PS3 Fanboy

As you may already know, GamePro has scored an exclusive feature for Resistance 2. The issue, which should be hitting newsstands and subscribers soon, features a massive three page-wide cover -- a massive panoramic piece of Resistance 2 art. However, more intriguing than the cover is the great promo art featured on the back. Made to look like early sensational newspapers (think The Inquirer), these fake ads talk about the upcoming fight against the Chimera and link to the not-yet-functional getawarjob.com. We're expecting a fun "ilovebees-esque" ARG experience through this new effort. Stay tuned.

When magazines compete, you win. EGM may have secured the exclusive cover story on Killzone 2, but GamePro has the details on the other big PS3 FPS game, Resistance 2. Insomiac's 60-player FPS promises a new epic story, and an almost mind-numbing amount of multiplayer functionality. GamePro isn't just content with providing a preview and tons of juicy hype text ("Better than Halo. Bigger than Call of Duty" is proudly featured on the cover). No, they're going to do much more than that. They're giving away free codes to the Resistance 2 beta. Not every issue will be a winner, but this is the first opportunity the general public will have at getting into the beta. We're sure other methods of entry will pop up (Qore, anyone?). But for those that cannot resist, the next issue of GamePro is one to look out for.

[Thanks, Ether02!]

A lot of people are seemingly comparing the PS3 to a number of other systems. First, it was a 3DO. Now, it's a Gamecube. GamePro took ten months of NPD data and made an intriguing graph showing the sales for both the PS3 and the Gamecube. Although Nintendo's last-gen system featured a number of genre-defining hits, such as Metroid Prime and Resident Evil 4, it failed to capture the same market share as its competitors. The current momentum of PS3 seems to suggest that Sony's system may meet the same fate, if it continues to follow its current trend.

There are differences, of course. Gamecube had a relatively short life span, with Nintendo reusing the technology in its currently best-selling Wii console. Sony has stated a potential ten-year life cycle for PS3, one that suggests they're planning for a much longer life cycle than that of the Gamecube.

Although a price cut and a redesigned system may revitalize sales, Sony could always follow Nintendo's footsteps in the years to come: simply duct-tape two PS3s together and call it the PS4.

In a thorough interview with GamePro, Dylan Jobe talked about the hard decision to make Warhawk a multiplayer-only title, and things learned from the beta. A fascinating read, to be sure, and we hope you take a chance to check out GamePro's complete interview.

One thing that stood out to us was Incognito's plans for downloadable content. "It's not content that we cut to hold back and later jam down the throats of players," he says. "What we do with our downloadable content is to look at the feedback from players and develop content that supplements their experience, not just rehashes stuff that we perhaps descoped previously."

The beta revealed many things that the team wants to add to the game, but simply hasn't found the time. "We were able to collect a lot of feedback from the beta. There were a lot of really great ideas that it was to late to incorporate, but we ear marked to perhaps come back to it and put it in future." Additional brainstorming ideas will undoubtedly come back from fans and players like you. "We also have a team that will scour all of the forums for Warhawk feedback on Warhawk.com so that we can make sure that our first outing of downloadable content matches what players want." Of course, we think players want to know: when will downloadable content arrive ... and how much will it cost?

Is 60GB (or 80GB) simply not enough space for your PS3? We know it's easy to swap PS3's hard drive ... but GamePro's picture-by-picture guide makes the process even easier. The tools required are simple: Husky Precision Screwdriver, external hard drive or USB thumb drive (for copying over files), and a 2.5" SATA laptop drive. Thanks to the XMB's easy to use interface, the process of copying over files and formatting the new PS3 drive is a cinch. Maybe you'll want to throw in a new 160GB hard drive into your PS3? They only go for about $100 these days.

[Via digg]

We have a love-hate relationship with these kind of articles, lest they deter into all-too-familiar fanboy territory (wink wink). Regardless, they still are fascinating reads on technology and where our beloved full-time job hobby is headed. Gamepro recently questioned a developer tasked with high-profile PS3 ports from Xbox 360 code and the response was unsurprisingly, "nobody wants to touch that issue right now." Can't say we blame them. It's becoming increasingly complex a situation, with console exclusives falling by the wayside as publishers strive to get the most out of their investment. Professing love for one platform over another just doesn't seem like it would make things easier for anyone.

An article by Dr. Dobbs Portal that ran in March, delivers an in-depth dissection about how much longer the learning curve is when it comes to developing for the Cell and how much more fruit the Cell can bear once established and competent developers get through the crux of utilizing its potential.

Dave Karraker has quite possibly the roughest job of any PR director in SCEA history. Having come to the company only two months before the tumultuous PS3 launch, Karraker had quite an insurmountable task to face: combat the growing negativity surrounding the PlayStation brand and convince a questioning populace the value of an expensive $600 console. In an interview with GamePro, Karraker admits the job isn't easy. However, he thinks that the console's future success is nearly guaranteed: "I am pretty sure if you asked just about any real gamer out there if they would like to have a PS3, their answer would be a resounding 'Yes!'"

Negative perceptions of PS3 can be seen within our own comments section, where Xbox advocates preach about the so-called downfall of Sony. This kind of attitude seems self-perpetuating on the internet, especially when internet media incorporates the negative spin into their reporting: "I think a lot of this goes back to the proliferation of the Internet, where a very vocal minority can make a lot of noise and potentially alter perceptions of the masses, whether they are accurate or not. A lot of this, naturally, is driven by the media who seem focused on taking swipes at us lately, without taking in the full picture."

So what can Sony and Karraker do to help gamers start understanding Sony's approach to the next generation of gaming? The games and hardware should speak for themselves. "A lot of the perceptions are not justified and seem fueled by people who don't have all the facts or have some kind of axe to grind. I think you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who wouldn't say PS3 is an amazing piece of technology."

Jack Tretton is a man of big promises. Although his claims may be boisterous at times, we can't help but join in his excitement for the future of PS3. Sure, we've heard the song and dance before: PS3 is a system of potential. As the system continues to grow, it will offer and more and more. For example, the PLAYSTATION Network is going to expand. In a recent interview with GamePro, Tretton reveals that the system will become so expansive, "almost to the point of being overwhelming."

The Network will not only feature downloadable on-demand movies, but it will also have a vast supply of games as well. "We have 41 games in development devoted to the Network, not just talking about PSone games being enabled. We're talking about games developed specifically for the PS3."

So when is it going to happen? "So, really it will happen this fall ... we'll get there well before the holiday timeframe. Every month you'll just see more and more content on there it'll get to the point where it's be really rich by September. And I think that will be timed really nicely with the advent of Home as well."