wipeout-hd posts (Subscribe to this feed)

New in-game ads speeding towards WipEout HD

by Andrew Yoon { Oct 29th 2009 at 11:15AM }

WipEout HD (and Fury) will be receiving a 2.10 patch soon. In addition to "small improvements to front-end functionality" and some minor fixes, the 2.10 patch will change the way in-game advertisements are displayed. You'll recall, Sony was largely criticized for the game's State Farm ads which increased load times – a "no no" for the in-game ad model. SCEE marketing executive Mikel Arrien says they've learned from the controversy: "We have therefore focused on ensuring that the advertising is embedded as sympathetically to the overall experience as possible."

That doesn't mean ads have been completely removed from the picture with 2.10! In fact, more advertising is about to hit the game -- at least in European territories. "WipEout and in-game advertising and sponsorship have gone hand-in-hand since 1996, when a now famous energy drink appeared in the seminal Wipeout 2097 and over the years many brands and products have been associated with the series," Arrien said, trying to explain why the WipEout HD platform seems so ripe for commercialization.

Wipeout HD, Fury expansion bundled for Blu-ray in Europe

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 14th 2009 at 11:00AM }

PSN's WipEout HD and WipEout HD: Fury wiLl relEase In a retAil bunDle tHis OctoBer in EuRope. The £20 package will hit the shopping circuit on the 16th, just over a month from today.

We've followed up with Sony America about whether the disc will release in North America -- but don't get too hopeful. We're not sure if any of the Blu-ray compilations of PSN titles released in Europe have ever made it across the pond (or the Pacific). However, if you're adamant about owning the game on a disc, there's always the option of importing, thanks to the PlayStation 3's dismissal of region locking.

Update: A Sony representative let us know the company has "no plans to release this in NA at this time."

Gallery: WipEout HD

Gallery: WipEout HD - Fury

Sony wipes out interfering ad from WipEout HD

by Alexander Sliwinski { Aug 4th 2009 at 9:10AM }

Sony has removed a controversial in-game ad from WipEout HD, which slammed the hover brakes on the futuristic racer by increasing load times. A Sony representative informed GI.biz that the commercial was removed while the company attempts to make sure that ads do not affect gameplay. The obtrusive commercial was part of a new deal between Sony and Double Fusion, an in-game advertising firm. It's definitely not a good sign when the first ad out of the gate ends up being a picture-perfect example of consumers' worst fears about in-game advertising.

Double Fusion slows down WipEout HD with ads

by Andrew Yoon { Aug 3rd 2009 at 4:30PM }

The latest WipEout HD patch did more than just add Fury content to the game. No, it also introduced advertising courtesy of Double Fusion, "the leading in- and around-game advertising and gaming audience network." While in-game ads are nothing new, the implementation of WipEout's ads are causing quite a bit of grief for PS3 owners. Why? They slow down the game significantly.

Players have become accustomed to load screens, but now they must also wait for an advertisement to play before beginning a new race. As demonstrated by a user-captured video, the standard load time for WipEout HD is about eight seconds long. If an advertisement plays, the load time increases more than twofold: to nineteen seconds.

Most in-game advertisements appear as unobtrusive and non-interactive billboards. However, slowing down a game's performance to present ads in a program gamers have already paid for is far too intrusive. Jonathan Epstein, CEO of Double Fusion, stated that "Double Fusion is responding to advertiser demand and offering an engaging ad format while pushing in-game ad innovation to a new level." It's unfortunate that we have to wait while that new level loads.

[Thanks, Chris!]

Hands-on: WipEout HD Fury

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 17th 2009 at 3:25PM }

If you haven't heard, WipEout HD's first expansion pack is coming to the PlayStation Network next week. The Fury pack doesn't come cheap -- at $9.99, it costs almost as much as the initial game itself. However, Fury goes beyond the norm, offering more than just new tracks. The addition of brand new gameplay modes makes for an experience that seems well worth the price of entry.

Almost immediately, it's apparent that Fury is a game's worth of content by itself. After installing the pack, players will choose the content they'd like to access. Selecting Fury will bring a drastic change to the interface, with its black background and intense red HUD. From there, players will be able to go through the Racebox and Grid as usual.

The single player grid repeats the same progression structure found in HD and PSP's Pulse. The grid in Fury will take players through the 12 new tracks. Once again, players will have to place in single races, fastest lap challenges, and Zone levels. However, in addition to the challenges found in the original game, Fury introduces three new modes: Eliminator, Zone Battle, and Detonator.

Gallery: WipEout HD - Fury

Continued →

WipEout HD Fury expansion dated July 23, priced

by David Hinkle { Jul 17th 2009 at 12:35PM }

Zico Liu, programmer (and Trophy) on WipEout HD, recently dropped by the European PlayStation Blog to confirm a price and date for the game's latest expansion: Fury. Psychedelic speedsters in Europe can get their greasy mitts on this new content come July 23 for £7.99 (€9.99). US gamers won't miss out, as Fury will also be available on the US store for $9.99 that day. For those of you not in the brightly-colored loop, Fury adds a whole lot of new content, including game types, tracks and ships, to Sony's futuristic racer.

Source - Playstation.Blog.Europe
Source - Playstation.Blog [US]

Gallery: WipEout HD - Fury

WipEout HD expansion in final testing

by Xav de Matos { Jul 9th 2009 at 1:30PM }

According to the PlayStation Europe Blog, WipEout HD's upcoming game-altering DLC, entitled Fury, is in final QA testing. Answering a short list of questions submitted by blog regulars, WipEout HD game director Tony Buckley and producer Paul Tweedle noted the expansion was in the "final phase" of testing and promised release information would be announced (via the PlayStation Blog) after it completes the process. Fury is set to add a laundry list of content, including 8 tracks, 13 ship models and 3 game modes, to the popular anti-grav racer.

[Via CVG]

'Fury' coming to WipEout HD

by Andrew Yoon { Jun 1st 2009 at 10:08AM }

PS3's downloadable antigrav racer, WipEout HD, is getting its first bit of DLC. Attendees at E3 will be able to try out "Fury," the first expansion pack for the game. Included in the upcoming pack are 8 new tracks, 13 new ships and 3 new game modes. A patch will also add new trophies, a "re-styled front-end" and improved multiplayer functionality.

One of the new modes being reintroduced to WipEout HD is the "Eliminator" mode, last seen in PSP's Pulse. This combat-centric mode gives favor to killing instead of racing. It's one of our favorite modes from WipEout Pulse, so we're glad to see it make a comeback.

In addition, the upcoming Fury DLC will add "Zone Battle," a multiplayer twist on the classic "Zone" concept. In this new mode, players will be able to acquire zone pads and choose between a speed or health boost. Opponents will be able to drop zone barriers, a deadlier WipEout interpretation of Mario Kart's banana peel. Finally, the "Detonator" mode has players shooting at mines while trying to try through 14 different stages. We'll be giving you a full hands-on report on "Fury" later this week.

Gallery: WipEout HD - Fury

WipEout HD update adds online podium, invites, spectator mode

by Xav de Matos { Apr 7th 2009 at 5:00PM }

One of the fastest, melt-your-face (and your pants) racing experiences is getting a supercharged boost tomorrow (April 8). WipEout HD update V1.3 is set to introduce a host of new options to futuristic racing fans, including the ability to easily invite friends into games and an online podium that details the top-three racers after an event or tournament.

The update also introduces online badges for all participants -- regardless of finishing position, players have the chance to win one of 33 online badges in recognition of how they preformed in the race. Whether players who use the edge of the track for guidance like bowling alley gutter bumpers are "badge worthy" is still unclear.

The V1.3 update also introduces a Spectator Mode for race latecomers. If an event is underway when a player connects they will be able to watch the race unfold from various camera angles and are added to the game lobby during the next session. A full list of features, plus new online match customization options, are after the break.

Continued →

CES 2009: Sony shows off 3D display tech with PS3

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Jan 8th 2009 at 3:14PM }

Like this but COMING OUT OF YOUR SCREEN WATCH OUT

"But all my games are already in 3D!" you exclaim, quick to accuse Joystiq of being "bias" and desperate to downplay the PlayStation 3's magnificent graphical capabilities. Rest assured, dear reader, that this post concerns real three dee, the kind that leaps off the screen and subtly mocks you for donning a pair of silly, silly glasses.

Ars Technica had a brief glimpse at some new 3D technology on display at Sony's CES booth and came away impressed. Though a Sony representative remained mum on specifications and insisted that it was merely "a look at what 3D could look like if Sony decided to move in this direction," the effect on PlayStation 3 games proved most enticing. After peering through "a dorky set of black glasses" at Wipeout HD, post author Ben Kuchera noted, "I was ready to whip out my credit card right there."

Late last year, a stereoscopic 3D Certification and Advocacy group claimed that Sony was fully intending to support 3D stereoscope technology, in both movies and games, in 2009. In the interest of embracing as many dimensions as possible, we sincerely hope the CES showing manages to draw out a few more credit cards. (But not from tech journalists -- those are usually maxed out.)

Sony teases 3D PS3 tech at CES

by Majed Athab { Jan 8th 2009 at 8:00AM }

Thought playing Gran Turismo 5 in 2160p wasn't insane enough? Then how about playing it in 3D? How about combining the two ... er, we're getting a little too excited about the future here -- let's get back on track. At CES in Las Vegas, Sony had been showing off some 3D tech tie-ins for the PS3, displaying WipEout HD and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue running in true 3D.

Ars Technica went through the whole orgasmic experience recounting it as "one of the best demos of 3D technology [they] have ever seen." But hold your horses, folks; Sony says it's all for show ... for now. "We're not going to talk about specifications," said a Sony rep. "This is just a look at what 3D could look like if Sony decided to move in this direction."

The black shades the gent is wearing in the picture is the 3D goggles for gameplay. It's not as dorky as Ars thinks it is ... imagine wearing those horrid red/blue specs, ew! The blur screen is no doubt an effect of the 3D and, well, we're dying (as much as you are) to know what it actually was like. Guess we'll never know for quite some time.

[Thanks Julian A. and Erico316!]

Evolution and Sony Liverpool studios merging, combining resources

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Jan 7th 2009 at 2:20PM }

From the "Did you know?" department comes an interesting tidbit regarding Sony's internal development studios -- specifically, the two behind last year's Wipeout HD (Liverpool Studio) and Motorstorm: Pacific Rift (Evolution Studios). According to veep of Worldwide Studios Europe, Michael Denny, it is Sony's intention to fully merge the teams, which already share a management structure and resources, in a single geographic location.

"Each studio has its own internal concepting group which will always be looking at new opportunities and new IPs," Denny told GI.biz, "and we'll continue to extend and innovate within our existing franchises as well." The move won't happen "overnight," but the synergy that would result is sure to be beneficial to off- and hovering-slightly-above-road racing fans. We only hope that the two studios don't fall into the same trap Team Joystiq does whenever united under one roof: hours upon hours wasted looking at funny cat videos.

WipEout HD demo coming Christmas Eve

by Jem Alexander { Dec 19th 2008 at 8:35AM }

Sony's just informed us that WipEout HD's been a pretty big success story. It is SCEE's best, and fastest, selling PSN download for the month of November. But SCEE's still not happy. It wants more people to enjoy the game, so it's releasing a demo version onto the European store next week. On Christmas Eve, to be precise

The demo will include a single track from the game. Once you've played that through you'll then be given a preview of all the other tracks. If that sufficiently tickles your fancy, you can buy the full version directly from the demo for a temporary reduced price. SCEE doesn't say what the cheaper price is, exactly. Only that it will return to its normal price on January 8th. We're betting this lower price and demo will persuade a good number of people, drunk on festive cheer, to part with their cash.

New WipEout HD patch makes your life much easier

by Jem Alexander { Nov 24th 2008 at 12:00PM }

WipEout HD is hard. If you've played the game, you probably know that and, if the newest patch is anything to go by, the developers at Studio Liverpool have also realized this. Updating the game to version 1.20, which will happen as soon as you start the game, will make getting medals in campaign mode a lot easier. You can now change the difficulty setting within campaign mode to novice, skilled or elite, just like in other modes. This changes the medal requirements, making completing the game a much simpler experience.

It also means the difficulty ramp for the game is far less steep, as you can blitz through on novice, then change up to skilled and then, eventually elite. The medals look different for each difficulty, so you can clearly see on which mode you've completed each task. This doesn't help with the most difficult trophies, but at least completing the game is actually possible for normal humans. So, if you haven't played WipEout HD for a while, give it another go. You might get sucked in all over again -- we certainly did.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

WipEout HD patched for popular players, may require save deletion

by James Ransom-Wiley { Oct 10th 2008 at 3:27PM }

Sony has deployed a patch for WipEout HD onto European servers, and presumably will do the same later today in North America, fixing freezing issues that have affected players with over 50 friends. Admittedly, we were rather fond of the "glitch," though it's probably time we let go of our petty grudge against the in-crowd of our adolescent years (note to self: ~~avoid awkward confrontations at next high school reunion~~ politely decline the Jägerbombs). Still, there's some glee to be gleaned from the update. According to the description:

"If at any time you have had over 50 users in your friends list whilst playing Wipeout it is possible that your saved data has become corrupted. If this situation applies to you, we strongly recommend once this update has installed you quit the game and delete your saved data using the saved data utility in the XMB, then relaunch the game to create a new profile. Deleting your Saved Data will not affect your collected trophies or online records, but will reset your campaign mode progress, team loyalties, and in-game settings." [Emphasis ours.]

See? Popularity doesn't always get you ahead in life.

Update: The patch has been released in North America.