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[Slidell]

GC 2009: Sony Conference Live Blog
Be prepared to witness all the glorious PlayStation tidbits, as they happen.
by Ryan Clements, Charles Onyett

Video at the bottom.

US, August 18, 2009 - With Leipzig's Games Convention a thing of the past, Cologne's Gamescom 2009 has taken the center stage here in Europe, to bask gamers across the globe in a sea of beautiful digital goodness. We're here in Germany to report on the show and one of the big events that PlayStation enthusiasts can look forward to is Sony's press conference.

Scheduled to start at 6:30 PM here in Germany today -- which is 9:30 AM Pacific Standard Time -- Sony's show should pack some seriously exciting news, if the rumors are anything to go by. We've sent our very own Ryan Clements (Associate Editor and part-time model) deep into the heart of Cologne to stand by and live blog the event as it happens. With the help of the good Charles Onyett (manning our MK. V Orbital News and Reconnaissance Platform), all the delicious information will be delivered straight to you, along with your morning toast and eggs.

So check back here soon, as the live blog will begin on this very page. Let's all keep our fingers crossed for Sony to have a solid showing this year, as its announcements could alter the fate of the galaxy.

[09:24] People are still milling about the entrace to the auditorium, as Sony still hasn't opened the doors. Doesn't look like this is going to start on time.

[09:34] Alright folks, I was finally admitted into the sacred halls of the Sony press conference. There's a massive screen blazing with light in front of me (go figure) and a huge sign in front of the stage says "The game is just the start." I suspect this implies that Sony is entering the space travel industry. Also, there's a fairly attractive blonde woman behind me, so hopefully she can't read in English. Also, of particular interest, is the intense German techno that's blaring on the speakers. I've already started an uber dance party.

[09:35] As a side note, this conference was supposed to start five minutes ago. But Sony likes to run stylishly late and punch people in the stomach on the way in.

[09:36] Oh wait, it's going to be starting soon. A charming British chap is giving us instructions about where proper filming should take place. Fran has already secured a fine spot in the balcony for filming. His chair levitates and pulses with light... I'm putting too many jokes in this blog already. I'll stop.

[09:44] Okay, more updates. Conference should be starting very soon. The charming British announcer came back on and told all the people with blue and pink wristbands to proceed to the auditorium. (I have a blue one.). Then, he told everyone with an orange wristband to stay the f*** out. He didn't put it that bluntly, but the intent was there. Also, the aforementioned fairly attractive blonde woman can speak English. So this live blog has been officially compromised.

[09:46] The intense German techno/future jazz ceased for a moment. The audience held its breath in anticipation, but then it came on again. Oh well. I gave Video Producer Ty Root a granola bar because he's super hungry. I've saved the day again.

[09:47] Here we go, it's starting!

[09:48] There's an intense trailer about to start, I can feel it.

[09:48] Invisimals is the first game shown, then some LittleBigPlanet love is displayed on screen. Oh hell yeah, God of War III action. Some SOCOM PSP. PixelJunk Shooter.

[09:49] Lots of stuff. Intense music continues. Oh god it's Home! And the next Ratchet. Now Heavy Rain. The dude sitting behind me is saying all this to the woman behind me. It's kinda annoying.

[09:49] Oh hell yeah Greg Miller, SingStar is being shown. Man this music makes me want to dance. Oh, VidZone is shown. Could there be another media announcment?

[09:50] Hustle Kings also popped up for a moment, along with MAG. And Gran Turismo for the win. Now Some sweet slow-motion Uncharted 2 footage.

[09:50] Whew. I'm out of breath. President and CEO of SCEE, Andrew House takes the change. He welcomes us.

[09:51] House discusses his history with the company, and what his tenure has seen when it comes to the PlayStation brand.

[09:52] The first PlayStation "revolutionized the way games were created." I would agree, I suppose, but no one cares what I think. Unless you do?

[09:52] House is proud of what Sony has achieved. Tonight, House wants to take us through the Sony business strategy and show us the future of PlayStation.

[09:53] Now, let's look at some boring business facts. Sales worldwide almost reaching 140 million units for the PlayStation 2.

[09:54] House reiterates that PSPgo will be hitting this October. He reminds us that global sales for the PSP have passed 50 million units. Go PSP!

[09:54] Global sales of the PS3 have reached 23.7 million units. Cool beans.

[09:55] Ah, the PlayStation Network is being discussed. It gives us "infinity possibilties." How much money do you need to put in your PSN wallet to buy infinite possibilities? I imagine quite a bit.

[09:55] Worldwide PSN registrants reach the 27 million mark. That's a lot of gamers online.

[09:57] Global downloads: 560 million. Nice. These people behind me keep chattering away. You're lucky you're sitting at home, at your computers. Oh, more facts: $280 million in revenue for the PSN. That's pretty sweet.

[09:57] Now PlayStation Home is being discussed. House, just for the record, is a very good public speaker. I'm very impressed.

[09:58] Home downloads have hit 7.5 million, globally. That means millions of gamers around the world are dancing wildly and spamming happy faces like you wouldn't believe.

[09:58] Wait, new gamespace being added! SingStar space announced.

[09:59] Greg Miller just wet himself. I can feel it all the way from Germany.

[09:59] There's a music quiz in the space, as well as a video jukebox. And oh. My. God. An interactive dance floor.

[10:00] Audi is bringing its brand into PlayStation Home. There's going to be an Audi cinema somehow, and then a new space that will be coming in the future.

[10:01] House has officially announced more dance moves in PlayStation Home. You'll be able to carry a camera with you eventually, and throw a ball, or drink a shrinking potion. This is all new functionality for the system.

[10:01] Cool. This service is designed for the teenage dancer. I love it.

[10:02] Dynamic Themes are being shown. These are like themes on crack. Super nice, animated bits, like Sackboy running around the planet. Awesome. Some European news is being announced about some more video content. This does not interest our US audience. Does it? You tell me!

[10:03] Oh, finally. House announced PSN voucher cards (like, adding Euros to your account) for the European territories. I still can't find them in the US, though. Oh well. Let's hope for the best.

[10:03] Sounds like this is a move to help spur and encourage sales for downloads, as the PSPgo is just around the corner.

[10:04] Ah, House is speaking about VidZone. Sweden, Norway and other European territories are getting VidZone... but no US. Aw, we don't get sweet music videos?

[10:06] Europe is getting a video download service, as the trailer shows some footage from Terminator Salvation, Batman, Saw, Gran Turino, Transformers and more. Coming November 2009. Looks like the European PSN is trying to catch up to the US service.

[10:07] This service is hitting the UK, Germany, France and more. Again, this is just fun news for you European gamers. You US folks already have this sort of functionality, you lucky dogs.

[10:07] Digital Reader for the PSP. This December.

[10:08] Digital comics, including Marvel. Spider-Man, X-Men and the Fantastic Four. This is in fact, coming to the US PlayStation Network. Nice!

[10:08] Ira Rubenstein, from Marvel Entertainment is taking the stage. It's a tall, smiling dude in a nice coat. Hi Ira!

[10:09] So, it sounds like users will be able to download comics straight to the PSP with this Digital Reader program. Ira is excited to be offering the Marvel catalog to this new service.

[10:10] Ira thanks us and gives the stage back to Andrew House. But first, a trailer.

[10:11] A trailer for comic books? I wonder how this will work. Intense music. It's always about intense music. Flying animated profiles are zooming across the screen. I wish all comics were this way. They would cost a lot more. "Hundreds of comics on the PlayStation Store. Downloaded directly to your PSP."

[10:12] The interface looks really slick. You can browse frame by frame as the comic flashes across the screen. This is neat news, as a comic fan myself. (Not as much as Greg Miller and Hilary Goldstein, though).

[10:13] House is bringing up new stuff. Eye of Judgment and LocoRoco: Midnight Carnival are both going to be on the show floor this week.

[10:13] Here we go.... Bite-sized games are being brought up. Could this be the possible app store?

[10:14] It's called "Minis" on PSP. very interesting. Written like "miniS".

[10:15] It will be a new section on the PlayStation Store. Available exclusively via digital distribution. 100 MB size limit. One of the examples on the screen is Aqua Panic Oasis. I need to play that game. This is Sony's answer to Apple's App Store, it seems. House comments that many publishers are already on board. EA has Sudoku. miniS is going to hit the PSP on the same day as PSPgo's launch, this October! Playable on any model of the PSP.

[10:16] Here comes a trailer! Lots of cool little casual games, like block clearing games, shooters and a little monkey killing horrifying shadows...?

[10:16] Ohhh, gotta' love tower defense. I think I just saw 300, the game, show up in that trailer. It was running really slowly, though. Poor Leonidas.

[10:17] Oh, PSP-3000 is going to get tourqoise green, blossom pink and lilac purple. The audience cheers for some reason. The green PSP is bundled with LBP PSP! House mentions that more bundles are on the way.

[10:19] Now House is going to highlight Gran Turismo PSP. Oh, there's a very exciting offer coming up... aw, but only for Europe. If you register between the 1st and 10th of October for your PSPgo, you get a free copy of GT PSP. What the hell, the US territory doesn't get that?! That's a sweet deal!

[10:19] EyePet, it has been announced, will sell for 49.99 Euros, and comes bundled with the PlayStation Eye. Nothing about a confirmed US price, though.

[10:21] By the way folks, that free GT PSP means you get a free download, not a free UMD copy of the game. Just so you follow. Now they're showing a trailer for Uncharted 2. It's mostly old footage, but it's got some great, really emotional stuff going on, slow-motion fights, Drake grabbing Elena's hand up on a cliff, Chloe stroking Nathan's face. This is a pretty bad-ass trailer. Drake's narration: "What's that saying? Fortune favors the bold? Yeah right."

[10:21] Totally badass.

[10:22] Here comes some Heavy Rain news! David Cage, from developer Quantic Dream is taking the stage.

[10:23] I applauded especially hard, as Cage is a really awesome developer. His first line: "How far would you go to save someone you love?" This is the most intense speech ever for a Sony press conference.

[10:23] Heavy Rain will feature four main characters that must answer this question. Here in Cologne, we're being introduced to the two other characters. Shelby, an investigator on the Origami Killer case.

[10:25] The character being revealed is based on one of Cage's personal experiences. Cage describes a horrifying event when his son was seperated from him and his wife as the couple shoped in a store. After ten minutes of frantic searching, the boy was found -- but not before taking a serious toll on Cage. The character born out of this fear and raw emotion is Ethan Marr, who also lost his son in a tragic accident. In Heavy Rain, Ethan must confront his inner demons and seek redemption.

[10:25] "Heavy Rain is a story of guilt, love and redemption." Damn straight.

[10:25] A new trailer is coming up. Footage is being shown of the new characters.

[10:26] The footage shows Ethan losing his son, and having to deal with the pain of the loss. This is extremely depressing.

[10:27] Ethan is shown sneaking into a strange mansion, getting caught up in the Origami Killer mishaps. Action scenes dominate the screen as the trailer culminates with Ethan falling off a rooftop, and his grizzled voice saying "Everything I did, I did for love."

[10:27] Everything from the trailer is all real-time and fully interactive. And all this intensity was just one of the four unique characters.

[10:29] The audience applauds as Cage leaves the stage and House returns to talk about the motion-sensing controller that was debuted at E3. But we have to wait until the Tokyo Game Show. We only get a trailer, for games that will use the PlayStation Motion Controler.

[10:30] Shows a building block game, an archery simulation, a painting game, a title that features a sorcerer casting spells. It actually looks pretty nice.

[10:30] Oh, one game looked like a first person horror game, where you were using a flashlight to move through an eerie environment. That's a pretty good application of the controller's technology.

[10:31] Okay, trailer complete. Oh my god, the conference is almost over? They better announce the Slim!

[10:31] Yes, Kaz Hirai is taking the stage! This is it folks, it's now or never!

[10:32] If they don't announce the PS3 Slim, I'm getting up on stage and showing Kaz my giant enemy crab.

[10:32] That was an awful joke, sorry. I totally take it back. Oh man, here it comes.... he's building up to it.

[10:33] Kaz is really good at building tension... he's moving on... he made a very subtle joke about "shape and form".

[10:33] He points out a podium that no one has used yet. He teases, that it has a purpose.

[10:34] Today is the day for PS3 Slim.

[10:34] First week of September, PS3 Slim confirmed.

[10:34] It looks like a very skinny PS3, same exact design, but much slimmer (obviously).

[10:35] Same features and functionality. 120 GB HDD. 34 % less power consumption. 34 percent lighter. Wow, nice.

[10:35] 299!!!!

[10:35] PS3 is 299 dollars, 299 Euros, and 29,980 Yen.

[10:35] This price is also retroactive, tomorrow, for all PS3 models. This is awesome.

[10:35] Thank God.

[10:36] The audience erupts in applause. I also scream, as Kaz is a dream.

[10:37] That's it folks, House is starting to wrapping up the show. Whew. I can still see the PS3 from here. It looks very happy, on its white podium.

[10:37] Show complete! I hope you enjoyed our live blog. Oh god, I'm getting trampled.

[10:38] Exit, stage left!

PS3 Slim Unboxing