Does KillZone 2 offer the best online MP Experience?

Killzone 2 has been released into the wild to great reviews and huge sales. Guerilla Games mega hit has been hail as the graphic champ so far this generation with fanboies around the world shutting down servers(I have never experience any issues with the servers) by putting ungodly amount of hours into online MP. Many non-PS3 owners out there may be in a perplexed state of mind about how good is online MP in KillZone 2?...can it compete with Halo? Is Call of Duty 4/5 better than KillZone 2? What is all the hype about?

KillZone 2 online MP has officially shown developer around the industry that you can have spectacular graphic fidelity along side with no lag. KZ2 online MP maxes out at 32 players total online. What has overwhelm me about Guerilla Games brainchild is how GG was able to get as much chaos onscreen with absolutely no lag. I've read an article mentioning that they were server issues with KillZone 2 at the beginning, I personally have own the game since day one and have yet to experience any sort of LAG.

Besides having great dedicated servers, what KZ2 does that the rest has failed to do is translate single player campaign graphics to online MP. KillZone 2 looks just as good online as it does offline. There is more physics taking place online than any other game I have played so far this generation.

Not only the spectacular graphics that makes KillZone 2 so special, intense sound design and no lag issues, where KillZone 2 excels is in the statistics department. Your campaign has it's own stats and so does online MP. Being able to track almost everything:

-General Stats
-Kill ratio
-Kills per hour
-Kills
-Deaths
-Suicides
-Team Kills

-Game Statistics
-Games played
-Games Won
-Games won
-Games Draw
-Games played as ISA
-Games played as HGH

-Mission statistics
-Capture and Hold Points
-Search and Retrieve points
-Search and Destroy points
-Body count points
-Assassination points

That's just a few of the stats you can track, there is your Campaign stats & unlockables and all of this can be access from KillZone.com Many may dislike the fact that you have to unlock a fair amount of ribbons to level up in MP. But this ensure you put tons of hours into online MP to compete with everyone else.

So why is KillZone 2 the best online MP experience out there you ask, is it how polished the games plays, the spectacular graphics during online play, no LAG when there is pure and utter chaos being displayed or the need to continue to level up to be competitive. It's all of the above, Guerilla Games have put $30 million and endless amount of man hours into making KillZone 2 the best online MP experience out there money can buy and it screams in every facet of this excellent FPS.

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Can Video games surpass Movies in Storytelling ?

A few days ago, Star Ocean 4 designer Yoshinori Yamagishi ranted on about how video game storytelling could exceed books or film. Yesterday, it's Mad Max director George Miller. According to the filmmaker, "Games were the poor cousin to feature films when it came to storytelling but I think it's flipping. Games allow you be much more like a novelist." George Miller is currently teaming up with God of War II director Cory Barlog to make a Mad Max game.

Miller continues, "I'm curious how much you can engage with the characters through the game-play," "It's the opportunity to make a novel." George Miller has a great point with a few games this generation merging the power of storytelling and great graphics, with such games being Bioshock and Heavenly Sword.

Star Ocean 4 producer game developer Yoshinori Yamagishi thinks game storytelling can eventually superseded other mediums. According to Yoshinori, "But in a game developer's case we always have to think about how players might react to each depiction of a character or storyline, and that's the part we can't predict," Yamagishi continues. "Nevertheless we have to make these predictions to a certain degree, and incorporate this into our work." He adds that this is more of a challenge.

"But if we manage to get over this hurdle," Yamagishi says, "then I regard video games as a greater medium to provide people with deep emotional and exciting experiences."

Bioshock with it's great twist at the end has shown developers that an engaging spellbinding tale can be woven for a console if done right. Heavenly Sword for Sony PS3 also prove you can have complex acting in a game to drive it's story while merging advance graphics. Killzone 2 has used advance graphic and sound as a weapon of immersion. Video games is currently in it's infancy and has unlimited possibilities for growth and advancements, as technology evolves at the current pace Video Games one day will surpass movies and other mediums in it's ability to tell a story and engage it's audience.

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KillZone 2 Review

Developer: Guerrilla Games
Publisher: SCEE
Designer: Mathijs De Jonge (game director)
Composer(s) Joris de Man
Series Killzone
Engine Deferred Rendering engine
Native resolution 1080i & 720p
Version 1.11
Platform: PlayStation 3 Exclusive
Release date(s)
EU February 25, 2009
AUS February 26, 2009
UK February 27, 2009
NA February 27, 2009
Genre: First-person shooter, Tactical, action
Mode: Single-player, online multiplayer
Ratings:
BBFC: 18
ESRB: M
OFLC: MA15+
PEGI: 18+
Media Blu-ray Disc
Input methods Gamepad

Kobe Byrant, Tiger Woods, and Tom Bardy are pretty damn good at their respective sport. They have not done anything revolutionary to change their sport, some athletes out there can be debated as arguably better, and they are some people how really do not like them. KillZone 2 is the Bryant, Woods and Brady of FPS this current generation. Guerrilla Games KillZone 2 is damn good at what it does, nothing revolutionary was done to change the genre, some FPS could be debated as being better, and then they are people, out there that would not see how much of a special experience KillZone 2 has to offer.

KillZone 2 is not without it's flaws, I'll will vent my frustration about this later. I have only played KillZone: Liberation for PSP and that was a demo. Having no knowledge about the KillZone universe will not impend your comprehension of the sub par plot.

KillZone 2 begins two years after the Helghast assault on Vekta. The ISA is taking the fight to the enemy's home world of Helghan with the ultimate goal of capturing Helghast Leader, Emperor Visari, and putting a halt to the war machine called the Helghast. The first thing that will strike your retinas like an HD rainbow collage being beam directly into your pupils are KillZone's 2 graphic. KillZone 2 in a sense, is just like every other FPS out there with a few major tweaks, and the first being pushing the graphic bar on all FPS on current generation consoles. You have to see KZ2 in motion to appreciate the beauty and grace, death can bring.

Many Wii owners out there may shout at the top of their lungs "graphics is not the end all be all", but that is the main reason Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo( I think they took a step backwards) "con us" I mean persuade us into purchasing a new system every five to seven years is due to graphics. Graphic matter and KillZone 2 proprietary game engine really show off the potential of the PS3 as a graphic powerhouse with no equal this generation.

One of the most impressive aspects of KillZone 2 is the animation and killer AI(some of the best I have to date). There is not too many games that do death and destruction as gracefully as KillZone 2. As you scorch the the Helghast with your flamethrower or nail them to the nearest object, it's a brutal and painful reality that drives the ugliness of war in the Halghast universe. If you like dishing out pain, you standard weapons will be making an appearance in KillZone 2. You will have your trusty pistol, Assault Rifles,sniper Rifles, Heavy Machineguns, Shotgun, VC1 Flamethrower, VC5 Electricity Gun and the VC21 Boltgun. My issue with KillZone 2, in the weapon department is the ability to carry only two weapons. I want the ability to carry any two weapons for example, a sniper rifle and a Flamethrower. The fact that you are always stuck with your trusty pistol does add a level of panic but it would have been nice to have a choice with my devices of death.

KillZone 2 supports full 1080i and 720p resolution and most importantly some of the best 7.1 Dolby digital in the industry. The score to Killzone 2 was composed by Joris de Man, who scored 60 minutes of in-game music and 30-minutes of live orchestral score for the game, recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London, with the Nimrod Studio Orchestra. The orchestral score is epic, it enhances the overall sense of chaos, war and tragedy, especially if you play with high end headphones, which I did for the most part of the game.

The controls for KillZone 2 plays a little different form the norm. As you guide your protagonist Sergeant Tomas "Sev" Sevchenko through his personal nightmare against the Helghast. You will notice the weight of his armor and weapon in his movements. If you run with your pistol versus your rocket launcher you will notice a slight change in your speed. The controls for KillZone 2 is tight, smooth and very responsive. My only complaint about the controls would be, when you are running around for your life and you need to pick a weapon up, you have to directly stop over the weapon hold square for about a second before you can pick your new weapon up. This sucks, especially towards the end of KillZone 2, I'll would rather have the ability when I run over a weapon press square I pick it up automatically akin to the Call of Duty series there should be no delay.

KillZone 2 single player campaign is a epic battle for survival what gives this shooter legs is its fantastic online play, a fun and competitive extravaganza that issues a constant stream of benefits. Like the most recent Call of Duty games, Killzone 2 rewards you with bonuses as you play, which in this case can mean new weapons, extra grenades awarded upon respawning, and most intriguingly, entire classes. This is done not only via a leveling system that pushes you ever closer to the next reward, but also with ribbons earned by completing specific tasks, such as getting a certain percentage of your team's kills. These bonuses are earned separately from leveling, which makes for two layers of online play enhancements to keep you ever addicted.

The modes themselves offer few surprises, what with variants on Team Deathmatch (Bodycount), Conquest (Capture and Hold), and Capture the Flag (Search and Retrieve), among others. Rather, matches are unique because these modes are strung seamlessly together, forcing teams to move from one objective to the next with barely a breather in-between. Up to five modes mesh into a single game, which keeps teams on their toes and spreads hotbeds of action about the maps. In a single match, you're likely to band with teammates in an exposed courtyard, navigate tight walkways as battles rage in the artificial gully just beyond, and defend an objective in a claustrophobic alcove. It's unlikely that you'll have trouble finding players online to join you in one of Killzone 2's 32-player engagements, but should you be so inclined, you can fill out the games that you host with up to 15 AI-controlled bots. You can even practice offline in one-off matches with those same bots if you prefer.

The eight maps included are exceptional, largely because they are flexible enough to make every mode feel like a natural fit for the precise layouts. Aspects such as the varying spawn points of the propaganda speaker in Search and Retrieve, and the vulnerable locations of capture points in Capture and Hold, provide focused hot spots and send you to every nook and cranny of the maps. Be prepared to think vertically because the pathways wind up stairwells, through hidden tunnels, and across balconies walkways. The addition of techniques available to each of Killzone 2's seven classes makes the ensuing action even more dynamic. An engineer's turrets can make Pyrrhus Rise's natural chokepoints even more treacherous, whereas a cloaked enemy may pounce on you as you navigate Tharsis Depot's constricted walkways. All the while, visual flourishes such as floating embers on Visari Hammer and distant artillery fire on Salamun Market keep the mood oppressive.

Guerrilla Games Killzone 2 is a clinic in FPS that will defiantly help usher in a new kind of immersion. But KillZone 2 is not without it's flaws. My biggest let down with Killzone 2 is the lack of any online or offline co-op game play. Any sort of co-op gameplay in KillZone 2 would have launched KillZone 2 to heights that no other FPS would have been able to follow. As you play on Veteran or Elite, it's evident that co-op would help with the Halghast relentless pursuit of your demise.

Guerrilla Games has some work cut out for KillZone 3 especially with it's rough narrative. KillZone 2 is an excellent, chaotic and brutal FPS, it does not do anything revolutionary or even new. What KillZone 2 does is provide one of the best console gaming experience offline and online and graphical superiority that has garner the attention of the competition. Most importantly KillZone 2 is a reason to be proud to be a PS3 owner.


Graphics: A+
KillZone 2 is the best looking shooter so far this early generation. From fluid death animations, to amazing lighting, and particle effects. Guerrilla Games has created a brilliantly realized immersive environment to stimulate all your sense

Sound: A+
Sporting the best 7.1 HD audio in the business, KillZone 2 epic score, thunderous explosions and piercing gun play helps enhance the battle for survival on enemy home turf.

Replay Value: A+
MP will keep you playing for months or until KillZone 3 comes out. One of the great features of KZ2 is the ability to track your stats, from online to offline. Beside seeing where you stand around the globe there seems to be an endless array of online unlockables.

Control: A
If you've played FPS you can handle KillZone the control scheme is a little different, but the more you play the more it feels very natural. Weight is translated very well when running and gunning for your life.

Fun Factor: A +
From single player campaign to online with up to 32 players KillZone 2 is pure fun. If KillZone 2 had co-op online and offline, it will surpass the realm of fun.

NanoGeekTech Overall Score: A+
The hype is for real, KillZone 2 is an extremely great ride that every PS3 owner should experience. Leading the way with superior graphics,ear melting sound track while
pushing the boundaries of the FPS experience.

Should you buy it or rent. Both, if you cannot afford to purchase KillZone 2 than go out and rent it at your local Blockbuster, if you can afford it, KillZone 2 is a worth while title to add to your PS3 library.

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Killzone 2 third fastest selling PS3 game ever

Four years of hype and $30 million dollars have done great things for Killzone 2, as gamers grabed up more than 750,000 copies on the game's opening weekend, according to preliminary data released Sunday by VGChartz.

That puts Killzone 2 behind only Grand Theft Auto 4 and Metal Gear Solid 4 as the fastest moving PS3 game to date.

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Update on Killzone 2 Issues

Just got my hands on KillZone 2 finally yesterday and it's a amazing experience. I have not played any MP games yet, but there seems to be some minor issues that the good guys at Guerilla Games are hard at work to fix. Seb Downie, the Producer over at Guerilla Games made an official update on some of Killzone 2’s issues.

Bots
“This is a temporary solution to the complaints regarding the cheaters. We will come up with a more suitable and elegant solution which will require a little time to be implemented, tested and deployed, so we ask you to be patient and remain calm. The patch you will have downloaded should have disabled the bots from the game creation screen and set them to zero in your custom game.

As for the people who have already ‘padded’ their stats, we’ll have to talk to the online mods and get their take on it. No decisions made yet.”

Stats Wipe
“We will not be wiping the stats completely. The game servers have been up for a number of weeks now and more than 220000 stats have been posted. I think we would be in quite a bit of trouble if we wiped those now”

Kz.com
“www.Killzone.com has been battered quite a bit the past 2 days. More than we anticipated that it would and we’re busy getting it back on its feet. It will be back up and running full-time soon enough.”

General
“We’re watching the forums very carefully and recording any complaints, network errors and as much as the feedback as we can, but the traffic is so massive that we cannot answer all your questions and respond to all of your concerns. We are continuing to look at the complaints of controller issues, network errors and suggestions on improving the game as a whole. Some of these things can be solved quickly and some will take longer term solutions. Any changes will require development, extensive testing and integration so we don’t take any steps backwards, but we’re getting there and we’ll continue to improve the game for a while yet. So stay calm, watch this space and let us go and sort these things out for you.

Its been a long wait and expectations are high, but we had a great launch and its only going to get better. See you folks online shortly.”

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New FPS Controller For PS3

A new periphera from lmLani for the PS3 is being released in the next three months that’ll allow console gamers to achieve a slice of that pinpoint accuracy that PC gamers brag about. It’s actually two controllers, and it’s designed only for right handed gamers as the buttons on the mouse are located on the left side for easy thumb access. The other controller is a bit like a Wiimote, with its own analog stick and d-pad. Just in time for KillZone 2.

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Bad Economy! Well you need a PS3

The current economic outlook does not look too good for many. With unemployment reaching levels not seen in decades, the DJIA falling faster than a TV child star career and every other house on your block on the verge of foreclosure. Why not invest in a Sony PS3. It may sound like the most ass backward move you can make when the world is on an economic meltdown of global proportions. But, I will try to outline the logic and reason for investing $399.99 plus tax in a Sony PS3 in such murky economic times.

If you are a gamer, casual or hardcore a PS3 should be considered as your console of choice. They are currently two cheaper alternatives besides the PS3 but as a gamer the PS3 is the one you should focus on. Sony has recently confirm MAG, Uncharted 2, Heavy Rain and God of War III will be here before year end. If you are the impatience type KillZone 2 will be here in four days, StreetFighter IV has officially hit store shelves, and Infamous will be here just in time for the spring bloom.

Beside a great core of AAA exclusives here in the US and overseas in Japan, you have the ability to access your PSN all for free. Now, I understand you have to pay for broadband which can cost at least $50.00 a month. But, with such a rough economy you will not have to pay to play on your Sony PS3. You will not have to pay to access premium full game contents on the PSN. You will not pay to DL any movie of choice and store it on your HDD. You will not pay to use HOME as a meeting place to conduct business, casual social encounters or getting with friends to play a game of Warhawk.

It can cost you up to $9.75 per person to attend a movie, add popcorn candy and soft drinks you can easily spend sixty plus dollars. If you own a PS3 you can say "to hell with the movies" rent a blu-ray, DVD or if you are a little adventurous DL a movie to your PC and copy it to your PS3 HDD. You can also visit Hulu/YouTube/NewsFilter and many other site to view television shows, movies or porn online all for free. If by chance you have a Sony PSP you have a portable video player on the go. All your media content on your PS3 can be access by your PSP anywhere around the world as long as there is a Wifi connection. Did I mention this is done all for free?

Now say you hate movies and do not plan to buy, rent, or stream any movies to your shiny new PS3. And your idea of any games consist of two rocks, one egg and a donkey named Eddie. The PS3 still oozes with value. You can use your PS3 as a cheap PC alternative to browse the Internet, check the weather, read sports, or just kill time. Life with PlayStation will help feed your appetite for global news and weather and at the same time teach your young lings some geography or maybe yourself. If having unlimited access to the world news all for free does not float your boat you can help contribute to the Control of Membrane Fusion Mechanism by Lipid Composition: Predictions from Ensemble Molecular Dynamics(WTF) by using Sony Folding@home. With your new PS3, even if you are not a lover of movies and games you can still be well informed about the world events and weather while helping scientist of the world solves gods riddles.

Ok, if you do not like playing God, can't stand blu-rays(hurt your eyes), would shoot mother nature if you had a chance and thinks world events is chronicling of an impending doomsday. Do not worry there is still more shit you can do with your Sony PS3. You can display your photos all in glorious HD to your adoring friends or family members. With the addition of the new Gallery feature for the PSN, that helps you sort your pictures by smiles, age and many other random criteria. You can make your very own custom themes for your PS3.

So with 3d Blu-ray and 3D gaming on the horizon, AAA exclusives like Killzone 2, God of War III, Heavy Rain, MAG and inFamous due out this year, built in Wifi, upgradable HDD, free PSN, B/C older models, PSP connectivity, Movie storage and purchase on your HDD, Full premium games on PSN for purchase(no need to visit the local Wal-mart anymore),Life with PlayStation, the new PSN Gallery, HOME, Folding@home, free to play with friends online and the ability to talk to anyone around the world for free. Let's not forget a very will built reliable machine that will last you years. So what are you waiting for, head to your local pawn shop(best way to get old PS3 unit with B/C) or BestBuy and pick up a PS3 do your part to help stimulate the economy!

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Helghast Invasion of Home imminent

According to,PlayStation Blog "In the upcoming (just 12 days away!) Killzone 2, the ISA forces lead an assault of the planet Helghan. But that doesn't mean the Helghast are on the defensive. In fact, my intel tells me that the Helghast forces are en route to PlayStation Home today.

Fortunately, the Helghast won't be armed with STA-52 Light Assault Rifles (per se), but with demo codes for Killzone 2"

If you have not played KillZone2 demo yet and need a reason to hang around HOME what the hell are you waiting for!

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Killzone 2 sports the best 7.1 digital audio in the industry

Sony's KillZone 2 is right around the corner, receiving good to great reviews and probably the attention of Hollywood. Gamekings.tv has a very good intervew with Arjan Brusse Development Director and a Guerilla Games founder.

Arjan Brussee, Development Director explains: "We push the PS3 perhaps further than other games. We achieved things I haven't seen in other games. For example, the audio, which is really special. We've got ambient streams. Those are MP3s with 4 or 5.1 channels. We rotate them according to the way you look. So you hear the sound quadraphonic around you. There's also a stereo soundtrack. There are 3D sound effects. There are voices of people who are positioned. We filter sounds with the SPUs. So if a character is talking behind a wall, you hear him very full, than if he is in front of you. We mix it all together and throw it out in 7.1 uncompressed."

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KillZone 2 Demo Impressions

The hype has grown to a feverish pitch for what may turn out to be this century's sickest thing since the "Spanish" influenza pandemic of 1918. KillZone 2 has officially went LIVE on EU PSN yesterday and will be on the US PSN Feb 28th 2009. If you do not have or need help to get an EU PSN account, it's very easy to set up your own EU PSN Account! KillZone 2 will truly change our misguided and bias knowledge of what a next generation FPS should be.

KillZone 2 demo experience is true next generation gaming at it's finest. Every aspect of KillZone 2 from visuals, sound and total feel is a remarkable technological feat. What's sad and dishearten is the demo will end in about 14mins the first time around and a lot quicker the second, third and fourth.

I will spare you with any backstory of KillZone 2 you can easily Google it. My current Media setup is a 30" Samsung Neo-Design DynaFlat HDTV Monitor 1080i HDCP compliant with my PS3 hooked up DVI-HDMI(DVI is an 8 bit RGB signal, while HDMI can be 8 bit RGB, or 8 bit, 10 bit, or 12 bit YCbCr.) Digital Sound is powered by a Sony 6.1 Dolby Digital receiver.

The reason I provided my specs for my experience with KillZone 2. I am not experiencing KillZone 2 to it's maximum impact. KillZone 2 native resolution is 1080i/720p and 7.1 Digital audio via HDMI. The audio in KillZone 2 provides some of the best sound effects in gaming lasting a mere 14mins. I have never personally experience weapons that flaunted sexy appeal since a little game by EA called "Black". I'm in love with the way Hollywood can make the barrage of bullets being emptied from a AK47 sound almost as sexy as two naked lesbians doing sign language. Guerrilla Games has achieved a level of audio immersion that will awake an industry it's fucking scary.

Being that I am an avid gamer at heart and fairly old school certain things appeal to me. The most important aspect for me is how does a game "feel". Are the controls precise, does it do what I want it to do, and do I feel like the person I am controlling. Many games has done this right, BioShock, Uncharted, Metal Gear Solid 4 just to name a few. As you sprint around Helghan making it rain bullets. Guerrilla was able to translate an eerier feel that I have rarely felt in any FPS. Your character moved as if there is weight attached to your movements. You could sense each foot impact on the ground as you run or walk, KillZone 2 controls excels and raises the bar for other FPS to follow.

The Graphics in KillZone 2 is nothing but holy mother of god spectacular. Everything you have heard online/offline is fucking right. It is! You have to play KillZone 2 to appreciate the technology being your experience. KillZone 2 is a true Hollywood interactive experience and Sony final answer to all that has question it's agenda as a gaming console. Finally Sony, has a game that will move consoles, emotions, expectations, and a generation.

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Killzone 2 demo out now on EU store

KillZone 2 is officially out on EU PSN weighing in at 1207mb. It's good to have all regional accounts if you do not have one know please do yourself a favor and get one. KillZone 2 impression coming tomorrow.

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KillZone 2 Review Scores from the Net

KillZone 2 is still a month away, but the review embargo has been lifted and the reviews are flooding the net fast. From the looks of it, KillZone 2 seems to be a gaming spectacular Sony has promised.

Will KillZone 2 be one of the greatest FPS experiences to ever grace home consoles? From the look of things , I'll make an educated guess and say "absolutely yes"

-GamePro (100/100): "It took a long time for Killzone 2 to finally come out, but after diving head first into the game, there's no doubt in my mind that it lives up to the hype and is a must-play for FPS fans."

-IGN (94/100): "The single-player experience is a truly enjoyable campaign across the Helghast home world that will test your skills, particularly on the higher difficulty levels, and the game simply looks phenomenal for a console shooter. But perhaps the strongest segment of the game is the extremely deep multiplayer, which gives seven basic classes with which you can create your own customized super-soldier after performing your class-specific duties."

-IGN AU (90/100): "End line, Killzone 2 is, by IGN's definition, outstanding. It is consistent in every respect and is testament to the talents of the developer as well as the power of the PS3 in the hands of a team that knows how to use the hardware -- and who have the full support of Sony behind them. In the same stroke, it is not the be all and end all of console shooters, or even shooters on the PS3 - but if you've read this far and you're one of the Killzone devout, you probably won't care anyway. You can rest easy knowing it was ultimately worth the wait."

-Eurogamer (90/100): "This is a methodical shooter that makes few concessions to those not already interested in its single-minded approach to cover-based military action. I've compared it to Rainbow Six in the past, but it also calls to mind F.E.A.R, another tough tactical effort that was often misunderstood by those expecting a frag-happy spook hunt. Killzone 2 is a taut and muscular game, a shooter that gives back more than you put in, provided you have the intestinal fortitude. It may take its time revealing its true depths and pleasures, but the journey is well worth taking."

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True HD 3D Sony's Secret Weapon

On December 1-2nd 2008 Unicomm, LLC hosted a very important conference that will change they way we view media. It was the 3D Entertainment Summit 2008 located in Los Angeles, CA.

This premier event enable corporate suits to deliver panel discussions defining business models and creative technique, 3D presentations of trailers, videogames and never before seen sneak previews of test footage and technology demonstrations. More than 400 leading members of the 3D industry ecosystem and press from U.S., Canada, France, United Kingdom and Japan.

Notable attendees included:

-Bob Dowling
Conference Chairman

-Jeffrey Katzenberg
Chief Executive Officer, DreamWorks Animation SKG

-Mark Zoradi
President Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group

-Jim Cameron
Director

-Sandy Climan
CEO 3ality Digital, LLC

-James Dix
Vice President Equity Research Media & Entertainment, Wedbush Morgan Securities

-Buzz Hays
Senior Producer, Sony Pictures Imageworks

-Andrew Oliver
Co-Founder & C.T.O., Blitz Games Studios Ltd.

Sony alongside with RealD 3D, Avid, 3alitydigital, Pace, IMAX, NEC, Virtual Images and Dolby 3D are making huge strides with 3D cinema technology. Sony has recently released a Single-projector 3D adaptor for Sony 4K Projector late last year. Sony's new adaptor uses the full height of Sony’s 4K imaging device, with the ability to display full 2K images for the left and right eye simultaneously and in parallel, from top and bottom.

So what does this have to do with the Sony PS3? The PS3 is a modern day version of the Trojan horse. What do I mean you ponder? Will as you can see Sony has a heavily invested interest in Blu-ray technology even though sales of Video Games eclipse DVD/Blu-ray in 2008. According to reports, Blu-ray sales will see an increase of double the sales in 2009. For 3D movies to make the transition from movie theaters to our living room, the technology needs to be in place.

Currently they are over 19+ million PS3 owners with access to a blu-ray player burning current in homes all across the world. With 3D movies adding additional cost to overall production the movies studios need to make their money back. At this year CES 2009, 3D was the rave most importantly 3D HD Television displays.

With 3D Television sets already on the market and building steam. Blu-ray is one of the only media storage device that will help usher in 3D movies in our living rooms. They are currently 29 big budget 3D movies slated for 2009-2011.

In December 2008, Pioneer Corporation unveiled a 400 GB Blu-ray disc, which contains 16 data layers, 25 GB each, and will be compatible with current players after a firmware update(PS3). A planned launch is in the 2009-2010 time frame for ROM and 2010-2013 for rewritable discs. Ongoing development is under way to create a 1 TB Blu-ray disc as soon as 2013. Movies will capitalize on the massive storage space of Blu-ray at first and True HD 3D will be part of the process.

So lets review, Big Budget 3D movies are right around the corner(check), 3D television HD sets are on the market now and building steam(check), Blu-ray storage space will be increase just in time for big budget movies(check), and most importantly there is about 25+ million blu-ray players including Sony PS3 in homes around the globe(check).

Once 3D movies land on blu-ray, video games will only soon follow. Andrew Oliver Chief Technology Officer and Neil Schneider President & CEO of Blitz game Studios has confirm that Sony "Fully intends" to support stereoscopic 3d gaming and Blu-ray for the Sony PS3. According to Neil Schneider "The best part is console support will only need a bios to work, and we are told that the ability to add this capability via bios may be unique to Sony PS3 versus other console solutions". This is evidence that with a single firmware update Sony can make all PS3s True 3D HD players for movies and games.

Being that firmware update 3.0 will land sometime this year can we expect to see 3D in firmware 3.0?

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Dear Sony, I want to Love "HOME" but I just Can't!

Maybe it's just me, I was not a fan of the critically acclaim Mass Effect(personally the hype is not justified for this game"my opinion") and the first hour or so of Fallout 3 bored the shit out of me. So you what the hell does this have to do with Sony Home, well absolutely nothing. Just had to get that off my chest.

I have been anticipating Sony's virtual social space Home for the longest time, when I had the oppertunity to finally join the beta I was eager elated and pretty pumped. Now about two plus months later Sony's Home has dropped on PSN and at best, it's a mediocre experience.

I am trying hard maybe too hard to enjoy and see the value in Home. But every time, I boot up my Sony PS3 and hit the Home icon a slight quiver of excitement hits me until I start to explore and interact with Home.

If boredom was to be manifested into a virtual environment it would be called "Home". Yes, there are a few new rooms, Red Bull, Uncharted and Farcry 2. Besides Red Bull, there is no point to the Uncharted Home space and FarCry 2 Home space.

So what else does Sony have planned for "Home" besides EA Sports Complex(sounds interesting)will they do something amazing with firmware update 3.0 or would they milk the "beta title" to justify the mediocrity. At this moment there are a few things wrong with "Home". It lacks most of the features that was promised and it's a virtual bank for Sony(microtranstation anyone). See video below and you be the judge

GDC:2007 PS3 Home 'Features' HD

Where is my trophy room? Where are the third party "Home Spaces"? Can I have the ability to move faster in Home? Could we have faster loading times when traveling to and from different "Home Spaces" The problem with Home for me is it still feels dull and lifeless even with people running around doing the cabbage patch. it feels very "1999"

GDC:2007 PS3 Home 'Hall of Fame'

I know Home is supposed to be a virtual meeting place to meet new people and hang out with your current friends. Most of the people on my friend list does not even know Home exist(they are never "Home"). The virtual stores located in "Home" currently still have the same shit form the beta, nothing new,cool or exciting has yet to emerge.

Where is the ability to take content from my HDD and place it into my personal "Home space"? I know "Home" is a ginormous( I know this is not a work but add it to your vocab) endeavor and will take a while to come to full fruition, but Sony has been fiddling around with "home" for about three years now. And it still feels half ass.

Why not include new content with every new firmware update? Offer new animation for sale(.99) or allow your users to created new content and upload it to "Home". Where is a LittleBigPlanet Space? I would think you can and should be able to incorprate LBP into "Home" in very cool and unique ways. What is Sony waiting for? How about a Metal Gear Solid Space? Sony two biggest titles has no love in "Home" (Besides LBP ads) "WTF"

Sony "Home" has great potential and I hope Sony fulfills on their promise and dreams with "Home", but at the moment "Home" is filled with empty promises and unrealized dreams.

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Video Games sales KO DVD/Blu-ray sales in 2008

Video Games outpaced DVD/Blu-ray sales for the first time on a global scale in 2008. According to, Media Control GfK international game sales grew 20% in 2008, to $32 billion. Combined DVD/Blu-ray sales fell 6%, to $29 billion. You can very well bet "your left whatever" that Nintendo had a great hand in the pawange of DVD/Blu-ray.

GfK is also reporting, that game software will grow to 12% this year, to about $36 billion, while DVD and Blu-ray combined will decline another 4%. I will have to say looking at Sony's list of exclusives in 2009 and the cash machine they called the "Wii". It only makes sense that software sales will grow in 2009.

Even though Blu-ray sales may seem like it may be suffering. Blu-ray sales will more than double in 2009 hitting $2.9 billion, according to GkK.

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Sony PS3 TV Advertising Needs Help ASAP

Sony has received constant flack and criticism from the online gaming media conglomerates and rabid fandrones of the gaming community for many things. Everything from, being too hard to develop for, cost of hardware is out of reach for the mass public, no AAA games, blu-ray sucks, PS3 has no B/C, and the only thing I agree with "Sony Television Advertising sucks ass through straws"

Sony recent waves of ads are simply terrible and mundane. Way back around the beginning of the new millennium(2001) Sega had a very amusing and great television ad campaign that Sony can learn from for SegaNet. Now, that Sega is no longer revelant in the console world could Sony still learn form them? Simple answer"yes".

-video after the jump:



The most recent PSN ad debuting the PSN Video Store is at the best blah. The ad is filled with contrite humor and there is nothing that makes you say "I want that PS3" or "I want to do that on my PS3" . I understand it can be fairly hard for Sony to find the right balance when making an attempt to explain a digital device that can do it all in HD and eventually 3D. But shit, Sony you need to try harder.



The next Sony PS3 ad shows off some actual in-game content with video footage. But the stupidest thing of it all, Sony show's you all the games videos on a white brick wall at night on the side of a building "WTF". This ad does nothing for any of the games being showcased. You cannot judge the quality of the games being showed, you could barley tell what games are being showed "WFT"



Sony ads does not excite, and this is a clear classic example of "when game ads go bad". If I was a gamer contemplating the purchase of a new next gen console and I saw Sony's ad for the first time. I would be some what dumbfounded about what they hell does a Sony PS3 has to offer me?

-Note to Sony: Please show gameplay footage of Sony AAA exclusives on anything else but the side of a fucking building at night!

-Note to Sony : Please show the games so people can see the high production value within advertised game!

-Note to Sony: Make the public want your shit and feel that they cannot live without it(Apple does a great job with its products), sprinkle a little excitement into your ads Sony "please for the love of God".



Sega is no longer making consoles but there's was one constant you will get out of their ads, how good the games look and owning a Sega console could be utter fun.

Sony has a long way to go to establishing a better perception of their mega console. This can be done by using many methods, with advertiser strapped for cash and willing to whore themselves to corporate America/Japan. Why not take advantage of the current economic climate and commission better high quality television ads.

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NanoGeekTechTV presents: Opening Intro to Killzone 2

If you have just awaken from your coma and just crawled from under your favorite rock, there is a little game that will be arriving February 27th called Killzone 2. There's not too many things that get me excited, a little too laid back for that. But after watching the intro to Killzone 2 I have to officially put the fanboy hat on and say that this can be one of the greatest experiences in gaming history.

Video after the jump

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Killzone 2 Let the Hype Begin

With less than 40 days away Killzone 2 is preparing to grace the world with what my be the first true great HD Games of all time. The internet is slowing getting their slime sticky hands on the final build of Killzone 2.

I will take some Killzone 2 headlines from different gaming sites I like to visit and trust and help pour fuel on the hype monster. I have been anticipating KZ2 since it was announcement at E3 2005.

"The Best Bits of Killzone 2
Five reasons why Guerrilla's battle-hardened shooter will dominate PS3 next month."

"Killzone 2: Final build IGN Impressions HD"

"Killzone 2 vs 2008's Best Shooters"

"CES 09 "uber nerds" get Killzoned"

"Killzone 2 media review embargo lifts early February"

"Killzone 2 is "a Powerful Contender for Best Game of 2009"

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NanoGeekTechTV presents: Killzone 2: Final build IGN Impressions HD

IGN has the final Build for Killzone 2 and was kind enough to share with the free world.

Video after jump.

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