It's been a long two weeks, hasn't it? But finally, finally we can get our hands on it. That one piece of content we've been looking forward to ever since it was announced. No, not Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. Nor Warhawk's new expansion, Operation Broken Mirror. We're talking about "Still Alive" for Rock Band! Here's the full release list:
Don't forget a load of content also went up on Tuesday, when the store launched. We're glad to see the PSN Store getting content again. Don't forget we've listed all the yummy new Rock Band downloadable content after the break. So what will your first purchase be? GT5:P, Operation Broken Mirror or "Still Alive"?
The second of this week's PSN Store updates is already up. While it's a little slimmer than the one earlier this week everything on the list below is worth grabbing. Especially as it's mostly all free. The only thing that isn't free is the Warhawk expansion, but we're sure you won't mind shelling out a few measly quid for that. Here's the full release list for today:
Grand Theft Auto 4 "Everyone's a rat" trailer (free)
Don't forget that while the MGO Beta client is available now, the servers won't be open for business until April 21st. In the meantime you can sign up for a Konami ID and make sure you're ready to start playing as soon as possible. We know the next four days are going to be going pretty slowly for you, so why don't you try out Operation Broken Mirror to take your mind off it?
Although the Broken Mirror expansion won't be ready until April 17th (day of the PLAYSTATION Store relaunch), we had a chance to play it with fellow online journalists. Majed and myself took to the skies in split-screen action as we played a round of Capture the Flag and Zones on the brand new map: Vaporfield Glacier.
Ten variations are planned for the largest Warhawk map to date, and the two that we played today were both intelligently laid out, with multiple routes possible by foot, car and sky. Unlike in Omega Dawn, these variations never feel overwhelming large. The level was just the right size for our group of about a dozen players: it wasn't too small to feel barren (a problem in Omega Dawn), and wasn't too small to create a too-chaotic feel. Although the weather is supposed to change, we experienced clear skies in our play session. It might be an ice level, but don't expect to slip 'n slide.
The additions of the recent 1.3 patch were put to good use in our play time. The new weapons and shields certainly add a new level of depth to the game, without drastically changing the pace of the experience. It's clear that the Vaporfiled Glacier level is an excellent addition to the Warhawk universe, and we're certain the passionate Warhawk community will embrace the moderately priced ($8) download when it releases in two weeks.
If you're subscribed to Sony's Twitter feed you may have received a gentle "reminder" today sent directly to your mobile (sorry, cell phone) telling you that Warhawk's v1.3 patch will be arriving tomorrow. Reminder? This is the first we've heard of it. All we knew was that it would be arriving in "early April." We've had a look at a calendar today and that's now.
Warhawk servers will be experiencing downtime between 10am and 4pm GMT (6am and 12pm EST) after which the patch will be made available to download. Why should you be interested? Don't tell us you've forgotten all the cool stuff v1.3 adds. Along with the two new melee weapons, there will be more vehicle paintjobs and insignias. Not to mention the bizarrely early Home launching feature. Bizarrely early? Or is it?
It astounds us that Dylan manages to do any actual game directing, what with all his time spent writing posts on the PlayStation.Blog. His latest post goes into great detail with regards to the upcoming Warhawk expansion Operation: Broken Mirror. The trailer is posted above for those interested and Americans can expect this expansion to hit the PSN Store on April 15th for $7.99. Operation Omega Dawn was released simultaneously in both PAL and US regions, so we fully expect this to be the case with Broken Mirror.
Be sure to check out Jobe's full post for in-depth information on the new level, including the ten different map layouts and new screenshots of it in action. Seeing as Warhawk is only $29.99 on the PSN right now (a price cut which ends on April 15th), this is the perfect opportunity to grab it and get some practice in before Broken Mirror's release.
The next Warhawk expansion, Operation Broken Mirror, will be heading for the European PSN Store sometime in April. The exact date has yet to be confirmed, but the expansion will definitely come after the v1.3 patch which is due in "early April." Operation Broken Mirror will add a new level, the Vaporfield Glacier, as well as the Armored Personnel Carrier.
The APC will come in two different forms and will look different depending on if you're playing as a Eucadian or a Chernovan. Six players will be able to fire out of the APC during transport and a "speed boost" feature will allow it to better infiltrate enemy territories. Once there the vehicle acts as a spawn point for the team. As if that wasn't enough, the APC can generate a force field to protect ground troops who are near it.
Operation Broken Mirror will be priced at £3.99 in the UK, with no word yet on a price in Euros or dollars. We've got a ridiculous amount of screenshots of the new level and vehicle in action so, if you're interested, be sure to check out the gallery below. Don't forget to click "Hi Res" in the top right hand corner for full resolution images.
All game developers move on to new things. So, when Dylan Jobe mentions on the PlayStation.blog that the Warhawk team is working on a brand new game, we can't get too surprised. When "RatchetFanatic" commented on the blog to "make a new game already," Dylan Jobe sharply commented that it's being done. We don't have any details on said new game, but comes to show you that magical things can happen if you wish hard enough (and leave a comment on a blog!).
Dylan Jobe has once again managed to sneak past the PlayStation.Blog security droids and deliver us an update regarding Warhawk's upcoming expansions. Included in the post was the above video; a trailer for patch 1.3 and the various game upgrades it brings. Jobe says that both the patch and the "Operation Broken Mirror" expansion are "basically" done, with more news about release dates coming soon.
Warhawk version 1.3 will not only include a couple of ground-based items, but will also contain a whole host of new Warhawk paintjobs and insignias. These are all fan made via the contest that was started in January and all the winners are viewable in Jobe's PlayStation.Blog post or on the official PlayStation Flickr. Finally, a screenshot of "Operation Broken Mirror" was revealed -- only problem is that it's all jumbled up like a puzzle. Luckily some quick witted readers managed to unscramble the image and gave us the first look of the new level and vehicle.
Picture posted after the break for those who are spoilerphobic.
It took some time, but it's finally done it: Incognito's online-only Warhawk has reached the 500,000 registered player mark. The game was an interesting and risky venture for Sony: would people pay to play a game without a single player component? Looks like the answer is "yes."
Warhawk was the first game to take advantage of a new business model Sony is implementing in this generation. Warhawk is available on Blu-ray and as a downloadable. The $40 price point is high for a downloadable, but contains much more content than the average downloadable game.
We're certain that Warhawk fans will be pleased by the news -- Dylan Jobe said that more DLC will come to the game "as long as the community exists." It looks like it's going quite strong.
Wow, more and more rumors popping up on the interwebs are proving to be true. This time around, the rumor about an April PSN store overhaul has been confirmed in an interview with John Hight, SCEA's director of product development. Hight is quoted saying, "I think you will see a pretty big change in the PlayStation Network in the early part of April, where we roll out some new interface stuff largely based on customer feedback." So, we now know there's definitely a redesign coming, but we're still in the dark about new content like, oh say, that rumored video download service.
Also in the interview, Hight confirms that the rumored expansion for Warhawk should hit the PSN by April, too. Hight stated, "We just released an expansion on Warhawk in September, and we'll release another one in April." Further more, when questioned about Japanese PS1 games on the American PSN store, Hight had this to say, "I'm pretty darn sure they will [appear on the American PSN], but I don't know which titles." Now hold your horses, what that probably means is that we could be seeing a similar title catalog, and not that Japanese version games will appear on the US PSN. Nice, but not a guarantee. Well, we'd be happy if we could just get Resident Evil 2 in our store ...
Dylan Jobe, in an interview with 1UP, confirmed that Operation Broken Mirror, the rumoured Warhawk expansion, is currently in production. The booster pack will feature a new battlefield (that'll be "Vaporfield Gl..." then) as well as a new vehicle - an Armoured Personnel Carrier that will function as a portable spawn point and equipment producer. Sounds exciting. We're looking forward to seeing more. No doubt Jobe will have a post up on the PlayStation.Blog within the next couple of weeks. He just can't seem to stay away from it.
Jobe also stated that new booster packs will be released "as long as the community exists". New game modes and features will continue to be released in free patches (much like the v1.3 patch that should be hitting the PSN before too long). Splitting content between patches and booster packs means "you can always get free stuff and you always have to option to buy certain content", which we consider to be an excellent philosophy. Finally, Jobe denies that Single Player expansions will ever be released for this iteration of the game, but is definitely something they want to look at for future titles. Whether that's the next Warhawk game, or an entirely different franchise, we look forward to seeing it.
Dylan Jobe's latest post on the PlayStation.Blog was a long list of upcoming features for Warhawk's v1.3 patch. Not only that, but the post also contained a number of subtle hints towards a future expansion. In the image above, showing how Home-launched Warhawk games will appear in the server list, is a listing for a level, "Vaporfield Gl...", that isn't currently available.
When asked by a commenter about an expansion listing that has appeared on a number of PSN release date lists under the name of "Operation Broken Mirror", Dylan oh-so-subtly remarks on how interesting his own ASCII art looks. Clicking on the ASCII art at the bottom of his post takes you to this image. It's a broken mirror! How clever.
No doubt we'll be hearing more about this before too long, especially with GDC happening next week. If we learn anything new, we'll be sure to let you know.
That lovable rascal Dylan Jobe, Game Director of Warhawk, has posted up some info on the PlayStation.Blog regarding an upcoming update to the game. Version 1.3 has a huge feature list and will introduce some new gameplay elements whilst improving on various server options and online mechanics. The best thing about it though? It'll be completely free.
There are no new maps or vehicles (this is an update, not an expansion) but instead the game will be further improved with the inclusion of two new items for ground-troops. The Bio-Field Generator acts as a personal healing station that can be placed down like a mine and the Field Mechanic's Wrench is a one-hit-kill melee weapon that doubles as a quick-repair for vehicles. On top of this, the 1.3 patch will introduce better VOIP options as well as new paint schemes for the air-based vehicles chosen from the ongoing Warhawk Paint & Insignia contest.
Finally, Dylan mentions that their Home integration is coming along really nicely and that v1.3 will utilise game launching from inside Home. A great, much anticipated, feature. Interesting that we're seeing its implementation so soon, considering Home still has a TBA release date. Speaking of releases, when can we expect to see this update? It's in testing at the moment, with no expected release date for now. Hopefully we'll hear something more specific very soon. If you want to read more about the update (and you do) check out the post on the PlayStation.Blog.
There are a lot of hardcore Warhawk fans on PS3 Fanboy. But how many of you are also artists as well? Sony wants to know, and is hosting a new contest, where you must submit your paint and insignias for good old fashioned prizes. Winners will not only have their content featured within the game (a la Folklore), but will also receive a special limited edition statue. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to us.
For complete details on how to enter, visit the PlayStation.blog.
Who doesn't love Wal-Mart? A lot of people, apparently, but their influence in most things consumer-related is undeniable despite your personal beliefs. This is why we took note of their latest advertisements for the PlayStation 3. They're obsessed. We've got one video above for Heavenly Sword and we've got three more waiting for you after the jump. We know the heart of Wal-Mart is in us all, but by the power of Grayskull, we just can't pass up those deals.
