use of Animation" for its work on the Killzone 2 CG intro (embedded above). Described as one of the studio's "most ambitious projects," the intro features over three minutes of footage from Vekta to Helghan in one seamless sequence that's free of cuts until the final climatic shot. Director Stuart Aitken is certainly deserving of high praise for setting the stage for one of the PS3's most visually involving games to date.

SCEE Platinum line expands, includes Resistance 2, Killzone 2

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 8th 2009 at 3:15PM }

The European budget line of "Platinum" titles has expanded quite significantly, adding four new titles for the low price of £19.99 / €29.99. The collection now includes Metal Gear Solid 4, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift, Resistance 2 and Killzone 2.

We're a bit jealous of our European friends, as games rarely get the "Greatest Hits" label so soon. Killzone 2, for example, released just a little over six months ago. However, it makes sense to drop the price of these games, especially Killzone 2, so soon -- there are a lot of new PS3 owners out there, hungry to try out the system's greatest games.

PlayStation Home gets animated t-shirts, Killzone space tomorrow

by Andrew Yoon { Aug 26th 2009 at 1:00PM }

PlayStation Home denizens will be able to open up their PSN wallets and go on a shopping spree tomorrow. The PlayStation.Blog is promising over 100 items will be up for grabs, like animated t-shirts, glow sticks and a brand new Killzone "Visari Throne Room." The virtual apartment will come equipped with 70 items, so you interior design freaks can go crazy.

While we admittedly don't frequent Home on a regular basis, we are glad to see that SCEA has designed a catchy promo to end their videos with. The redesigned PS3 logo and the slogan "It Only Does Everything" is a great statement that really makes clear the PS3's ability to play more than games. Now if only SCEA would bother going on a marketing campaign like its European counterpart ...

Rumor: Best Buy offering new PS3 buyers a free game to discourage Slim trade-ins

by JC Fletcher { Aug 26th 2009 at 10:15AM }

In order to dissuade recent PS3 buyers from returning their systems in exchange for newer, slimmer ones, Best Buy is reportedly offering a free game to customers who come in for such an exchange.

According to our tipster, who snapped the picture above (Kotaku also claims to have verified the story), Best Buy sent out an internal memo instructing employees to try to convince customers not to return their recent purchases for Slims with the offer of a free copy of either inFamous, Killzone 2, or MLB 09. The memo also states that there is no official "street date" for the system, so it could be out on the shelf already.

Is a free game sufficient salve for the burn of just missing out on a Slim? Or will irate customers with valid receipts ignore the offer entirely in pursuit of a less monolithic console? If you are in the position of having just bought a PS3, do let us know if this sends you scrambling back to Best Buy in search of some kind of better buy.

And if you're a high-level Sony executive, don't (try to) hide your immediate plans from your consumers. As it turns out, people like being informed about the things they're planning to buy. Nobody would have bought a PS3 in the last couple of weeks if we had known about the Slim, and there wouldn't be any emergency programs like this as a result of it.

Gallery: PlayStation 3 Slim

Guerrilla Games taking a break from Killzone 2, turning on double XP this weekend

by David Hinkle { Jul 24th 2009 at 2:15PM }

Now that Killzone 2's latest DLC pack, Napalm & Cordite, has released, Guerrilla Games is ready to take a break from it all. Guerrilla Games described the situation on the EU Playstation blog (it has since been removed), stating that working on the retail release, patches, DLC and official site updates has been tiring work, prompting a break to "reflect on what is actually out there." Uh, disappointed fans who crave new content?

In less depressing news, the US PlayStation blog countered the EU team with some happier news, revealing that a double XP weekend is in full effect in celebration of the latest DLC pack, Napalm & Cordite. And, hey, if you haven't picked up any of the new maps yet, maybe the DLC bundle package is for you. Nothing goes better with double the XP than new maps and weapons, after all.

Source - Yay! Double XP weekend
Source - No! Guerrilla Games "stepping back" from Killzone 2 [Via CVG]

[image]

PSN Thursday: Comic-Con Edition

by Jem Alexander { Jul 23rd 2009 at 8:10PM }

Yeah, the PSN update's a little late today. You can blame Comic-Con Craziness for that, but the sheer amount of content should be enough to calm you down, now that it's out. As if Killzone 2 and WipEout HD DLC wasn't enough, Shatter sees a release today, alongside some PS1 games. As for PSP owners, you've got two Tomb Raider games to grab. Not to mention that Dissidia demo and some more Rock Band Unplugged DLC.

Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:

(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

Continued →

European PSN releases for July 23

by Jem Alexander { Jul 23rd 2009 at 1:45PM }

There's plenty of content to nom on in this latest PSN update. WipEout HD Fury and the Killzone 2 pack make up for the fact that there's no LittleBigPlanet DLC this week. Not only that, but Shatter is now available and has been joined by a surprise addition in the form of Final Fantasy: Crystal Defenders. PSP owners have much less content to choose from, and if you don't own Rock Band Unplugged or Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce, there's nothing for you here.

Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:

(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

Continued →

Killzone 2 DLC bundles inbound tomorrow

by David Hinkle { Jul 22nd 2009 at 3:30PM }

Killzone 2 fans are likely foaming at the mouth in anticipation of Napalm & Cordite, the latest booster shot of DLC set to release tomorrow. That isn't the only bit of excitement hitting PSN, however, as Sony has announced that all of the DLC will be offered in one convenient bundle.

For those of you new to the game, or those of you who were apprehensive about snagging the DLC, $11.99 will grant you access to all of the Killzone 2 DLC packs thus far, which comes down to three for the price of two in the US (pricing wasn't listed for Europe, though we're checking). Who's downloading?

Source - EU release info
Source - US release info

Top five best sellers for 2009 tracked for each console

by Griffin McElroy { Jul 20th 2009 at 11:15PM }

Finding it hard to get interested in the June NPDs? Perhaps a visual aide from the folks at Gamasutra will help boost your enthusiasm. They've compiled the sales figures from all of 2009's NPD charts to find the top five best-selling games of the year thus far on each of the three home consoles.

The big winner so far on the PS3 is Killzone 2, trailed closely by Resident Evil 5. On the 360, Resident Evil 5 is currently in the lead, followed by a surprising contender -- UFC 2009: Undisputed. The Wii's current leader is -- who'd have thunk it? -- Wii Fit, followed by Wii Play. For the full five for each platform, check out Gamasutra's writeup.

Killzone 2 'Napalm & Cordite' expansion dated for July 23

by Randy Nelson { Jul 17th 2009 at 2:23PM }

The first rumblings of Killzone 2's next DLC pack, Napalm & Cordite, came over the wire last week. Now we have a date -- and details. Hitting on July 23 (that's next Thursday!) the expansion includes two new maps: "Suljeva Cliffside" and "Arctower Landing." Both are rooted in locations from the single-player campaign; the former taking place near the Suljeva mining village, the latter in the urban hotzone of Blood Meridian.

The pack's release will also usher in the ability to use two more of the campaign mode's weapons in multiplayer -- but only on the new maps. The VC1 Flamethrower will appear for use on Suljeva Cliffside, while Arctower Landing will offer the opportunity to say "I love you" to your enemies using the Boltgun 4400.

Killzone 2 getting patch and new DLC: 'Napalm & Cordite'

by Jem Alexander { Jul 10th 2009 at 4:00PM }

Incoming! Another DLC pack is en route to Killzone 2. This time, it's the "Napalm & Cordite" pack, which we'll be hearing much more about next week. In the meantime, Guerilla Games has seen fit to detail the next patch, which will coincide with the new DLC content. Patch 1.28 is the "latest and greatest update" to the game and adds a multitude of new features when it drops on July 14.

These features include, obviously, code support for the new Napalm & Cordite maps, "Suljeva Cliffside" and "Arctower Landing," as well as code which adds the flamethrower and bolt gun to multiplayer. The patch also contains new trophies, more detailed information when browsing games and a bunch of other fixes and updates. Check out the full list over at the PlayStation Blog.

Gallery: Killzone 2: Napalm & Cordite

MGS4 / Killzone 2 PS3 bundle available ... now!

by Ben Gilbert { Jul 7th 2009 at 11:30AM }

As per the deluge of tips we received regarding an 80GB PlayStation 3 bundle with Killzone 2 and Metal Gear Solid 4, the Best Buy website is now reflecting the deal. The bundle retains the price of a regular ol' 80GB PS3 ($400), but will include both of the PS3 exclusive titles. Rumors surrounding the 80GB bundles suggest it's an effort to make space for an upcoming PS3 Slim on store shelves -- and considering the $90 worth of free games Sony is throwing at consumers, it's quite possible that shelf space will open for the next console iteration.

[Via Engadget]

Best Buy's 80GB PS3 to be bundled with MGS4 and Killzone 2 [Update]

by Griffin McElroy { Jul 6th 2009 at 11:45AM }

Remember a couple weeks ago, when Ars Technica's trusty, eerily accurate "mole" prophesied that the 80GB PS3 would be ushered off store shelves in order to be replaced by the 160GB model, ultimately leading to the introduction of the oft-rumored PS3 slim? Remember when he (or she) said the 80GB model would have boosted sales thanks to the creation of new, attractive bundles? Did you notice the image above? Do you see where we're going with this?

One week after releasing an 80GB bundle containing Wall-E and LittleBigPlanet, Best Buy will supposedly be upping the ante with the package you see above, which includes Killzone 2 and Metal Gear Solid 4. Said photo was sent in to Kotaku from a Best Buy employee, and several other Best Buyers have confirmed its legitimacy. We won't know for sure until the bundle hits store shelves, but it certainly looks like the ol' "mole" might have another notch in his accurate-prediction-belt.

Update: We've received confirmation from two Best Buy employees stating the bundle is real. One employee's store anticipates the bundle will go on sale within the next week (possibly on Sunday), while the other employee says the bundle is on sale in his store in Louisiana. They claim the price of the bundle is the standard $399 price point for the 80GB system. We recommend asking your local store if it's carrying the bundle, and finding out when it'll hit shelves! Thanks, guys!

Rare PlayStation Home goodies go for big bucks

by David Hinkle { Jul 1st 2009 at 7:00PM }

GameZine did some snooping around eBay recently, and found some of the more rare PlayStation Home items were going for a surprising amount of money. Two examples were presented in an InFamous reaper costume that sold for $30 (that's like 18 Slurpees) and a Killzone 2 Helghast outfit that went for -- you may want to brace your hindquarters for this one -- a whopping $66. That is more than the frakkin' game!

So, Joystiq has come up with a plan:

Create a Joystiq-themed Home space (there may be some minor kidnapping of designers involved, but we'll flesh that out later)
Make sure it is the only one in existence
???
Profit

Fool-proof plan, doncha think?

Killzone 2 patch delayed

by Jem Alexander { May 29th 2009 at 2:00PM }

Oh, Sony. You were on such a roll! We haven't had to write a PlayStation post with the word "delayed" in the headline for quite a while now. Nevermind, it's happened now. The Killzone 2 patch that we discussed yesterday, which will add a party system, Skirmish Mode tweaks and a new "High Precision" control system has been delayed, according to a tweet from the official Guerrilla Games twitter account.

There's no word on when it'll be out, but it won't be this week. In another tweet, Guerrilla Games says that it doesn't have an exact date, but it "shouldn't be much longer." Sometime next week then, hopefully.