Is it me or does it seem as though Sony is it out to prove that the PS3 is the most capable gaming console on the market. There truly is no denying it’s robust graphical capabilities ever since the aggressive FPS known as KILLZONE 2 hit the scene back in late February and set the graphical benchmark for today’s consoles. Nevertheless, even before the release of the PS3’s definitive shooter, PS3 exclusives in the form of UNCHARTED: Drakes Fortune, METAL GEAR SOLID 4: Guns Of The Patriots and many others have been setting the graphical bar relatively high on Sony’s black behemoth.

Releasing in 2010, HEAVY RAIN is another PS3 exclusive which from the looks of it is yet another graphical masterpiece that will be offering a ton of substance under the hood. As you watch this latest gameplay video footage of HEAVY RAIN, I encourage you to carefully examine the surrounding detail of the objects as the characters act like real people, also be sure to look at the graphical detail displayed in the characters faces and expressions. It is mind-blowing to think that we have come this far in gaming.

PlaystationBlog writes;

Going hand in hand with the v1.3 launch, we here at SCEA will be releasing an updated Central Plaza. We think you’ll find the new World Map Travel Center to be quite handy when it comes to navigating the vast, expansive world of PlayStation Home.

Home v1.3 equals the following things:

* Universal Game Launching
Come this Thursday, you’ll be able to launch from Home into any game whose disc you have loaded into your PS3. This is how it works: Titles that fully support game launching (like Street Fighter IV, Resistance 2, MotorStorm, and Far Cry 2) will be identified by separate icons that appear over an avatar’s head and will have varying degrees of additional multiplayer functionality built in. Simplified game launching will take you from Home to the start menu of your favorite games with ease. Never again will you have to sign out of Home to play with (or against) your friends. Simply insert the disc of your choice while in Home and follow the on screen directions.

* In-Store Item Previewing
This feature will allow you to preview items of clothing on your character in 3D (including the ability to check out multiple items simultaneously to see what combinations best suit your taste). You’ll be able to preview all furniture in 3D as well, complete with zoom and rotate options so you can check your potential purchases from all angles.

* New Emotes and Actions
You can flip a coin with your friends to decide whose apartment to retreat to, or play the old “pick a number between 1 and 100” game to decide who is hosting the next party in Central Plaza. You will also be able to pose your avatar in a variety of ways, adding significantly to your ability to express yourself in-world. Heck, there are even new dances to hit the SingStar Rooms with.

* More Item Types
Including limited use items (like the brand new Shrink Cake that lets you shrink your avatar to a tiny size) and portable objects (think: Bubble Machine). These will be available shortly after the launch of the client. This list of objects includes a free camera that you can use to snap pictures from either a 1st or 3rd person view. The photos will automatically be saved to the Photo section of the XMB, from which you can then upload to the picture frames you have hanging in your personal spaces. Dates for the camera and other items will be announced very soon, so stay tuned to this blog (and be sure to check the Latest Updates tab in your Menu Pad, under Community).

* Tons of Improvements
We’ve added some new categories of clothing (composite and outfits) that will allow you to customize your avatar with greater ease. We’ve optimized the targeting system. We’ve fixed a bunch of the bugs you’ve been reporting on the official Home Support forum. We’re even giving you the option to determine your cache size (you can choose from 3, 5, 8, and 12 GB).

Well if any of you have never heard me declare that DEAD SPACE is the best suspense horror game during this generation of consoles then let me remind you, “DEAD SPACE is the best suspense horror game this generation.” O.k. I needed to get that out, now on to some exciting updates.

Last year DEAD SPACE recieved our coveted “Sleeper Hit Of 2008 Award” and for most gamers with an A type personality who were courageuos enough to complete this amazing title, they were immediately begging for a sequel. Now it looks like all of our prayers have finally been answered as a sequel appears to be in the works based on a job posting on LinkedIn.

The job listing reads;

“Seeking a highly motivated Lead combat designer for the Dead Space franchise on Xbox360 and PS3. This is a major opportunity to contribute creatively to an exciting new franchise.”

“The previous installment in the Dead Space franchise received numerous awards for gameplay, visuals, and sound design, and the same core team is in place to create an even better follow up.”

“The game is in the later stages of pre-production, ready for production in the next few months, with many of the navigational and combat mechanics in place. We have complete autonomy and creative control over our own decisions.”

Well that’s sounds about as positive of proof as any but of course we wont jump to conclusions, right. Even though this appears to be rock solid evidence that DEAD SPACE 2 development is underway, let’s just keep our eyes and ears open as the coming months should reveal some nuggets on DEAD SPACE 2.

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We here at ThEvolution Network grew up watching wrestling and imitating the various wrestling moves on brothers, sisters, cousins, neighbors, and even on our parents. Wrestling was an important outlet that allowed us to be superstars in our neighborhoods and backyards. After Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior retired, we all thought wrestling would never be the same again, but we couldn’t have been so totally wrong.

Therefore, since we can’t do it in real life, pick up the sticks, hop into the squared ring and get you some. If you do or don’t remember Steve Austin here is your opportunity to open a can of whip ass and play as Stone Cold in the new Smack Down vs. Raw 2010. The only way to play as the Rattle Snake is by pre-ordering your copy of the game from GAMESTOP before the release date Oct. 20, 2009 (yes another pre-order bribe), which is available for the PS3 and the Xbox 360.

PlaystationBlog was able to sit down with master game developer Fumito Ueda of TEAM ICO to discuss many of the important game elements which will appear in their upcoming PS3 exclusive known as THE LAST GUARDIAN.

Our faces are probably blue by now because we can’t stop repeating the fact that Naughty Dog’s next big title known only as UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves has no equal in 2009. The total package is mind-blowing and to reiterate our sentiments the latest reviews only reinforce our experience.

Check out this latest video review from the super cool editor-in-chief at G4TV, Adam Sessler. Mr. Sessler never shy’s away from the obvious as he makes some rather bold yet undeniable statements about his playthrough experience;

Ninja Theory, the talented and creative development team who brought you HEAVENLY SWORD exclusively to the PS3 is now working on a new title known as, ENSLAVED.

After the dramatic ending of HEAVENLY SWORD many gamers were hoping that a sequel would be in order, however, ENSLAVED is a comletely new IP that while it will offer a completely different story all together, the game seems to have bit of a HEAVENLY SWORD influence to it in a slasher sort of way.

“In Enslaved, players take on the role of Monkey, a strong and brutish loner, and his AI partner Trip, a technologically savvy but sheltered young woman from a peaceful community. Both become captured by a mysterious slave ship, which are rumored to harvest people and take them out west never to return.

“As they each attempt to escape, Trip realizes quickly that Monkey, with his raw strength and power, is the only hope she has of making the perilous journey back home. She hacks into a slave headband to enslave Monkey and link them together - if she dies, he dies. Her journey has now become his.”

Key development figures from the original HEAVENLY SWORD team are back on board for this new title. None of us can forget the amazing character portrayal by Andy Serkis (Gollum - LOTR trilogy) of King Bohan, who truly gave HEAVENLY SWORD depth and character. Andy Serkis will once again direct this new title. Also award-winning writer of 28 Days Later, Alex Garland will be on board.

Unlike HEAVENLY SWORD which was a PS3 exclusive, ENSLAVED has been slated as a multiplatform title which should arriving sometime in 2010.

As an early favorite for the coveted 2009 Game Of The Year honor, UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves is currently receiving reviews that are off the charts and for sometime now some PS3 users have been priviledged to experience the multiplayer demo portion of this exciting new title. Today, Sony has announced that now everone can get in on all the fun and finally experience the multiplayer demo which we must add looks and plays like a dream.

PlaystationBlog writes;

If you haven’t had the chance to experience the Multiplayer Demo over the past few weeks, or read much about it, IGN has a great overview they posted of just how much we packed into just under 1.3 GB. In short, the Multiplayer Demo includes four maps, four competitive modes and two co-op modes. That’s two new maps, two new competitive modes and one more co-op mode than our June Multiplayer Beta.

With the most anticipated game just around the corner, gamers are crossing out the days on the calender. I’m sure there was an assumption that we would be able to appease our hunger with a Modern Warfare 2 demo, unfortunately Infinity Ward is keeping the game boxed up until the November 10th release.

Posting on his Twitter, Bowling revealed that the team are far too busy adding the final spit and polish to the retail version of the hotly anticipated shooter to ship a demo before release: “No plan for a Demo before launch. The entire team is focused on polish all the way up to ship of the full game,” he said.

After the announcement of the upcoming HD re-release of GOD OF WAR known as the GOD OF WAR Collection, ThEvolution Network started looking into other amazing PS2 titles that would be well-received given the the same 720p HD treatment. Not to our surprise, one of the biggest games speculated also has the development team wanting this same treatment.

According to Kotaku, Team Ico developer Fumito Ueda has mentioned that he does have an interest in looking at this possibility.

“I do have an interest in that,” Ueda said during our Friday chat. “Next week, I’ll have a meeting [about the possibility] … But it might not be so easy, because, with both titles we really stretched the limits of the PS2. It’s complex. So it’s not such an easy transfer to the PS3. But I want to discuss it.”

The possibility of this actually happening is good news indeed and hopefully as discussions take place, let’s hope ICO can also be added to the mix as an added incentive.

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