There were no extensive next console (a.k.a. PlayStation 4) announcements from Sony at their E3 presentation but they did focus on several games, expanding services, and a new augmented reality experience.
Quantic Dream, makers of Heavy Rain, kicked off this year’s Sony/PlayStation E3 presentation with the unique, psychological action thriller BEYOND: Two Souls featuring Ellen Page as the lead character Jodie Holmes. See the details below:
Live the remarkable life of Jodie Holmes, a young woman who possesses supernatural powers through a psychic link to an invisible entity. Experience the most striking moments of Jodie’s life as your actions and decisions determine her fate. As she traverses the globe, Jodie will face incredible challenges against a backdrop of emotionally-charged events never before seen in a video game.
- Take full control of Jodie as well as the mysterious entity in spectacular action sequences.
- Experience the new cutting-edge technology from Quantic Dream that creates one of the best-looking games ever seen on the PlayStation®3.
The presentation included extensive gameplay footage from Far Cry 3, which will include a map editor, open world gameplay, and four player co-operative support. Assassins Creed III and Assassins Creed III Liberation will join colonial war forces for cross play experiences on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita respectively on October 30. Assassins Creed III Liberation will feature the first female lead character in the game series and will be available in a special crystal white PlayStation Vita bundle. Assassins Creed III features epic sea battles with captain control of navigation and weapons. This game will be available in a special PlayStation 3 bundle that includes an exclusive downloadable content (DLC).
PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale will be another PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita cross play experience releasing later this year. Battles are based on points and feature level-up special powers including a third level attack that can decimate rivals. Characters include Nathan Drake from Uncharted and Big Daddy from BioShock plus others from the Fat Princess, God of War, Killzone, Parrappa the Rapper, Sly Cooper and Twisted Metal games. Sony will also release downloadable content for crossplay for Little Big Planet 2, which, coincidentally will be one of 12 free games (Saints Row 2, Infamous 2, etc.) offered for PlayStation Plus members.
Upcoming PlayStation Vita featured games include Call of Duty Black Ops Declassified, Little Big Planet, and Super Monkey Ball Banana Splitz. PSOne classic games including Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy will be available on the PS Vita along with expanded apps and services including YouTube, Crackle and HuluPlus.
Gameplay footage of God of War: Ascension, releasing on March 12, 2013, and the gritty survival based action The Last of Us impressed while announced PlayStation Move games include Little Big Planet Karting and Sports Champions 2 including new sports skiing, tennis, boxing, golf, bowling, and updated archery. Sony also mentioned the upcoming release of unique games like The Unfinished Swan (see details below):
Enter the surreal world of The Unfinished Swan and explore a mysterious, hidden kingdom. Your journey will be led by a runaway swan who guides you through strange levels filled with bizarre creatures. Discover the land through innovative new game mechanics such as splatting paint on a white surface to uncover your surroundings. Each level will bring new twists, challenges, and puzzles until you eventually come face-to-face with the eccentric King that built this realm.
Key Features
- Explore a surreal, unfinished kingdom and find the King who abandoned it
- Experience astonishing and unique game mechanics
- Create (accidental) works of art as you splat your way across the landscape
- Enjoy intuitive and simple controls that are fully Move compatible
Music Unlimited will continue growth of its 15 million+ song library while PlayStation Mobile, previously known as PlayStation Suite, will give players “more ways to play games than ever before” on open platform phones and tablets. A partnership with HTC smartphones was also announced.
Wonderbook offers unique augmented reality experiences with physical books with content announcements including the film noir title Diggs Nightcrawler and Book of Spells, a collaborative project with author J.K. Rowling where users use the PS Move as a wand while featuring extensive backgrounds on each spell. Check out the press release below:
One Book: a Thousand Stories
WonderbookTM will bring to life a thousand stories in one physical book with a brand new series of adventures and experiences to explore. A powerful storytelling vehicle and tool for the imagination, Wonderbook will bring exclusive content in immersive new ways by putting you at the heart of the action, using augmented reality technology to transform the world around you. Bringing mystery and discovery to your living room, Wonderbook titles will draw you into new worlds, and give you the chance to live in the stories you love.
The first story: WonderbookTM: Book of Spells
Book of Spells is the first title for Wonderbook, the latest addition to the PlayStation experience. Written by Miranda Goshawk over two hundred years ago, the Book of Spells can be found in the Restricted Section of the Hogwarts library. This advanced textbook will assist students on their journey to becoming an accomplished witch or wizard. Read, discover, learn and practice spells such as Incendio, Wingardium Leviosa and Expelliarmus, as well as discover mischievous notes, spells and humorous anecdotal facts scribbled into the margins by previous Hogwarts students. J.K. Rowling has written a conundrum that leads you through the experience, providing insight into the values a witch or wizard has to learn, and inviting you to journey through the book to unlock new content, rewarding successful students along the way.
Features:
- Discover the magic. Wonderbook takes augmented reality to spectacular new places with an intuitive and easy to use book. Tilting, rotating, or simply turning the pages bring stories to life all around you like never before.
- Learn the art of spell-casting. Chapter by chapter, you will be able to read about and practise 20 spells, picking up valuable experiences and lessons along the way – as well as House Points – just like a student at HogwartsTM.
- Original content from J.K. Rowling. From the world of Harry PotterTM, the Book of Spells reveals new and exciting content by the world’s best-loved author. Offering backstories to the famous spells, valuable lessons and brand new creatures, student wizards can unlock more writing with every chapter test.