Sony at E3 2010: Aces High?
Debabrata: We have another high profile exclusive from Sony; the recently announced Little Big Planet 2. To be honest…I am not too excited about that one.
Aiman: Now, I’m one of those people who never quite bought into the whole Sackboy phenomenon. Maybe it’s because I’m from a PC background and have done all this level creating hoopla before in the dozens of level creators provided in games since the 1990′s….remember Serious Sam? For console, I can see why it got reviewed well. But I did have some complaints with the game. Some major ones at that. The game was touted to be a platformer, but the jumping itself was kinda loose, which defeated the purpose.
Kartik: I agree. The game sold poorly when it launched. But it was hailed for being the most innovative game in 2008 and won a lot of awards resulting in takeover of media molecule by Sony. However, I don’t think LBP2 will reach the same status. I seriously doubt they can improve further with the foundations set be the original. I don’t have any interest in LBP 2, to be honest.
Debabrata: I sense angry fans giving us threatening looks already. But I have to agree with both of you. A full retail release just does not seem right. It has a healthy fan- base though.
Aiman: The interesting bit this time is that players will be able to use LBP 2 to create new genres…not just platformers. And that can be a selling point. The problem is Sony is caught in the middle here. The casual people who may buy the game looking at the cute and cuddly (and eerily creepy) Sackboy, will surely not sit down and create levels. On the other hand, the hardcore people who want to create games, will work with something more professional like UE3 SDK (which by the way is COMPLETELY FREE…LOVE YOU EPIC).
That leaves a select few hardcore rabid fans who will sit making levels for the game, and win some award by Sony or Media Molecule…hell they may even grab a job at Media Molecule….but this is not going to change the industry like Sony is advertising.
Debabrata: So very true. The interest will die down soon.  It was the same with LBP; they bought it, they played around; they got bored. It was good but it just didn’t last long enough for many people.
Kartik: And considering its supposed to be releasing this November, that’s not exactly a  good time to release when you have to go up against the likes of  Halo Reach, GT5, Zelda Wii, Call of Duty: Black Ops and the bazillion other multiplatform releases. Regardless, we wish Media Molecule the best of luck with their endeavor. Prove us wrong.
Debabrata: That brings us to a game that will garner a lot of discussion and one which I myself feel will be Sony’s best;  Killzone 3!
Aiman: Really? Killzone 3? Is that the best game you think is coming out of Sony’s stables?
Kartik: Okay, ill just say it. The Multiplayer was alright but Killzone 2 was just a bland game at the core. The controls were not tight and the ‘Halo-killer’moniker did them no good. I most definitely do not think Killzone 3 is the best game that Sony has up their sleeve. GT 5 and Last Guardian still rank higher for me. When compared to the other giants like Halo and Modern Warfare, the Killzone franchise hardly has a fan base.
Aiman: Killzone 2 was fine. That’s about it. I believed that the multiplayer will have some legs early on, but all that vanished once everyone figured out that all you had to do was put spawn points and then spam rockets as soon as you spawn. I’ve had some frustrating times. The single player itself was a graphical showpiece, but nothing more. Gameplay did not take any leaps. I think Killzone sold because it was so fucking pretty.
Debabrata: Killzone 3 has promise for me. Guerilla Games themselves admitted that the pressure was just too much and the game did not shape up to be what they wanted it to be. I pity them. After that astonishing E3 2005 trailer, the expectations of the fans went through the roof. That much pressure can undo the greatest of developers.
Aiman: Well, I don’t have any pity for them. Who told them to show us a fake trailer for the game to begin with? This is just proof that graphics count for nothing when it comes to quality. Sure it may sell a bit because of the wow factor, but in the long run, gameplay rules supreme. Halo 3 looks like a cartoon (there, I said it) when compared to Killzone 2…yet it’s infinitely, a much better game. And I think the name New Super Mario Bros. will drive my point home. Enough said.
Debabrata: I’m sure it’s not something they are proud of  but guys, c’mon. Cut Guerilla some slack. I do think Guerilla will produce something extra-ordinary this time. Then again, they have another burden this time -3D tech.
Aiman: If you ask me, sadly this is all the Killzone franchise will be remembered for. Killzone 1- graphics showcase for the PS2. Killzone 2 – graphics showcase for the PS3. Killzone 3 – 3D showcase for the PS3. Killzone 4 – First game to be played…IN YOUR MIND!
Kartik: 3D is very stressful for the hardware. I DONT believe the current gen hardware can pull it off. Feels like a gimmick to me, to be honest.
Debabrata: So to sum Killzone 3 - Scale, fan feedback, more development time and resources are what will help the game. Guerilla are listening to a lot of fan feedback on the forums and tuning stuff as they go. Killzone 2 was make or break for Guerilla. Here’s hoping Killzone 3 will cement their AAA status.
Aiman: And for the love of God – Less Rico talking; kill the son of a bitch if you can GG. Seriously!
Next Page: Infamous 2, Last Guardian and SOCOM 4
