Killzone 2

By Christian Donlan Published 4 December, 2008

Guerrilla warfare.

It's hard making the sequel to a classic, but it's probably harder making the sequel to a game that everybody expected to be a classic. Guerrilla's Killzone had distinctive World War I-inspired art, authentically creepy enemies, and pre-release claims of revolutionary squad AI, yet the game never delivered on its obvious promise. Its grey trenches brought heavy-handed railroading along with their stylish claustrophobia, and the designer baddies combined a conspicuous lack of street smarts with annoyingly long health bars, which saw them absorb a wearying number of bullets to the chest before eventually collapsing.

As a basis for a sequel, the best you can say is that it leaves the developer with plenty of areas to work on. Add to that the high-profile "target render" trailer shown at E3 2005, Guerrilla's relatively new first-party status, and some heavily-entrenched competition, and you can see why the Amsterdam-based developer is currently rushed off its feet, working around the clock to make Killzone 2 perfect.

But right now, no-one's rushing around. Frozen in time on a developer's monitor, one of the game's grim cityscapes is a picture of calm. A lone figure hangs in mid-air, ducking incoming bullets that are paused in the act of chipping away concrete, while behind him, oppressive high-rises stand out against a darkened sky. Like most sci-fi, Killzone 2's future is heavily in debt to Blade Runner's sodium-lit Los Angeles, but there's a hint of the sheerness of Robocop's Detroit too, simultaneously sleek and filthy.

A closer look reveals a wealth of finer details: the concrete's cracked and scarred, and the buildings are wedged haphazardly against one another, covered with tin bandages and broken windows. There's time to notice a few more niceties - how good the textures look close-up, or the sad puddle of water in the middle of the street - and then the developer presses the pause button again, and the quiet city turns into a brutal hell, filled with shouting, gunfire, and distant lightning.

'Killzone 2' Screenshot 1

Hit response meshes animation and physics so tightly that Guerrilla has had to cheat to ensure enemies don't drop their guns if you hit them too hard.

Textures, effects, lighting: Guerrilla is eager to start our tour of its Amsterdam HQ with an exhaustive look at the company's technology. This, after all, is where this team feels most comfortable, and as a result the studio almost hums with electrical energy. All day long, people have been telling us that just to give ten journalists hands-on time without fusing the entire neighbourhood, a dozen members of staff have been sent home early. It sounds like a witty piece of PR nonsense, until the Killzone 2 presentation kicks off with slides showing massive petrol-powered generators being craned into Guerrilla's back garden during pre-production. After that, nobody's so sure they're being joked around anymore.

One thing you can be sure of is that Killzone 2 is a very pretty game. Guerrilla's in-house engine uses deferred rendering, separating its various filters such as motion blur, film grain and bloom onto six of the PS3's SPUs, to create a cinematic blend of visual effects without damaging the frame-rate, while the art department is focusing in on the design details that will help tell the story. Weapons and vehicles both play their parts in differentiating the two warring factions, from the nasty, wooden-stocked, rusting guns and predatory aircraft of the Helghast, hinting at a society that's both brutal and stagnant, to the slicker, cleaner rifles of the ISA, whose tanks and planes resemble existing military technology that's just been nudged forward a few years.

By and large though, the real polish is being applied to the environments. Guerrilla's first game played out in a muddy warren of swamps and corridors, but the sequel takes the fight back to the Helghast's home planet. Killzone 2 tells an unusual war story, then: you're not the underdog anymore. In fact, the ISA are now all but victorious, zeroing in on the last enclave of a weakened enemy.

'Killzone 2' Screenshot 2

Squad-mate AI has been noticeably improved: your buddies do the same damage as you, but have less accuracy to balance it out.

"We knew the Helghast are fascist and wanted that to be reflected in their world, but we didn't want it to be too big and rich, so we made it cramped and dirty: China or Moscow rather than Berlin," says art director Jan-Bart Van Beek. The results are a cobbled-together futuristic slum, a decaying urban sprawl that threatens to spill apart. Rather than streets, the levels flow through empty concrete riverbeds, and there are signs of oppression and neglect everywhere.

But the game's in no danger of becoming samey - the city we've seen already isn't the only environment, and the rest display a surprising range of styles. A later visit to a forgotten Helghast outpost features carcasses of industrial buildings constructed from the bones of the spaceships that first landed there. The inspiration lies with Pakistani ship-breaking wharfs where boats are stripped for parts, and while it means yet more factories to plod through in a first-person shooter, these have a haunting, mysterious quality that makes them different: a mixture of the sad, the brutal, and the gently exotic. And in every location, the toxic variety of Helghan is always present. In the game's fiction, the planet's polluted atmosphere is itself a Class III toxin, and the ravaged weather system's lightning flashes and dust storms seem likely to have an influence on the level construction.

Guerrilla's proud of the world it's created, but it isn't about to let visual excess lead the game over a cliff. In amongst presentations on lighting, dynamic music and weapon design, the word we hear most often is "balance". Take visuals: too much detail and your eyes don't know where to look. The outcome? You're run over by a tank while you're staring at the wallpaper. Killzone 2's environments are full of intricacies, but the developer is careful to use lighting and blur to guide you towards the important details. It's the same with physics: "We still want to have a game that's progressable," says development director Arjan Brussee. "Sometimes you can do things which are too much: blow up a tank in the middle of the road and it's hard to get around it. As with everything else, it's finding that balance between the destructible and the non-destructible."

Looks and physics will only get you so far, however, and when it comes to the core experience, the developers have a simple goal. They want to make Killzone 2 one of the most intense console shooters around, and that means zeroing on the simple business of killing people. The team has identified weak hit-response as one of the key elements that damaged the first game, and they've spent a lot of time working on a blend of physics and animation to improve it. Where previously enemies would scarcely react as you fired endless clips into their stomachs, they now jolt, twist and writhe under the impact of bullets, before slumping to the ground after a more realistically brief onslaught. It may seem like a strange detail to fixate on, but it's astonishing how much drama the right reactions can bring to the game's shootouts. When you fire guns in Killzone 2, it's immediately obvious that you're making things happen, and the result is a more involving experience, even on a short playthrough.

AI was an arguably a bigger problem with the original game, and it's another aspect the team have taken pains to address. "With AI the frustrating thing is if you get 90 per cent right, that last ten per cent with someone who gets stuck on a wall can let you down," says game designer Rob Heald. "Killzone 2's AI is still an evolution of the AI in the original, we haven't started from scratch. But we have taken advantage of the technology. The AI can make more decisions, decide between greater threats and different inputs. They're capable of dealing with a much more dynamic world. You'll see a lot more rolling out of the way of grenades, flanking, avoiding destructible objects. It's a cliché, but you won't see the same encounter play out twice. And there's more variety in the enemies: there's long-range guys, and short-range guys who will move in and flush you out."

'Killzone 2' Screenshot 3

A battle in the slums turns nasty: the horizons disappear and the shotgun comes into its own.

Playing through a few sections of the campaign reveals that the Helghast have become fearsome opponents, far removed from the pop-up targets of the first game. They soften you up from afar, move in to flank, and will come looking for you if you start to hang back, and the game's varied levels give you plenty of time to try out different strategies as the fighting switches between open environments and grotty close-up battling. Set-pieces are everywhere, from a tank suddenly barrelling over a wall before disgorging troops into the heart of your squad, to a prolonged scramble through a collapsing military installation, and the opening dropship invasion.

The controls will take some getting used to. An emphasis on realistic recoil means that Killzone 2's weapons can initially feel unwieldy rather than simply weighty, and the slightly slippery aim, which seems too slow in the centre of the screen and too quick at the edges, is going to require acclimatisation for any hardcore COD players. But even though the game allows you generous options for tweaking sensitivities, assigning different button layouts, and effectively recreating any other game's mapping, the more we played, the less we wanted to substitute Guerrilla's control scheme for something more familiar. After an hour or so, Killzone's layout starts to make sense, its weak running and gunning options forcing you to find a space and make use of the iron sights, while the slightly slow turning and lengthy reload animations draw you into a game that plays out at a tenser, more measured pace than COD or Halo.

'Killzone 2' Screenshot 4

For multiplayer impressions, check out the gamepage for our recent hands-on.

Throw in a cover system - in single-player only - that doesn't take the player out of the first-person perspective, but instead relies on a surprisingly cinematic lean-and-peak mechanic, and you have a seriously tactical, if traditional shooter starting to find its feet. The overall feeling of what we've played so far is a carefully constructed solidity: Killzone 2's world may not constantly surprise you, but it's remarkably tangible, from the heavy guns, to the thick, alien wind roaring in your face, and the drunken staggers of dying enemies. Despite its conservative aims - rather than introduce new ideas, Guerrilla wants to perfect a few old ones - no other shooter plays quite like Killzone 2, and no other shooter looks quite like it, either. That's a risk in a market as saturated as this, but the one thing Guerrilla has never struggled with is drawing attention to itself. Now at last there are promising indications that it's got the game to go along with the hype.

Killzone 2 is due out exclusively for PlayStation 3 in February.

Picture of Christian.

About Christian Donlan

Chris Donlan writes about games for Eurogamer and some magazines. His heroes include Eugene Jarvis, Errol Morris, and Linus Van Pelt.

Read more articles from Christian by visiting the Christian Donlan archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (151) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • andromeda #1 3 years ago

    meh

    anyone else notice that the mortal kombat/ dc characters appear to be fighting infront of a massive pair of buttocks?

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #2 3 years ago

    Quick, notice the three "L"s in the title! Quick before Tom changes it!

  • Thunderbolt #3 3 years ago

    ^^^ Too late its been fixed!

    Bah!

  • galerian86 #4 3 years ago

    I don't know if I missed it, but is there co-op with KZ2?

  • mister_moo #5 3 years ago

    Hmmm still not convinced by this.
    Its no goldeneye.
    At least Rare had motivated the banjo franchise with the introduction of vechiles, but Guerrila have stuck to the same formula.

  • MORZTAN #6 3 years ago

    Wow, the comment section really reflects the anticipation for this title.
    Edited by 1 at 04/12/08 @ 13:39

  • slayaz #7 3 years ago

    gonna wait for a REVIEW of this as I am not convinced it won't be another let down.

  • Widge #8 3 years ago

    No idea on co-op on this, then again I only really found out about multiplayer once they started banging out the MP videos earlier in the year.

    Keen to see a review, although hearing feedback from the bods doing the beta (and nothing more moany than average joe gamer) and the contributors to EG and various other places really point to good things.
    Edited by 1 at 04/12/08 @ 13:42

  • miufs #9 3 years ago

    MORTZAN, this will be a 500+.

    Or i´ll eat my hat... or would if had one.

    Oh one more thing: AMAZING GAME!

  • Widge #10 3 years ago

    HAH. I've just noticed the Mortal Kombat buttocks.

  • myiagros #11 3 years ago

    From this preview and the fantasic write up on Joystiq, i am starting to feel causiously optimistic about this game.

    Sounds like Co-op (splitscreen hopefully) would be well suited to this title. Please make it so Mr Guerrila.

  • Machetazo #12 3 years ago

    Ladies, and gentlemen, to (video game) war! :D Really liked the sound of the final two paragraphs, here. Suggesting a game with an assured sense of presence and identity.
    Edited by 1 at 04/12/08 @ 13:44

  • NotSoSlim #13 3 years ago

    KZ2 was always going to be a standard FPS as was COD4 but CO4 MP set it aside from the rest in most peoples eyes and Gureilla are clearly doing the same with KZ2

    Cannot wait for this game..looks great and with a few tweaks(version previewed on most sites was from 3 months ago)this game could be immense.

    I also think co-op will be added after release. Looking good...roll on Feb

    Also people saying they will wait for the review..wouldnt you do that anyway?? People playing the beta love it..previews ahve been great except a few niggles which can be fixed evn patched. Cannot wait for this and the engine will be used on other first party games

    Edited by 2 at 04/12/08 @ 13:53

  • Apologie #14 3 years ago

    Best graphics + best multiplayer + best gameplay = Killzone2 = game of the year 2009 = only on PS3

  • booner #15 3 years ago

    About time then apologie? I mean not one game to date has convinced me as a 360 owner that I am missing out by not having a PS3.
    Edited by 1 at 04/12/08 @ 13:48

  • DFawkes #16 3 years ago

    I could say the same for 360, apart from my Tenchu Z love.

  • patchbox360 #17 3 years ago

    soon i'll be able to say fuck this noisy, disk scratching, crap dpad , no blue ray, piece of crap.. oh so soon

    http://ww w.gametrailers.com/player/43374...

  • Triggerhappytel #18 3 years ago

    Really looking forward to this. Loved what I played at the EG Expo and I'm loving the art style and graphics. The controls have a weight and solidity that many FPS seen to lack, and the guns actually feel dangerous and capable of dealing serious damage.

    Can't come soon enough, it might actually be the game the first should have been *prays*

  • slymarbo #19 3 years ago

    I never did play the first one but then again when this was out i only ever played my xbox, even now that i have a PS3 i dont think id give this game a try just doesnt seem to do it for me. If anything id say get Resistance 2 and get yourself online such a great game. as for booner id say you are missing out get yourself a PS3 get resistance 1 & 2 then tell me you like Halo 3 better than them. btw i am a big Halo fan and i must say what a shame, it just lacked in everything.

  • Moonprince #20 3 years ago

    "not one game to date has convinced me as a 360 owner that I am missing out by not having a PS3."

    I have all 3 systems so hard to call but having played this, imo, I haven't seen a FPS that looks better. It's amazing. Plays damn good too.

  • WestBullet #21 3 years ago

    @slymarbo

    Your funny.

  • Steroyd #22 3 years ago

    At least Rare had motivated the banjo franchise with the introduction of vechiles, but Guerrila have stuck to the same formula.

    What the hell man? Hell look where that got them it didn't even chart in the UK top 40 at all.

    Can't the weight, motion and gunplay be enough? there's only so much you can add to a FPS before it stops being a FPS.
    It's better they don't add stuff for the sake of adding stuff.

  • Triggerhappytel #23 3 years ago

    You are funny ;)

  • Apologie #24 3 years ago

    Killzone 2 will sell more PS3's then any other game before... most impressive game i've ever seen in consoles from a technical, artistic point of view ever, hell... not only inconsoles, but in gaming overall including PC, this baby is a beast, glad to have a PS3.

  • Moonprince #25 3 years ago

    Apologie - shutup!

  • Thalanos #26 3 years ago

    Sounds good.

    Even if it doesn't do anything particularly new, at least it plays differently from anything else which is admirable.

    *Awaits review*

  • Apologie #27 3 years ago

    i have a powerfull PC that can play Crysis at 1900x1200, all very high with 8x antialising at an average 35 fps... and i can say that Killzon2 is right there with the big sharks in terms of graphical quality... very impressive game indeed.

  • Rash' #28 3 years ago

    i had not been convinced by this game because the prequel was such a poor showing, but all the positive coverage of this sequel has got me excited. looking forward to Feb.
    Edited by 1 at 04/12/08 @ 14:10

  • mcbi4kh2 #29 3 years ago

    @farticus
    Name one other game that follows that formula that has been released on the ps3. (Haze didn't have a 1st game ;) )
    Is formulaic gameplay your clever way of avoiding saying generic by any chance?

    At least Apologies fanboyism is directed towards enthusiasm of a console instead of cycncism towards one. Far less annoying.

  • Thalanos #30 3 years ago

    "I'l pick it up in 2 years along with a PS3 for £99"

    Good luck with that. PS2's are still £80 new. :(

  • Apologie #31 3 years ago

    farticusmaximus

    "This is fucking hilarious...

    ...and 100%, no arguments, absolutely and utterly wrong. "

    is these what you call an argument???

  • JediMasterMalik #32 3 years ago

    Farticus Vs. Apologie

    FIIIIGGGHHHTT!!!

  • Steroyd #33 3 years ago

    I'l pick it up in 2 years along with a PS3 for £99

    I'll take what you're smoking.

  • Dizzy #34 3 years ago

    So 2009 the year of PS3! So did the next gen start yet?

  • NotSoSlim #35 3 years ago

    @ Fart

    Just say generic and be done with it. Not like any of the 360 shooters were generic...at least it plays differently to all of them at that a credit to Guerilla.

    My let down ignorant fanboys lke you but no the majority of PS3 owners and by all acoubt online is great. Could be a good start to a great year of gaming.
    Edited by 1 at 04/12/08 @ 14:19

  • drumbaby #36 3 years ago

    Looks amazing, pure and simple.

  • miiiguel #37 3 years ago

    " soon i'll be able to say fuck this noisy, disk scratching, crap dpad , no blue ray, piece of crap.. oh so soon "

    So..., this is the only game we will ever need, the one that will change everything, the messia..., the one which will obliterate 360 once and for all...
    Let us wait then, and try not to think much about LBP.

  • interspaced #38 3 years ago

    Looks excellent. Wonder if it will exceed resistance 2 online as that is already pretty dam good.

  • andijames #39 3 years ago

    As soon as i see Farticus and Apologie enter a thread it reminds me of that sugarbabes song everytime!

  • Thunderbolt #40 3 years ago

    I've been getting nostalgic but this time 4 years ago we had just moved into a new house and instead of unpacking I played Killzone all day and night through to the end sitting on a cardboard box. It was a very enjoyable game and time. I did get into a lot of trouble though.

    When I do get my PS3 I will definately be getting this.

  • andijames #41 3 years ago

    Can we have one comments section without a ridiculous argument please?

  • NotSoSlim #42 3 years ago

    @ Fart

    Yea its hyped yet all the previes except a few niggles have been positive. This is a 3 month old preview code getting positive news. The game is living up to the hype and the long dev time could be due to Sony wanting to use the engine on other first party games so want the engine perfect from the outset.

    Could be wrong tho
    Edited by 1 at 04/12/08 @ 15:02

  • Vanmunt #43 3 years ago

    @andijames

    no.

  • Apologie #44 3 years ago

    miiiguel... know what, just buy a Ps3 and put an end to you suffering... yeah i know, Halo 3 and GOW 2 look like babies when compared to a the big badass game like KZ2.

    Killzone 2 alone justifies the purchase of a PS3, you know it, i know it, and everyone (fanboys or not) know it.... its the most exciting game of this generation (technologically speaking), and in what concerns multiplayer and gameplay all we hear is nothing but good good good good, so, take your head out off the sand and go buy the damn console dude, what have microsoft ever done for you to get such blind fanboyism??? defective consoles??? ffs
    Edited by 1 at 04/12/08 @ 14:39

  • bibalasvegas #45 3 years ago

    "i have a powerfull PC that can play Crysis at 1900x1200, all very high with 8x antialising at an average 35 fps... and i can say that Killzon2 is right there with the big sharks in terms of graphical quality... very impressive game indeed."

    @ Apologie, but you are so wrong.

  • Redeye #46 3 years ago

    Looks good - will actually wait to experience it for myself before casting any judgements, though. Enjoyed the PSP outing, too...wonder if another one's in the pipeline?

    (And nice to see Apologie's fanatical dribblings and brainfarts are still as surreal/amusing/evangelical as ever. I'd ignore him, but where's the fun in that?)

  • SteveB #47 3 years ago

    I thought the original was a bit unfairly criticised at the time. It was an enjoyable game let down by some technical limitations. The sequel is shaping up very nicely and might persuade me (along with a price drop) to finally get a PS3.

    I disagree that the gameplay is unique though. The 1st person cover system has already been done very well in the underrated Medal of Honour Airborne.

  • Apologie #48 3 years ago

    bibalasvegas

    no im not men... motion blur, lightning effects, shadows, textures, animations... all that rivals Crysis, the only thing missing is the 1080p resolution and maybe the 8x antialising... believe me, i know what im talking about as i said early, i playd crysis 1900x1200, 8x antialising, dx10 all very high.

  • dirigiblebill #49 3 years ago

    What it will catagorically will not be is the saviour of all the worlds kittens, and that's what it's being hyped as.

    Which is something Killzone 2 has in common with every other big budget release ever made.

  • Rich72 #50 3 years ago

    really tempted by this as i love shooters, i own a 360 but will buy a PS3 if this is any good.


    p.s Apologie, you've banging on about ps3 for years now and only recently are there any games worth even considering the system for. this looks like a good shooter..... nothing more, nothing less. I still think Halo 3 is the king of the online shooters and this would have to go some to beat it. graphics wise, it is clearly streets ahead but that is quickly forgotten.

  • DrDamn #51 3 years ago

    @Farticus
    Seems over for the kittens then ... ;)

  • Redeye #52 3 years ago

    Perfect ad tagline material, if you ask me.

    'Killzone 2 - Won't Somebody Think Of The Kittens?'

  • HuggyAtHome #53 3 years ago

    "Killzone 3 - When Kittens Turn"

    Could somebody at EG please add an easy switch to turn off the fanboy posts?

  • Thunderbolt #54 3 years ago

    Could somebody at EG please add an easy switch to turn off the fanboy posts?

    Easier than the 'ignore poster' button? Crickey you are demanding!

  • mikeck #55 3 years ago

    "I still think Halo 3 is the king of the online shooters and this would have to go some to beat it. graphics wise, it is clearly streets ahead but that is quickly forgotten."

    I just can't get to grips with Halo 3, sure it's fun, but I didn't enjoy multiplayer as much as say COD4. Now Killzone 2 multiplayer has come along, and wow...just wow. For my money, this is the best multiplayer shooter I've played - and there's still a couple of months to go until it's finally released.

    I'm sure though most people who play it will enjoy the multiplayer, but in regards to king of online shooters everyone will have vastly differing opinions depending on what kind of shooting games they prefer... personally I'm not a huge fan of the 'jump-shoot-jump-shoot' play style that is prevalent in Halo 3, and the look and settings just don't do it for me, but I can't for one minute say it's crap, it looks good, and is fun - just not my preference - give me gritty and dirty shooting games anyday :)

  • HuggyAtHome #56 3 years ago

    @Thunderbolt!

    Sorry - trying to be ironic :-) I guess I could ignore them both but it's like watching a car crash (or reality TV), you know it's wrong and stupid but you just want to see what happens and be thankful it isn't you.

  • Waldo #57 3 years ago

    I wonder how much money Sony has thrown at this over the years?

    Also, I can't wait for the 9/10 EG review; hopefully they up the bandwidth, lest the comments thread cause the site to explode. ;)
    Edited by 1 at 04/12/08 @ 15:16

  • Rash' #58 3 years ago

    RE: No game is worth the price of a console.

    as an ex.hardcore gamer that's bull. i can see killzone 2 convincing many hardcore gamers to take the plunge and pay that asking price.

  • kangarootoo #59 3 years ago

    "Its no goldeneye."

    Most overated game ever! (I never say that kind of thing, so detect the slight sarcasm).

    Yes it was awesome at the time, but that was only in comparison to its peers. And at the time its peers were mostly bobbins.

    Things have moved on, and Golden Eye is no longer even close to being an aspirational target for an FPS.


    "At least Rare had motivated the banjo franchise with the introduction of vechiles, but Guerrila have stuck to the same formula."

    And that doesn't even make any sense in this thread.

  • Rich72 #60 3 years ago

    @Mikeck

    i just don't get on with COD multiplayer..... seems a bit of a campathon. run round a corner to get shot by the guy you couldn't possibly have seen. if their at all good, you are dead.

    Halo, for me at least, requires a lot more skill to take someone's shield down and finish them off with a good head shot. bunny bouncing is not that apparent in the higher levels. i'm a 42 in team slayer but get obliterated by the 45 and overs (50 being the top).

    ... and like you said it is a lot of fun. there is always a laugh out loud moment every couple of games e.g that long distance stick onto the warthog gunners head.... getting stuck ccidently by team mates etc etc


    this does look gritty and am actually really hoping it is good. it is time for a new toy and i also have wipeout withdrawals.

  • mikeck #61 3 years ago

    @Rich72

    Bunny bouncing..didn't realise that was the terminology, hehe :D

    There are indeed always good fun moments with Halo 3 you're right, when playing with mates it can be a real good crack, especially when it goes tits up or something random happens, you don't get laugh out loud moments in COD4, KZ2 etc.

    Actually the one game for me lately that has expertly combined the focus of team play, fun, balls to the wall action and a rollicking good multiplayer time is Left 4 Dead...getting screamed at by my mates (whilst playing online) to 'get in the fucking cupboard Mike' will always remain as a classic laugh out loud gaming moment for me!!

  • Rich72 #62 3 years ago

    i really need to get left4dead but don't think 4 people on my friends list have it which would be a must for me.

  • mikew1985 #63 3 years ago

    I have the theory that Apologie is really just some smart bastard who is having a laugh at everyone getting so riled up about what he says.
    I always enjoy reading your stuff, real commitment to the "bit" keep it up ;)

  • Rich72 #64 3 years ago

    like someone said earlier, i really wanted to put him on ignore but feared i'd be missing too much comedy.

  • Widge #65 3 years ago

    On Halo 2, there was some bod on my team who repeatedly chimed in with "if you jump, you move faster!"... after while I got fed up of this and orchestrated an impromptu jump fest right down the middle of a map with a bunch of people. Lots of "omg! what are they up to?" from the other team. Fun stuff.

    I loved Halo 2 and then loved Day Of Defeat even more. Hoping that the actual maps on Killzone 2 turn out better than the COD4 ones (which I thought were very poor, apart from the lolfest of the container crates one).

  • RedSparrows #66 3 years ago

    Looks good. Nothing that makes me go ZOMG but who knows? Oh, Apologie does, apparently. Kudos to them, I wish I was omniscient.

  • Apologie #67 3 years ago

    i have no doubt whatsoever in my mind that this game will be epic... just wait and see.
    MGS4, GOW, GT5, Uncharted2, RFOM2, LBP, MOTORSTORM2, SOCOM, Killzone2.... isnt that a beauty ladies??? cant wait... and for my PC, Gears of War 2 (yes, its coming out next year for the Pc either you like it or not), Fallout, Warhammer Age of Reckoning, GTA IV etc... nice to be a gamer, for my X360 well, i have to please myself with the inferior version of Gears2 wich is good nontheless, and Fable 2... (i have to say that the only game i play now for the x360 is Forza 2, best game ever made for that console). Peace
    Edited by 2 at 04/12/08 @ 16:17

  • Rich72 #68 3 years ago

    Cuckoo

  • ParanoidZombie #69 3 years ago

    There are so many shooters out there, i was playing GOW2 the other day and i realized I'm simply fed up with the whole genre. I don't want to shoot anymore. Please let KZ2 be the ultimate shooter, I hope it will be so good that no one dares making another shooter for at least a couple of years. I'm so buying SF4 over this, and so glad I spent my money on mirror's edge rather than L4D.

    Sorry for being off-topic, but I just had to "speak my brain".

  • Les #70 3 years ago

    "its weak running and gunning options forcing you to find a space and make use of the iron sights, while the slightly slow turning and lengthy reload animations draw you into a game that plays out at a tenser, more measured pace than COD or Halo."

    That's all I wanted to know. :)

  • Les #71 3 years ago

    "Yes it was awesome at the time, but that was only in comparison to its peers. And at the time its peers were mostly bobbins."

    A bit like Halo, then... ;)

  • BOFH_UK #72 3 years ago

    "Killzone 2 alone justifies the purchase of a PS3, you know it, i know it, and everyone (fanboys or not) know it.... its the most exciting game of this generation (technologically speaking)"

    Oh lord... let me be quite clear about my own 'stake' in this - I have a 360 and a PS3 and don't give a damn about console loyalty. I currently prefer the 360 because it's got the better, cheaper library and, more importantly, a controller that is, for me, far superior. With that being said I find the above quote utterly ludicrous.

    For a start, NO game justifies the purchase of any system on its own, especially when the system in question costs almost three times more than the competition. Also Killzone 2 is NOT the most exciting game of this generation from a technical perspective. Yes the graphics look oh-so-pretty but there's nothing exciting about that tech on its own. Exciting is when someone uses technical innovation to provide a unique gameplay experience and on that basis I'd probably say that Little Big Planet takes that award thus far (even if it hasn't lived up to its potential yet). Even Halo 3 would be above Killzone in that category not for graphics but for Forge and attempting to bring the customisation of PC games to the console world in a uniquly console-way.

    Is Killzone likely to be a very good title? Yep, the odds are certainly in its favour. System seller? Not while the PS3 is £300 no. The problem is this: even if it IS a superb shooter, heck, even if it's the BEST shooter ever made, it's still a shooter. The difference between this and, say, COD4 is not going to be enough to justify buying a system on its own. It's not a recognised brand name and lacks a unique central character to build an advertising campaign around (Master Chief anyone?). It won't be a flop and will probably shift a few extra PS3's but it'll be a short-term blip not a sustainable one. Personally I hope it is good as I could do with something new to play on the PS3 other than Blu-Rays.

    I like my PS3, it's a nice bit of kit and pretty well built even if that shiny, shiny plastic is a sod to keep clean. But it's overpriced, multi-platform games tend to be worse than their 360 counterparts, the controller is horrible when compared to the 360's, there are little niggles with the OS being more annoying than it should be and then there's the issue of mandatory installs. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I have it and look forward to Killzone 2 and a few others from your list of exclusives but if I had to go out and buy a console right now... it'd have to be the 360 and I don't see Killzone changing that.

  • Gazza_UK #73 3 years ago

    I am a proud PS3 owner but.. Apologie, you just embarrass me

  • Les #74 3 years ago

    "For a start, NO game justifies the purchase of any system on its own"

    This is not a fact, just an opinion. Pretty common one, but still, no fact.

  • Rich72 #75 3 years ago

    the controller is my biggest gripe too. not for most games but it's inadequacies are brought to the fore with shooters. played a mates COD4 on PS3 and i was half the player i am on a 360 pad. dpad on 360 sucks balls though!

  • Gazza_UK #76 3 years ago

    Rich... thats because you are used to the 360 controller. I love the ps3 controller, but then i would wouldnt i :)

  • Apologie #77 3 years ago

    @Gazza

    Dude your an embarassment to yourself so no need to take Apologie's name in vain... :)

    @BOFH_UK

    i dont mean to be repetitive but we all know that if you consider BluRay, multiplayer, on-line features for Free and the HArd Disk (plus 1 game or movies in bundle) the Ps3 is a very good deal and actually cheaper over time then the Xbox360, plus, quality standards, failure rate, exlcusives, durability (just look at the Ps2 and how much time that console have been in the market), and you have the best product you can buy... plus, thouse games i listed are the shit.
    Edited by 1 at 04/12/08 @ 16:55

  • Rich72 #78 3 years ago

    yes and no.... i am used to the pad but honestly, the accuracy is lacking, the thumb sticks awkwardly positioned and the triggers are plain awful

  • Gazza_UK #79 3 years ago

    Rich

    I errr.. disagree lol

    never mind ;)

    lol@Apologie

  • Rich72 #80 3 years ago

    no problem with that Gazza

    apologie, you have made my very boring afternoon quite a laugh

  • JDub #81 3 years ago

    Popcorn anyone?

    /offers popcorn

  • Rich72 #82 3 years ago

    sweet or salted?

  • Triggerhappytel #83 3 years ago

    I'll have some popcorn if it's toffee?

    I've got Apologie on ignore, but am tempted to take it off for some comedy value. Doesn't he switch loyalties a lot or am I thinking of some other chump?

  • Rich72 #84 3 years ago

    no there is another guy who has typed a name very close to apologie for "comedy" value
    Edited by 1 at 04/12/08 @ 17:20

  • DrDamn #85 3 years ago

    Some new 720p vids for those interested linky.


  • lambtron #86 3 years ago

    Wait, what?

    Apologie owns a 360??

    0_0

  • Chufty #87 3 years ago

    Anyone who says KZ2 looks better than any FPS game ever clearly needs to see Crysis running on a decent machine.

    Still, the console market really needs this to come good. All the signs are positive so far.

  • Apologie #88 3 years ago

    @Chufty

    Motion blur, lightning effects, shadows, textures, animations... all that rivals Crysis, the only thing missing is the 1080p resolution and maybe the 8x antialising... believe me, i know what im talking about as i said early, i played crysis 1900x1200, 8x antialising, dx10 all very high... in fact, some animations are actually better in Killzone 2.

  • Chufty #89 3 years ago

    Well I'm not one to pass judgement before I've seen it with my own eyes, but colour me skeptical. Especially considering the stains of long-dried ejaculate that must surely be encrusted on your PS3.

  • Apologie #90 3 years ago

    Chufty

    "Especially considering the stains of long-dried ejaculate that must surely be encrusted on your PS3."

    is that suppose to be funny chuffy??? im sorry but i think most of us already passed puberty and therefore are not able to apreciate your sense of humor...
    Edited by 2 at 04/12/08 @ 18:16

  • Rich72 #91 3 years ago

    those vids look pretty damn impressive i must admit

  • ronuds #92 3 years ago

    "believe me, i know what im talking about"

    Says the man who has claimed that every PS3 exclusive would sell a billion consoles and propel it to the top. He's also made the same claims of graphical fidelity regarding all of them as well.

  • patchbox360 #93 3 years ago

    i think i might have jumped ship - ps3 hasn't looked so good up until now - free online street fighter 4 with a decent pad, gran turismo 5, metal gear solid 4, final fantasy 13 - ah man brings back memories of the good old ps2 days - best gaming era everrrrrrr

  • patchbox360 #94 3 years ago

    ... and team ico

  • BOFH_UK #95 3 years ago

    "i dont mean to be repetitive but we all know that if you consider BluRay, multiplayer, on-line features for Free and the HArd Disk (plus 1 game or movies in bundle) the Ps3 is a very good deal and actually cheaper over time then the Xbox360, plus, quality standards, failure rate, exlcusives, durability (just look at the Ps2 and how much time that console have been in the market), and you have the best product you can buy... plus, thouse games i listed are the shit."

    Bollocks. For one thing you've listed on-line and multiplayer as two seperate features but let's have a look at this shall we?

    Blu-Ray - yes, the PS3 has a Blu-Ray drive built in but this has nothing, NOTHING, to do with gaming. It's a nice bonus for those that want it but it's utterly irrelevant to the so-called value debate of a games console. If you, personaly, want a Blu-Ray player then you'd be silly not to consider it but many don't and just want a games console (I did which is why I got a PS3 in the first place).

    On-line - yes, the PS3 offers free on-line gaming. Great, fantastic. However it's actual on-line functionality (friends list, voice chat etc) is quite a long way behind the 360's implementation and you're definately getting what you pay for here. And, of course, the 360 does include a headset with every console which is a huge plus.

    Hard Disk - now included with most 360 bundles and a 20Gb unit can be picked up from around £20 now (less if you're eligible for the MS upgrade program but I don't know if that's available in the UK) and, here's the kicker, it's not required to play games. If someone just wants a console for gameplay and/or won't be on-line then an arcade is just fine and includes a memory stick (or integrated memory in the new models). If they want to be connected and download demos etc then get the pro version. Easy.

    Pack-ins - you've got to be kidding me on this one, have you even bothered looking at the 360 bundles? There's been a pack-in of some sort (and usually more than one) for some time now and are usually, if not always, better value than the PS3 packs. There's some very good Xmas PS3 bundles but there kinda has to be considering the sticker price is so much more than the 360.

    Again, remember, I own both consoles and like both. But this utter crap about the PS3 being cheaper over time was really annoying a year ago and is even more so now. Yes, if you buy EVERYTHING for the 360 it's more expensive, well done. But the thing is, MS have given the consumer the choice and, with the Arcade, Pro and Elite models have actually come up with a decent base line. The wireless adaptor (which you forgot by the way) is the biggest rip off but many people won't need that anyway, it's just more convenient. Pick up a 360 Pro and you get the hard drive, a decent bundle and, gasp, all the cables you need including a Hi-Def component cable (I still can't believe Sony don't included either a component or HDMI cable with the PS3) and a free headset (again an extra on the PS3 side). Everything you need to start playing games right away, no hidden charges. If you want to go on-line it'll cost you about £30 or less per year which, really, is for all the additional functionality that live offers over the PSN.

    Oh yes, almost forgot, remember that the PS3 drains more power and therefore costs more money to run than a 360. It's not a huge difference but even if it's only a quid a month more then that's almost half of the live cost for the year... See how silly these cost arguments can get?

    Okay, enough playing with the troll, sorry everyone, won't happen again.

  • Violater #96 3 years ago

    Wow and I always thought the US sites were filled with mindless fanboys.

  • Les #97 3 years ago

    "no there is another guy who has typed a name very close to apologie for "comedy" value"

    Put him on ignore as well ages ago. Really love that feature but its existence makes me question the oocasional EG moderator ban even more. If some fools love to fight, let them. Will not hurt anybody that doesn't want to be hurt.

  • Les #98 3 years ago

    "Again, remember, I own both consoles and like both. But this utter crap about the PS3 being cheaper over time was really annoying a year ago and is even more so now. Yes, if you buy EVERYTHING for the 360 it's more expensive, well done. But the thing is, MS have given the consumer the choice and, with the Arcade, Pro and Elite models have actually come up with a decent base line."

    Well, MS's marketing certainly got to you... The two companies have different price strategies. Sony's strategy basically rips off the casual while MS's strategy rips off the hardcore. The really clever part is that MS gets the hardcore to defend them for ripping them off. Now that's brand loyalty.

  • ronuds #99 3 years ago

    Aren't you usually the one on people's ignore list, Les?

  • Rash' #100 3 years ago

    lets just get this blu-ray isn't for gaming bull out the way shall we. you have no grounds for that line of thinking where as today there are more than enough devs that believe going forward dvd doesn't deliver. are you all still so ignorant that you believe gaming can't still push technological limits?

  • Apologie #101 3 years ago

    Men i always find funny the way Xbots (ronuds ) talk about who they put on ignore, lol get it straight guy's, no one gives a gives a f*** about who ya guys ignore...

    now responding to someone above (BOFH_UK), BluRAy is essencial to recent games such as Killzone2 or MGS4 (do your research), so its not only usefull for high definition films but also for interactive entertainment such as videogames, 2nd, the graphical quality you can find in games such as Killzone2 is simply, well, how can i say it, not achievable in the Xbox360 and you klnow why??? because its one of the few engines that take full advantage of the PS3 revolutionary architecture, that's why, we dont want Unreal engine bullshit we want the real deal and that's what we are starting to get now. Home is arriving and after that, i want to see how you justify the money spent in Live m8... its a fantastic piece of hardware much more reliable and powerfull then the Xbox360 that just started to flex some muscle... but no need to be paranoid, just go out and buy the console men, they'r selling them ya know. Peace
    Edited by 4 at 04/12/08 @ 19:44

  • dirigiblebill #102 3 years ago

    If so many of you people think Apologie's not worth the time of day, then why do you queue up to jerk him off so much?

    /retitles thread "Apologie appreciation thread"

  • Gazza_UK #103 3 years ago

    @dirigiblebill

    jealous much?

  • ronuds #104 3 years ago

    When did I say anything about putting people on ignore? I find that the people most put on ignore write the more amusing comments. Apolol being a perfect example of this.

  • #105 3 years ago

    Anyways back to the game in question. It looks stunning. It really does and I hate shooters in general.

    /lol at everyone in this thread who cant afford a PS3.
    /looks at Fart.

    /only joking bud :p

  • bad09 #106 3 years ago

    LOL I own a PS3 and can't believe half the crap Apologie comes out with :)

    Anyway looking forward to KZ2 looks miles better than the first. TBH though (apart from Riddick) I'm finding it hard to get excited about FPS's now no matter how good they are, time for a change. Hey Sony how about some G-Police or Colony Wars action if you want shooting?

  • Gazza_UK #107 3 years ago

    God of War with Guns? o_0

  • ronuds #108 3 years ago

    "LOL I own a PS3 and can't believe half the crap Apologie comes out with :)"

    I have a hard time believing half of what he says isn't just a joke to get a rise out of folks. One day he'll come in here and laugh at all of us for believing him.

  • youhavenomail #109 3 years ago

    It might be graphically impressive to some, but it can't compete with Super Mario Galaxy when it comes to my eyes, and it looks like the kind of thing I've been doing my best to avoid for the past generation. As a PS3 owner I wish it well, but when it comes to Haze, Halo 3, Killzone 2, etc. they're all as crap as each other as far as I'm concerned..

  • Les #110 3 years ago

    Anyone else thinks that COD4 has made the world a better place? Not only is it the best console FPS around and as such has given many a gamer (a bit too few) hours of enjoyment but it has succeeded in defusing one fanboy war bomb. Without it, video game 'journalists' would have jumped at every opportunity to label KZ2 as the next Halo 3 killer. If they do so post COD4 it's a little bit too obvious what they're trying to achieve.

  • Les #111 3 years ago

    Watched some videos on IGN and it appears that they don't use the 'story characters' as your AI partners during combat. Would be a smart move and circumvent the 'problem' of R2 where the enemies focus on the player.

  • Rash' #112 3 years ago

    what most frustrates me about you farticus is your selective appreciation of development trends on the two competing platforms in question. more often than not you're up to date with 360 yet conveniently not so much on PS3. trust me my friend, installs are a development hurdle being overcome while disc limit on dvd is consistently being reached... but i suspect you'll never except that. ;o)

    incidentally, i have 9 disc based games on PS3. 4 1st, and 5 3rd party. only 2 require mandatory installs, both of which are 3rd party games.
    Edited by 1 at 04/12/08 @ 21:41

  • givemebetacode #113 3 years ago

    Xbox 360 - RIP - ??/02/09



    - ??/02/PS3 -
    Edited by 1 at 04/12/08 @ 21:37

  • NotSoSlim #114 3 years ago

    [link url=http://uk.media.ps3.ign.com/media/748/748475/vids_1.html
    ]http://uk .media.ps3.ign.com/media/748/74...[/link]

    Looking great!!

  • Amoebalove #115 3 years ago

    Ha! i love apolo he's sooooo funny!

  • Rash' #116 3 years ago

    this game is with a doubt the most technically impressive shooter on console, bar none. just hope the game delivers... from all that i've read and seen today can't say i have too many fears.

  • #117 3 years ago

    check backwards in that thread for some really cool pics. Killzone2 is getting better looking, I honestly didnt think they could do it but they have. The lighting is just wow.

    link

  • azurelas_2 #118 3 years ago

    http://i37.tinypic. com/jh57ko.jpg

  • IneptPercy #119 3 years ago

    Looked up more videos, I do agree its looking nice but how it will look in its final form actually on a TV will be interesting, by all means it should still look great, but flaws soon start to show.

    Will it be worth £300 to play... probably not, please sony give me an excuse to justify the PS3 price tag (to my Mrs mainly)

  • Law07 #120 3 years ago

    IneptPercy what bloody more do you want from it?

    Seriously its got loads of brilliant exclusives and plays most multiplat games up to the standard of the 360.

    Killzone 2 looks incredible, day one buy for me.
    Edited by 1 at 05/12/08 @ 00:03

  • FrankCannon #121 3 years ago

    f/x me what a load of gobshite

  • LordGamma19K #122 3 years ago

    Holly shit! This game looks amazing! Looks like the best thing since sliced bread.
    Edited by 1 at 05/12/08 @ 03:43

  • Sulphur_Man #123 3 years ago

    First frame looks like Timesplitters 2. Not holding my breath for this one. Games that are in development for an eternity rarely meet expectations.

  • DrDamn #124 3 years ago

    @Farticus
    Seek speed is more the issue with BR rather than the transfer speed. Would be interesting to know what the comparable stats would have been for HD-DVD.

    Sony were in a poor position with BR - they couldn't not include it in the PS3 so they should have done a lot more to ensure its development was better suited for the demands of gaming.

  • septimus #125 3 years ago

    FFS, people who don't own both consoles shouldn't be allowed to comment. If you can't say anything with a level head, fuck off.

    These comments are pathetic, really really pathetic.

    It's a good game,so far, and as long as nothing goes catastrophically wrong it will be on release to.

  • DrDamn #126 3 years ago

    @septimus
    People who make comments about who should be able to comment shouldn't be able to comment ... ah arse...

  • DrDamn #127 3 years ago

    @Farticus
    It's from a perspective that the two camps were once trying to find a compromise before splitting and trying to going their own ways. If they had found a compromise and there were better elements in respect to gaming then it could have been a different picture.

    The people behind HD-DVD may have tried to pitch it as a medium for a games machine to MS, it which case it could have been a consideration. Then again as I said you'd have thought Sony would have put a bit more thought in to it as they knew it definitely would be.

  • Les #128 3 years ago

    "Sony were in a poor position with BR - they couldn't not include it in the PS3 so they should have done a lot more to ensure its development was better suited for the demands of gaming."

    Yeah, Blu-Ray has mostly been a negative factor for PS3 as a games console in the sense that it forced Sony to release the PS3 a lot faster than it really wanted.

    I think Sony had hoped they would have been able to work things out with Toshiba and avoid a format war that would only lead to a lose-lose outcome. MS’s smartest move in this console war was probably to push Toshiba to stick to HD DVD. It lead to a rushed PS3 and therefore a hardware architecture that’s not as well balanced as it should have been. Of course hardware design is always a case of compromise but in general better compromises are reached if there’s enough time to consider the various options.

    I wonder what Sony would have done had PS3 been postponed for at least a year. Would they have recognized the success of Wii and adjusted their hardware design? I personally don’t think so. Like most of the industry, they still have difficulty in appreciating that the video game market has changed significantly and that the old formula (more complex graphics each generation) to reach success doesn’t work anymore.

  • Rash' #129 3 years ago

    farticus, what are you on about? how did get "mystical future" from trends in ps3 development practices? let me make my point simple for you to understand: mandatory installs are the exception to ps3 development, not the rule as you'd so like us all to believe. i find it hilarious that you still believe the copious amounts of space offered by BR brings nothing to game development.
    Edited by 1 at 05/12/08 @ 11:13

  • DrDamn #130 3 years ago

    @Rash'
    Isn't games using more than a DVD's worth of space the exception rather than the rule too? Maybe the extra space does bring something extra but is it tangibly anything more than multiple DVDs could provide? Is not having to switch discs worth the obvious and well documented downsides?

  • Rash' #131 3 years ago

    DrDamn, am i really the only one to whom it's occurred that if all the data needs to be accessible at all times then multiple dvds aren't good enough? Sam Houser would certainly agree.

  • DrDamn #132 3 years ago

    @Rash'
    There are ways and means to work around this in general and it will only apply to a minority of games. Slow seek speed applies to all games. If you are going to have an issue which needs to be worked around then you want it to apply to the minority, not the majority. It also still doesn't get around the fact that Sony knew it was going to use BR in a games machine and it should have made it at least as good as current tech for that purpose.

  • Rash' #133 3 years ago

    farticus, how many multiples would you need for pioneer's newly developed 400GB BR?

  • Rash' #134 3 years ago

    DrDamn, so there ways round this problem with dvd which third party publishers and devs have been vocal about? what do you believe them to be because i'm suggesting the obvious but you seem determined not to want to see that with very weak reasoning.

    oh, and the seek speeds can to be worked around, while problem solving on BR will be in the name of progress, with dvd we all know it's to hold on to a dated media format.

    furthermore, it makes better economic practice to resolve issues affecting the majority rather than the minority as the returns for the investment will be greater.
    Edited by 4 at 05/12/08 @ 12:19

  • IneptPercy #135 3 years ago

    "IneptPercy what bloody more do you want from it?

    Seriously its got loads of brilliant exclusives and plays most multiplat games up to the standard of the 360.

    Killzone 2 looks incredible, day one buy for me."

    Multiplatform games are no worries already owning a 360, so it really is down to exclusives.

    I want some games which make me think "I need that game", yes its down to personal preference which games cut that, so far its:

    Wipeout
    Killzone 2 (Maybe)

    Unfortunately I can't afford it for 2 games right now, yes there is others which I will probably get on the cheap if I had a PS3 but they don't make we want to buy the thing enough.

    I will add I am looking at the 2 machines purely from a gaming point of view, If i didn't already have a blu-ray player that may help it along, but I do. I won't say the range of games is dissapointing, just not amazing.

  • DrDamn #136 3 years ago

    @Rash'
    Ways of solving DVD capacity issues - use more than one disc (I think a few people have done that) - if that is not so easy then restructure the game to suit - see "id" for example.

    "furthermore, it makes better economic practice to resolve issues affecting the majority rather than the minority as the returns for the investment will be greater."

    It makes more economic and practical sense to not cause the issue to the majority in the first place!

    Name the big list of titles which use more than a DVD worth and space where it couldn't be reasonably resolved by splitting the info over multiple discs (or cutting out a load of pointless HD video)?

  • Rash' #137 3 years ago

    DrDamn, but all those solutions don't change the fact that you're making compromises due to dated technology. in a multiplat game you'd be asking devs to make compromises to their creative design because the tech isn't up to scratch. yes ID did it but what's true of one game can't necessarily be applicable to all. but i suspect you know all this.

    seek speed is a development hurdle in the face of progress with BR, which isn't as big an issue you'd like us to believe, the topic game works round it without the need for installs for example. limited space on dvd is also a development hurdle, but inspite of progress. it's a hurdle, and lets be frank here, because long term dvd can't deliver. it is dated technology for gaming and will hold it back.

    but you know i see where this conversation is heading so please say piece and lets us agree to disagree.

    edit: in response to your closing question: LBP.
    Edited by 1 at 05/12/08 @ 13:56

  • Rash' #138 3 years ago

    and what if devs want to push those boundaries today as id did but found they had to make sacrifices on 360 because the tech was lacking? all i'm saying is devs will push for it if the tech is given to them. it will start this gen not the next.

  • Dizzy #139 3 years ago

    "Next gen, however, games are more likely to be using textures and FMV designed for 1080p display and BR drives will be plentiful and with much higher seek and transfer speeds. Then I think BR will be far more essential. "

    There is a bigger chance that optical media will be dropped in favour of solid state. The circle is complete.

  • Rash' #140 3 years ago

    Dizzy, do you honestly believe optical media will be dropped next gen? i think that's highly optimistic.

  • DrDamn #141 3 years ago

    @Rash'
    Ok we'll agree to disagree. I will part with a couple of quick shots though - if DVD is such dated tech why does it have a better seek time? ;). As for LBP, you could easily shift off the tutorials onto a separate DVD that would catch the majority of it.

    As for dropping optical media - that is exactly what devs, manufacturers and publishers want to do. As soon as they can realistically make it happen - they will. Make everything DLC. Cuts out the retailer and stops people selling stuff on. It will happen, maybe not fully next gen but we are not far off all content being provided as dlc as an option in my opinion.

    If they pass on some of the reduced costs then I say bring it on. I don't want to be swapping stuff in and out of the CD/BR drive all the time.


    Edited by 1 at 05/12/08 @ 16:06

  • ronuds #142 3 years ago

    It's definitely fair to say that in the future discs the size of BD's will be necessary, but to try and convince anyone that it's necessary now only says to me that you've been drinking too much of the Sony kool-aid.

  • Les #143 3 years ago

    "Cuts out the retailer"

    No it doesn't, just replaces the retailer. iTunes, Steam, PSN, WiiWare and XBLA are retail spaces. Virtual, but still retail spaces that will mark up the price to cover their costs and profit margin. By now most parties have discovered that retail is a specialised skill and that it's more cost effective to have a professional party handle that than sell products directly to end consumers.

    I don't think bricks and mortar retailers and optical formats will die out soon though, certainly not before the next gen. One reason that the reason music downloads have been such a relative hit is mainly because having lots of music tracks and playing them at random on a portable player makes sense. For video and games the benefits of digital copies are much smaller, especially when it comes to home versions of the consoles.

    Another reason is that for games the retailers that sell the machines right now sell the software as well (as opposed in general to music and video players that are sold in specialty stores while their media are sold in other specialty stores). The business would be a lot less interesting for them if it was just the machines, so they will forcefully oppose a move to just downloads. Just how powerful retail still is is shown by PSN downloads costing as much as their disc based versions.

  • Rash' #144 3 years ago

    DrDamn & trebell, Re: LBP. Yes, but the design of the original game would be compromised. And I doubt all those 720p vids would fit on to one dvd. You can correct me on that, but the point is devs would compromise their designs because of the inability of the format. That would be today, not two years from now.


    Edited by 2 at 05/12/08 @ 23:33

  • des #145 3 years ago

    AI is still dumb,textures are weak,there are some lod problems,hypezone 2 indeed...
    But then again i think that COD4 is shit so...

  • DrDamn #146 3 years ago

    @des
    Spot the man who didn't bother to read the article. Couple of choice quotes for you so you don't have to ...

    "A closer look reveals a wealth of finer details: the concrete's cracked and scarred, and the buildings are wedged haphazardly against one another, covered with tin bandages and broken windows. There's time to notice a few more niceties - how good the textures look close-up..."

    "Playing through a few sections of the campaign reveals that the Helghast have become fearsome opponents, far removed from the pop-up targets of the first game. They soften you up from afar, move in to flank, and will come looking for you if you start to hang back..."

    Now, you were saying?
    Edited by 1 at 06/12/08 @ 11:19

  • Postumo #147 3 years ago

    Another gray Fp that looks like a COD4 mod... who cares?


    Bring the New Riddick game on, please

  • Gazza_UK #148 3 years ago

    ^ LOLOLOLOLOLOL

    have you seen recent vids.. "COD mod" LOL

  • des #149 3 years ago

    @DrDamn

    I know what article says,but videogame journalists are blind as bats in general,especially in previews(my apologies too bats).There are plenty of screenshots,videos floating around for people to see and dissect.

    Previews are nothing more than free PR...
    To see how god or bad some heavily hyped game is you have to wait couple of weeks after its release or buy it blindly.

  • Rash' #150 3 years ago

    des, yeah, but then again you think CoD4 is shit...

  • DrDamn #151 3 years ago

    @des
    So we should take your considered view on the matter where you have hand selected the appropriate material to back up your view rather than someone who has sat down and played the latest build. Just to make it clear yes?