Sony Press Conference

If we look back at the Microsoft, EA, Nintendo and Sony press conferences, which took place in the order mentioned, that same order applies to how interesting they were (with Nintendo and Sony fighting for rank 3). At least, Sony had the most screens onstage – we counted seven large ones and countless monitors. Jack Tretton, President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, mentioned in his E3 speech that „We just begun to scratch the surface“. PS3, Tretton referred to the console’s supposed lifecycle before a successor comes out, is on a “10 year mission”. He went on boasting about Blu-ray and one of the last exclusive AAA franchises on PS3, Metal Gear Solid. All in all, Tretton says, PS3 has 75 exclusive titles.

We’ll skip all the uninteresting stuff and just pick out the games and announcements we deem worthwhile: Resistance 2 was shown. In the demo, the hero fights an opponent that is as bigger than several of the buildings of the city we’re in. The opponent also takes a lot of rocket launcher hits before finally going down. Huge applause after the video demonstration. The facts of Resistance 2: 8 players can coop online, 60 players can play competitive mode. „Resistance 2 is all about scale.“, Ted Price of Insomniac games said, talking about huge battles, huge landscapes and huge battleships (which you can board in some levels).

Little Big Planet is the big creativity fan box Sony has in its portfolio (finally nearing its release in October 2008). Today, it was used as a Powerpoint presentation substitute: In a specially created level (with real physics and all), facts and numbers came up while Alex Evans from Media Molecule steered his little sackcloth figure through the scrolling level. Quite a treat, actually! Here is one of those numbers: Since 1995, PlayStation (across all versions, hardware and software) has generated 50 billion USD in revenues. After the presentation, Tretton mentioned that it was PlayStation that started casual and party gaming (with Sony EyeToy, for example). That’s perfectly right, still Sony won’t manage to take the casual crown away from Nintendo, in perception and in the reality of sold numbers of party/casual games.

Later, Ratchet Clank Future: Quest for Booty was announced for download via the PlayStation Network. The idea of it is a shorter game at a lower price, but the quality (at least in graphics) is at least the same as in the predecessor, Tools of Destruction. In the new game, Ratchet uses a sort of Gravity gun to manipulate objects and solve puzzles. Tretton couldn’t help stabbing at Microsoft Marketplace (and presumably heir Xbox 360 Community Games): “We’re not interested in filling up our store with games that nobody wants to play”.

Tretton announced a new service for the PlayStation Network, starting today: Downloadable movies and TV shows from partners like MGM, Warner, Disney, Paramount. The movies and shows can be rented (starting at 1,99 for episodes and 2,99 USD for movies) or bought. The feature Microsoft cannot offer: The downloaded videos are portable, you can transfer them via USB cable to your PSP. Also, “progressive downloading” is used, so if you purchase a movie you “can start watching it a minute later”. Jack Tretton went on saying something in the direction of Sony liking Google. There will be a service called Life with PlayStation, which seems to be a version of Google Maps mixed with news, for PS3. Home was briefly mentioned, only: "When it's finally there, you'll be rewarded for your patience." A short Home video showed themed apartments (e.g. a Resistance setting) and that you'll be able to launch games from the 3D chat environment.

PSP was the next topic, but the only detail we think is worth mentioning is that Resistance will come to the PSP, soon. It is called Resistance Retribution, and it looked quite good from a distance.

Later, DC Universe Online by Sony Online Entertainment was previewed. Jim Lee, Executive Creative Director of the upcoming MMO, stumbled when coming onto the stage, fell and pushed him up again with one arm. In the game, you create your own superhero or super villain. Well known characters like Superman, Batman or Wonderwoman are included.
Towards the end, some other games where announced (mostly for the first time): God of War 3 (an impressive video was shown), inFAMOUS and MAG (short for Mass Action Game, see additional news. The audience’s applause, which had grown quieter and quieter during the show, turned loud again for God of War 3 and MAG. Our applause for the news Sony provided us with today? Mild. And in case you've wondered: