Guest Post: Why the Lack of Popular Casino Games for Consoles?

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Posted July 2nd, 2013 at 03:58 EDT by PSU Staff6 Comments

There all manner of different games available for consoles, but not all of them are popular. For every Heavy Rain or Uncharted, there is a boring fishing game or workout game, or some games that could be fun, but are ruined by horrible plotlines. Plenty of gaming categories struggle to find favour among console players, and one of those struggling categories has got to be casino games.

It seems that casino games are enjoying much more success on the internet and mobile devices rather than on consoles. For instance, outside of poker there are next to no titles available on PlayStation 3. It is not difficult to answer the question posed in the title but is interesting.

No Real Money Wagering
Gambling is only in its truest form when a wager has been replaced with real money, even it is a nominal fee. This has to perhaps be the biggest factor working against any success of casino games on consoles. Players feel no urge to play most of the games because there is no way for them to be financially rewarded for their success, therefore rendering blackjack and roulette entirely pointless. Sure there are skill versions of poker, but players tire of these because they can’t wager with real money. This likely won’t change soon because of legal confusion over international gambling legality in different countries.

Limited Social Element
When playing online, gamers mostly go where the action is. This would likely preclude most from ever playing the limited selection of casino games available on consoles. Poker remains the only viable one to compete on, based on the fact that an element of skill is involved. But with roulette and blackjack carrying no real money wagering, players are not attracted to anything but poker. And even then it would not be as appetising as the more popular social games.

Age Not a Factor
Gambling is an activity commonly reserved for adults aged 18 (or 21) and above, depending on where in the world you are from. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced in 2012 that the average gamer was 30 years old in 2012. Despite of the fact that most gamers are above the legal gambling age, casino games for gaming consoles remain unpopular. This fact may attest to the quality of these games, when adults who can play casino games simply prefer not to.

Casino Games are Basic
The PS3 is an incredibly advanced gaming console that is soon to make way for the even more impressive PS4. These are consoles that exist to display highly demanding graphics and deliver immersive story experiences. Casino games require a fraction of the power available on the consoles, so they do represent a waste of the power available. Current consoles are more like high-spec racing cars, in need of experienced drivers and a challenging racetrack.

Summary
Casino games just aren’t a good fit for consoles. They are specific creations that are for high-quality games, whereas those in the casino are more basic. PCs and mobile devices are more embracing of basic games, which is why online casinos and bingo sites such as bananasforbingo.com thrive on those mediums.

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Lovefilm no longer showing the love for video games

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Posted July 2nd, 2013 at 04:56 EDT by Mike Harradence3 Comments

Video games will no longer be offered by U.K. rental giant Lovefilm, the company has announced.

Writing in a post on the Lovefilm Q&A, the firm, which offers a variety of TV and films available to rent by post, commented:

“We are no longer offering game rental packages to either new customers, or those who wish to change from a non-games package.”

“In order to give the best possible service that we can, we are looking to focus on our strength, which is providing the best selection of film and TV content for our customers, and making it available whenever and wherever you want it.”

Owned by Amazon, Lovefilm’s biggest competitor is of course U.S.-based giant Netflix, which offers TV and films via a streaming service. Unsurprisingly, Netflix also does not supply games to its customers.

Lovefilm is available for a variety of formats, including but not limited to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Next-generation consoles will also support Netflix, though Lovefilm has yet to make any announcements on the matter.

Stay tuned.

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Shuhei Yoshida: 'Games are all about having fun, right?'

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Posted July 2nd, 2013 at 21:25 EDT by Dane Smith0 Comments

Talking to the official EU PlayStation forum, President of Sony Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida discussed used games, making the PS4 a gamer-first console, bringing back PSOne-era excitement, and even working with Kaz Hirai and PS4 lead system architect Mark Cerny.

"We made this decision early in the process of designing PS4," he said in reference to PS4's openness toward used games. "There are still a lot of people who want to have the physical medium and the option to share with their friends. That's part of people's enjoyment of games today and that wouldn't change overnight."

Of course, PS4 games may be so good you won't think twice about buying them new. "The only reason people look to spend several hundred euros to get a dedicated games system is because there are experiences that are only available on PS4," Yoshida said. "That's the message we really focused on in New York [back in February 2013] . . . There's the kind of attitude that we used to have back in the PS one days. Games are all about having fun, right? So we enjoy what we're doing, whether it's making games or communicating about them."

Yoshida also discussed the very early stages of his career, when he greenlit legendary games and worked with industry legends. "Actually, the first game I produced was Crash Bandicoot for the Japanese market and since then Mark [Cerny] and I have a long history of working together with PlayStation. Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Jak and Daxter, Ratchet & Clank, Resistance: Fall of Man... So many years we worked together."

What do you think of his views? Are you feeling some of that original PlayStation excitement and energy around PS4? Is Sony's gamer-first attitude and everyone working in harmony enough to make you switch consoles? Let us know your thoughts and ideas.

Dane Smith is the Japan editor for PlayStation Universe. When not out on the streets of Nagoya wondering why no one is looking for a Yakuza-style showdown, he can be found cracking open the newest RPG to hit the shelves. You can follow him on Twitter or read some of his past musings. 

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PlayStation Summer Blast starts today, steep discounts on popular games

Posted July 2nd, 2013 at 20:49 EDT by Kyle Prahl0 Comments

Alongside today's North American PlayStation Store update comes the PlayStation Summer Blast, a multi-week series of steep discounts on popular digital titles.

Sony's on the right track here (I myself have spent undue amounts on attractive Steam summer bundles), and a winning selection of games are on offer at 60 percent discounts for regular users. PS Plus subscribers get up 80 percent discounts on the same games.

Here's the full lineup of PlayStation Summer Blast game discounts, some of which are currently in effect. We'll be posting the full PlayStation Store update later tonight, but for now, sound off in the comments if you're excited to download any of these titles!

From the official PlayStation Blog:

July 2nd – 9th

Call Of Duty Black Ops II (PS3):

Regular Price: $59.99, Sale Price: $41.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $37.79

The Amazing Spider-Man (PS3):

Regular Price: $49.99, Sale Price: $29.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $20.99

Batman Arkham Asylum (PS3):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $9.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00

The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest (PS Vita/PSP):

Regular Price: $9.99, Sale Price: $4.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $2.50

Mortal Kombat (PS Vita):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $9.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00

Mortal Kombat (PS3):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $9.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00

Prince of Persia Forgotten Sands (PS3)

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $7.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $4.00

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: the Game (PS3):

Regular Price: $9.99, Sale Price: $3.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $2.00

Shadow of the Colossus (PS3):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $9.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00

Ratchet & Clank Collection (PS3):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $14.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $7.50

July 9th – 16th

Fast & Furious Showdown (PS3):

Regular Price: $39.99, Sale Price: $31.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $23.99

Star Trek (PS3):

Regular Price: $54.99, Sale Price: $43.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $32.99

Men In Black: Alien Crisis (PS3):

Regular Price: $39.99, Sale Price: $29.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $20.99

The Simpsons Arcade Game (PS3):

Regular Price: $9.99, Sale Price: $6.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $4.89

X-Men (PS3):

Regular Price: $9.99, Sale Price: $6.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $4.89

Hitman Trilogy HD (PS3):

Regular Price: $39.99, Sale Price: $19.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $15.99

Lord of the Rings: War in the North (PS3):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $9.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00

Silent Hill: Book of Memories (PS Vita):

Regular Price: $29.99, Sale Price: $14.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $7.50

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (PS3):

Regular Price: $29.99, Sale Price: $14.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $7.50

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (PS Vita):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $9.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00

The Adventures of TinTin: The Game (PS3):

Regular Price: $39.99, Sale Price: $19.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $10.00

Star Wars The Force Unleashed II (PS3):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $9.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game (PS3):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $9.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00

Just Cause 2 (PS3):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $9.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $7.99

Prince of Persia Classics Trilogy (PS3):

Regular Price: $39.99, Sale Price: $15.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $8.00

Tron Evolution (PS Vita):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $7.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $4.00

Alice: Madness Returns (PS3):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $7.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $4.00

Fight Night Champion – Full Game (PS3):

Regular Price: $29.99, Sale Price: $11.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $6.00

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Sony celebrates 64 free games in year one of Instant Game Collection

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Posted July 1st, 2013 at 03:18 EDT by Matt Fernandez2 Comments

It has been a year since Sony launched the 'Instant Game Collection' as part of its PlayStation Plus subscription service. As most will tell you, the Instant Game Collection rotates out games on a weekly basis for Plus subscribers to download for free. The amount of games that have been added to that collection throughout its first year is quite impressive.

In total, Sony has given away 64 free PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita games to date. Now, that is an impressive figure by itself, but even more impressive is how much these games equal monetarily. The combined value of all 64 of these free titles from just one year of the Instant Game Collections is over $1000.

Want to know what one year of the PS+ Instant Game Collection looks like? If your answer was 'Yes!' then you are in luck. In celebration of the Instant Game Collection's first year Sony has released an image on the PlayStation Blog of all the games released for the Instant Game Collection throughout the first 12 months. Check out the image of the impressive line-up below.

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Square Enix lost first Kingdom Hearts game's data, had to 'recreate everything' for HD 1.5 Remix

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Posted June 26th, 2013 at 14:37 EDT by Ernest Lin11 Comments

In an E3 2013 interview, Kingdom Hearts director Tetsuya Nomura revealed that the original data for the first Kingdom Hearts game was lost and thus had to be recreated for the upcoming Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix remaster collection.

"Kingdom Hearts 1 was created a long, long time ago, so actually the original data was lost," explained Nomura. "So, we had to research and we had to dig out from the actual games available, and recreate everything for HD. We had to recreate graphics, and it was actually not that easy."

Keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't have an impact on your Kingdom Hearts nostalgia. From footage released, it's doubtful anyone suspected Nomura and his crew recreated everything for the HD 1.5 Remix.

Stay tuned to PSU for news on Kingdom Hearts and more.

Ernest Lin is a US Editor for PSU when he's not singing 'Simple and Clean' in the shower. Follow him on Tumblr & Twitter for updates on gaming, movies, traveling, anime, Japanese pop culture, and more.

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2K Games unveils new WWE '14 "Become Immortal" debut trailer

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Posted June 25th, 2013 at 03:09 EDT by Steve Chaffin4 Comments

 2K Games has revealed a new, over-the-top debut trailer for its upcoming WWE 2K14, featuring a mix of both WWE television broadcasts and actual gameplay footage.  You can view the full trailer below.

Are you excited for WWE2K14?  Let us know what you think of the game and its new trailer in the comments section below

Steven Chaffin, Jr. is an American editor for PlayStation Universe who has not touched a wrestling game for over ten years.  Perhaps this will be the first to break the hiatus?  Find out more by visiting Steven's blog and following him on Twitter @steven_chaffin.

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Morality in Video Games

Posted June 21st, 2013 at 07:06 EDT by Dane Smith0 Comments

Welcome to PSU.com's hit series on the world of gaming. Join our hosts Skip Williams and Max Platinum as they give you the inside scoop on a myriad of topics in gaming. From how to catapult up the Trophy rankings to debating about the current console war, don't change that channel as there might even be some broken tables, because the debates get so hardcore!

Disclaimer: All likenesses used are for parody and/or satirical purposes.

Skip: What the hell, Max. What did you do to your dressing room?

Max: Don`t you like all the tinfoil?

Skip: If I was the centerfold for off my meds monthly then I`d be in heaven but I`m not. We have a show to run. Don`t tell me you`re really freaking out about the new Spybox One?

Max: It is the leveled up form of the box genie. We can`t trust it. Why else would Kojima go over to Microsoft`s side with the MGSV reveal? It is all making sense now.

Skip: You make the X-Files look like a show for sane people. We`re talking about morality on today`s show. Just don`t come to the studio cloaked in the skin of dead babies.

Max: Babies are evil, Skip, if Silent Hill and Dante`s Inferno taught me anything.

Skip: Now I know why he doesn`t date white girls. White guys are just as crazy.

Max: I heard that.

One Hour Later in the Studio

Skip: Welcome fans and viewers to another episode of Skip and Max`s Prime Time Gaming. I`m your host with the most, Skip Williams and with me as always is the doctor of trophinomics Max Platinum. How was your vacation during E3?

Max: It was good. I finished my bunker to protect me from the Spybox One.

Skip: Forget I asked. This week we will be discussing the idea of morality in video games and just how far is too far to push the envelope. A few weeks ago a friend mentioned I should watch Playing Columbine, a documentary about the game Super Columbine Massacre RPG! which by the name is obviously about the Columbine massacre. That is old news but what isn`t is indie developers are getting a huge push this console generation, and the PC will always be a publisher`s dream to get anything out on the market. Do you think we`ll see a new SCMRPG! or RapeLay by an indie developer that pushes the boundaries of taste and morality?

Max: This is Japan, Skip. RapeLay style games are not rare. It is a marketplace where the boundaries have already been blown wide open in comparison to it`s North American counterparts. It is a culture war, essentially, with one culture more open to taboo subjects and the other culture not. It is a country that has porn on the shelves of bookstores in the reach of five-year olds, and even if you try not to find porn you will find it anyways by accident if you don`t read Japanese.

Skip: If it is as simple as a culture war what can explain the different degrees of acceptance. Both sides have the same non-chalant attitude to murder as evidenced by 95% of the games on the market, but when it comes to something sexual or religious it is a bigger problem in the western media.

Max: Part of that can be traced to North America`s European and Middle Eastern religious roots, with chastity being promoted over promiscuity. Anything sexual is considered evil and the work of the devil. In Japan there is very little Christian or Muslum influence so there are no deeply ingrained negative beliefs about sexuality, and a complete neutrality towards religion altogether. Let`s not forget that anyone who has played a Yakuza game will remember the hostess and host bars which are very real in Japan.

Skip: Religion is the reason why a game that uses a flesh light is acceptable in one culture and morally wrong in another?

Max: I`m a trophy whore, Skip, but whoever decides to platinum that game must have a high self-esteem and self-worth because that is never going to be hidden from their profile.

Skip: Do you think people will realize that before trying it?

Max: Well, if my profile didn`t have lots of friends and co-workers on it, you know, I am a trophy whore.

Skip: And we`re all proud of you for that. Considering you lived in your own fecal matter because of, and I quote, “method acting”, this does not surprise me.

Max: Hostesses and hookers are not cheap, especially in Japan, Skip.

Skip: So if religion is only part of it then what is the other part?

Max: North America is a multi-cultural area whereas Japan is mono-cultural. Japan is for the Japanese and if you don`t adapt to that then they won`t change to make immigrants or foreign workers feel better or have an easier life. Unlike in North America which has it`s greatest strength be it`s greatest weakness. With so many different areas with different cultural nuances all vying for national attention and national change, anything and everything can and will be controversial to large sections of the populace. Things then get changed for those large sections but now another large section is angry.

Skip: Do you know a good hostess club?

Max: Why are you asking me all of a sudden?

Skip: Cause I saw the half-dozen cards on your table.

Max: I know this good place in Kamurocho but it is a bit expensive. No Asians allowed though. They are monopolizing the business left over from the no foreigners allowed establishments.

Skip: Is that another one of those nuances that separates our cultures?

Max: Well, it is very different that segregation is essentially in effect and no one bats an eye.

Skip: Conversely why is murder so widely accepted, from it`s kiddie form of Mario jumping on goombas to Lara Croft giving someone a .45 caliber lobotomy?

Max: Same reason as why sex is so taboo. Every culture across the world has a background of violence and war, whether it be through heritage, religion, paternity, or anything. When countries like America are built off of revolting against their own people or our religious leaders ask us to go on crusades to smite non-believers for the greater good, it is so seeped into our DNA that no one bats an eye. A person just needs to look at American TV toy commercials to find proof of that.

Ring Tone: I need a hero to save me now

Max: Sorry Skip, one second…Hello? Yes, sure, that sounds good. See you then.

Skip: Who was that?

Max: My date for tonight.

Skip: You have a date tonight? With who? You go to hostess clubs and tin foil up your room in your spare time.

Max: A hostess of course. I beat up some yakuza thugs the other night when we were walking home. She thinks I`m a hero, thus the new ring tone.

Skip: You beat up yakuza thugs, in Tokyo, and in Kamurocho specifically, and you are alive?

Max: I am here in the studio, aren`t I? Is this a corpse talking? Anyways, I`ll tell you all about my heroic adventures on next week`s episode.

Skip: I am sure the audience will be glued to their seat to hear of the heroic adventures of Mighty Max: Hostess Hero.

Max: Maybe I should contact Square Enix and pitch the idea. This is Japan after all. I wouldn`t have to worry about getting called a misogynist unlike in North America.

Skip: Too late.

Max: Huh?

Skip: For someone who says he can read you sure don`t read any of the memos we are given.

Max: About?

Skip: We are getting put into a video about sexism in the video game industry.

Max: Didn`t we already deal with that topic months ago?

Skip: Well fans and viewers that is all the time we have this week. Join us next time when we discuss sexism in the industry again, and how blind agendas are damaging the industry.

Max: Is Rebekka going to be on the show again? I didn`t like how she undressed me with her eyes. I felt violated, Skip.

Skip: Considering how you two get along so well I can`t see how that would be a problem for you. Please note the sarcasm in my voice.

Missed an episode of the program? Check out the back issues to get up to speed. Want so see if the writer is just as crazy as the characters he has created? Check out his thoughts and adventures in Japan, gaming, and life on Twitter and Facebook.

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What were the best games of E3 2013?

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Posted June 20th, 2013 at 08:26 EDT by Mike Harradence1 Comments

Game developers and publishers showcased a wealth of new titles at E3 2013 last week in Los Angeles, with next-generation games taking centre stage as Sony and Microsoft gear up for the release of PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Still, as amazing as the line-up was, a number of titles clearly stood out from the pack as offering not only absolutely stunning visuals, but also a compelling – and in many cases, innovative – gameplay experience.

Which brings the inevitable question – what were the best games of E3? We have the answers in the video below.

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PS4 appears on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, gets applause for allowing used games

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Posted June 19th, 2013 at 14:40 EDT by Ernest Lin13 Comments

Video Game Week is underway on American late night-talk show Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, with both upcoming next-generation consoles making appearances. Earlier this week, Microsoft showed off their Xbox One, and last night, Mark Cerny was on the show to demo the PlayStation 4.

At the beginning of the segment, Jimmy Fallon explains the "big story everyone's talking about" that garners applause and cheers from the audience: that the PS4 is the only system that plays used games and doesn't require an online connection. While he's not entirely true by implying the Xbox One doesn't play used games, it's likely Microsoft's complicated restrictions on used games is causing a lot of mainstream consumers to simplify it all to "it doesn't play used games."

The rest of the video, viewable below, shows Fallon playing Cerny's upcoming game, Knack.

Stay tuned to PSU for more on PS4 and everything PlayStation.

Ernest Lin is a US Editor for PSU when he's not trying to predict PS4's launch date. Follow him on Tumblr & Twitter for updates on gaming, movies, traveling, anime, Japanese pop culture, and more.

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Humility, passion, and indie games: Shahid Ahmad embodies the new face of PlayStation

Posted June 18th, 2013 at 22:45 EDT by Kyle Prahl1 Comments

For months now, Strategic Content wizard and PS Vita champion Shahid Kamal Ahmad has been spending almost every waking moment of his life courting developers and stocking his favorite platform with creative indie games. As Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's Senior Business Development Manager, Shahid is at least partially responsible for bringing more than two dozen games to PS Vita. Thomas Was Alone. Luftrausers. Hotline Miami. Super Crate Box. Lone Survivor.

To a handheld struggling at market, he's a bonafide PlayStation hero.

You wouldn't know it from talking to him, though. As we struggled to find a suitably quiet place for conversation amidst the bustle of the J.W. Marriott hotel lounge (a stone's throw from the Los Angeles Convention Center and E3 2013), I was taken aback by Shahid's air of humility. Here was a man whose actions were fundamentally changing the way Sony approaches indie developers and how the mainstream gaming public, in turn, views Sony. At no time since word of his outreach first reached the gaming public had the fruits of his labor been more apparent. Sony's stunning E3 press conference was on everybody's minds, and the morning air was abuzz with last-night excitement over "Sony's finest hour": a stylish shaming of its next-gen rival.

Much of the post-conference conversation revolved around the eight indie developers that Sony put onstage, front-and-center, to demonstrate its commitment to the little guy. Would that moment have been possible without the precedent set by Shahid and his Strategic Content team?

"What's happened is not so much that our approach has changed, it's that the developer community has changed," Shahid attests. "There's this incredible flowering of new life everywhere, new creativity everywhere, new developers everywhere . . . The goals behind the engagement haven't changed. A lot of it came about as a result of several discussions and meetings with developers we had at the beginning of 2012 to help this policy of engagement take place."

At first, I'm curious--even suspicious--of the indie push's origins. It's impossible to deny the impact that games like Bastion, Super Meat Boy, and Fez have had on gamer interests and the industry at large. These and other small-titles-turned-mega-hits flourished or even originated on Xbox 360. "Yesterday's indie is tomorrow's Minecraft," Shahid agrees. So, is Sony's recent push to attract indie developers a response to the competition? "Engagement with partners has always been something that we're really, really conscious of," he assures me. "What's happened is that the partner space has exploded. It's become much wider--there are many more players out there. So the way we engage with them has had to change to accommodate."

"It's not a response to anyone other than the new partner space."

I worry that Sony might be missing the proactive point, but Shahid understands what's at stake. Rest assured, Sony is taking notice of the big players in indie development and acting accordingly. "Independent developers are becoming more and more integral to the health and the general vibrance of any platform," he says. "Not just our platform, any platform." Much like the last several years, the next generation could be defined by indie mega-hits, and Shahid recognizes what's at stake for Sony: "I think that you're going to start to see some enormous hits come from this space. I think you're going to see future giants from this space as well."

Shahid is calm, cool, and confident as he says it, teasing an unspoken assurance that whatever blockbuster indies are making headlines two or three years from now, you'll find them on PlayStation platforms. Imagining what shape these giants might take is difficult with the blazing Los Angeles sun casting rays at my retinas, but I think back to an earlier answer that teased a PlayStation formula for successful games. I had asked what draws Sony's attention to new projects as potential targets for fostering development. Shahid countered: "What is it that makes a PlayStation game? What is it that uniquely identifies it? . . . What gives it the heritage?" His heartfelt passion for PlayStation, extremely evident from our earliest words, is positively burning at this point: "I think innovation is important. I think creativity is important. Passion, creativity--people who really want to do what they're doing, and who really believe in what they're doing, and are beginning to establish a fanbase."

If Sony's looking for burgeoning indie fanbases, they need not look far (FTL? Dear Esther? Kerbal Space Program? Among the Sleep?), but Shahid is keeping tight-lipped on potential partnerships. "If you have heard of the developer, if they are high-profile, there is a very strong likelihood that we are either talking to them or we've already spoken to them and some kind of decision has been made," he says. In both cases, "it's probably not right for us to talk about it. But there are no 'no-go' areas. We're very happy to engage . . . with as many of the top developers as we can."

"As far as I'm concerned, I'd like to work with all of them. I think they're all fantastic. They can all offer PlayStation something."

It all sounds like a corporate game of pub dealings and dark-corner handshakes, but anyone who follows Shahid on Twitter knows how open his outreach process really is--and how PlayStation fans can have an impact. Besides openly offering his email address and Skype name to gamers and developers alike, Shahid takes to the social network to gauge interest in new projects. "I put out a request to the community about which JRPGs they might be interested in," he recalls. "And I got about 250 trillion responses, which means that the community is very interested in this space."

Unfortunately, Shahid and other socially inclined faces of PlayStation can't always respond to fans how they'd like. "Have a look at the whole #PS4NoDRM campaign thing," he says, referencing current events and the palpable Sony buzz around us. "We couldn't say anything about that ahead of time. What can you say? That's the kind of thing you really can't talk about because there's too much at stake." In the same vein, there are games in the pipeline that aren't yet ready for the world to see. "There are titles that I'd love to speak about, but they're going to take time to cook," Shahid teases with a knowing smile. "And when they're ready, we'll talk about them."

In fact, Shahid estimates that over two dozen unannounced titles are currently in the works for PS Vita and, perhaps, PS4. "Obviously you're seeing the results of [our engagement] in the Vita space recently. We're also going to be looking at PS4 content as well," he confirms. "When I said that we are working on dozens of titles, I didn't mean 24. I meant a lot more than 24. On my radar currently, it's over 50 [released and unreleased] titles . . . And it's not stopping at 50, by the way. We're going on."

It's hard not to take the words of Shahid--a man who so clearly loves games--at face value, and at face value, they paint an exceedingly bright future for PS Vita. "We're committed to Vita. The Vita is here to stay," he says with conviction. "We've got a lot of fantastic news lined up, and not just in software terms as well. I'm looking forward to everything that happens in this space."

If you're a PS Vita owner, or a PlayStation fan, you should be too.

-----

Kyle Prahl ran to his interview with Shahid Ahmad because the Los Angeles transit system was running late. He hopes his breathlessness didn't show. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook for game news and opinions from a college student with sights set on an industry career.

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Tretton: PS4 won't block used games because it 'creates value' for the consumer

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Posted June 18th, 2013 at 18:23 EDT by Ernest Lin0 Comments

One of the biggest moments of celebration during Sony's PlayStation press conference came when the company announced their PlayStation 4 would not block or hinder the sale or lending of used games. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment of America Jack Tretton said a used game "creates value" for the consumer.

"The other thing as it relates to the ownership of the game, if people pay a lot of money for that, they equate the value with the flexibility they have in that," explained Tretton. "To do with it as they choose; to give it to their friends, sell it to their friends, trade it in to another retailer; that creates value in the initial purchase that they make."

Coupled with not needing an internet connection and a price point of $399, the PS4 has positioned itself as the consumer-oriented next-gen console. "The goal is always to reach the most consumer-friendly price point so you can drive volume as quickly as possible. But you walk that line between wanting to deliver the ultimate technological experience at a reasonable price and we think we hit a really nice chord at $399 with PlayStation 4," Tretton told Bloomberg.

Keep checking back to PSU for the latest on PS4 and more.

via GameSpot

Ernest Lin is a US Editor for PSU when he's not trying to predict PS4's launch date. Follow him on Tumblr & Twitter for updates on gaming, movies, traveling, anime, Japanese pop culture, and more.

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Ubisoft has three Assassin's Creed games in development

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Posted June 14th, 2013 at 13:21 EDT by Mike Harradence10 Comments

The CEO of Ubisoft has confirmed that the French publishing giant has three Assassin’s Creed games in the works.

“We are making sure the teams who are creating the different iterations have enough time—two years, three years, so that they can take risk and they can change the concept enough so that it can be appealing and fresh,” Yves Guillemot told Kotaku.

“Our job is to make sure the teams have enough power, enough energy and enough time to take the necessary steps to create a high quality game.”

This perhaps shouldn’t come as a surprise considering the Assassin’s Creed franchise has seen a release annually beginning with Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood in 2010.

Guillemot didn’t actually go into details on the games, although one can assume that Black Flag is included seeing as it is still in development and not out until October. The other two, presumably, will come out in 2014 and 2015 – unless Ubisoft is planning another handheld spin-off in between the core releases, that is.

Ubisoft manages to avoid brand fatigue and keep things fresh by rotating developers with each instalment, something which has obviously worked to great effect considering how well the series has sold so far.

“Really, what we see is that we can have the capacity to regularly come with innovation,” he added. “That is, for me, the formula: if you can really change the game on a regular basis and bring in innovation your fans want a product very regularly.”

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is scheduled to ship on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Wii U.

Are you fed up of yearly releases in the Assassin's Creed series? Let us know in the comments section below.

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[UPDATED] Rumor: Epic Games bringing Gears of War to PS4

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Posted June 12th, 2013 at 23:53 EDT by Lazar Odic 12 Comments

UPDATE: IGN has confirmed that this rumor is false.  Sorry, PS gamers.

According to a post made on a Giant Bomb discussion board by user Haruko, developer Epic Games is planning on bringing its Xbox-only flagship franchise Gears of War to the PlayStation 4.  

While we recommend taking this rumor with a grain of salt until any more news is released, the user also posted an accompanying photo, below:

Becuase Epic Games currently owns the IP for the Gears of War franchise, it is possible that the developer is planning to make the series multi-platform.  Considering the streamlined architecture between the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, it would be both beneficial from a marketing standpoint and much easier to accomplish. 

Stay tuned at PSU.com for more on this news story.

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140 PS4 games in development

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Posted June 11th, 2013 at 02:18 EDT by Steven Williamson1 Comments

During Sony’s E3 press conference, Jack Tretton revealed that there are more than 140 games in development for the PlayStation 4.

The titles will be a mixture between first and third-party releases and include games such as: The Witness, Gran Turismo 6, Killzone: Shadowfall, Driveclub and inFamous: Second Son.

SCE Worldwide Studios is working on 30 games and will release 20 of those in the first 12 months. Tretton said that there will be over 100 games available in the first year.
Keep an eye on our E3 2013 news hub for all the latest from L.A.

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PS4 not region-locked, play imported games

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Posted June 11th, 2013 at 04:56 EDT by Steven Williamson3 Comments

And the good news just keeps on coming for potential PlayStation 4 owners as we now learn that the console will not be region-locked.

This was confirmed via Twitter from Sony Computer Entertainment’s Brad Douglas as well as Shunhei Yoshida, shown below.

      

Sony has ticked all the boxes at its E3 conference this year, showcasing great games, introducing a decent price-point and opening up its platform for indie developer to showcase their content.

Stay tuned for more news from E3.

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85 games coming to PS Vita by end of 2013

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Posted June 11th, 2013 at 03:55 EDT by Steven Williamson0 Comments

Though the PlayStation 4 was the main star of Sony’s E3 conference, let’s not forget PlayStation Vita which currently has a library of more than 125 games, not including PSP and PS classics.

During the conference a number of titles were introduced including Batman: Arkham Origins, Blackgate, Counterspy, Destiny of Spirits, Doki Doki Universe, Killzone, Mercenary and Tearaway.

We can also expect the debut of the God Of War series in the form of God od War HD1 and 2 as well as Final Fantasy X and X-2 and The Walking Dead.

The latter will offer a new control scheme unique to Ps Vita where players can use either the analog sticks or the touch controls.

During the conference, Sony also confirmed that there's 140 PS4 games currently in development.

Stay tuned to PSU for more news from E3 2013.

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SuperGiant Games announces Transistor console debut on PS4

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Posted June 10th, 2013 at 22:27 EDT by Matt Fernandez0 Comments

SuperGiant Games, the creator of Bastion, has announced that its new game Transistor will be making its console debut on PlayStation 4.

Check out the trailer below and stayed tuned on PSU for all things E3.

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Sony confirms no DRM/requirements for used games on PS4

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Posted June 10th, 2013 at 23:02 EDT by Timothy Weaver3 Comments

At Sony's E3 press conference, President of Sony Computer Entertainment America, Jack Tretton, began taking shots at Microsoft by confirming that the PlayStation 4 will not use DRM (Digital Rights Media) on used games and will allow you to also lend your games and trade them with no restrictions whatsoever. Also, Tretton confirmed that there are no requirements for being online just to play games.

These comments concluded with everyone in the crowd cheering loudly as many fans who were worried that Sony was going to take a DRM-based route, didn't take it. Make sure to keep your eyes posted for more up to date information on E3, here at PlayStation Universe.

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