The New PS3 Slim

Demo NewsFor anyone who’s been following Just Cause 2, you know the game is one of the most over-the-top games this year, being able to pull off ridiculous stunts using pretty much anything you can find. Well, Square-Enix has announced today that there will be a Just Cause 2 demo next week. As to how big the demo is? Check this out:

…the Just Cause 2 demo will feature a massive 35 square miles of the Lautan Lama Desert, a vast expanse of stunning, sun-scorched scenery taking up just one of the many islands in the 400 square miles of the Panau archipelago…

Yes, 35 square miles, on a demo alone! The 35 square mile expanse will be packed with towns, villages, mountains, missions and activities, plus plenty of ways to just go around and have some fun. The press release further details some of the content within the demo:

Hunt down and assassinate one of the game’s 50 military colonels; devastate military bases, bio fuel chambers, government infrastructure and more; hijack tuk tuks, military 4×4s, armoured vehicles, mopeds, helicopter gunships, light aircraft, mini vans and numerous other military and civilian vehicles; freefall from desert outcrops or from burning planes at 20,000 feet; and unlock one full, multi-stage mission, traversing the mountains to a heavily fortified government radar station and ending in an unforgettable desert car chase.

Just Cause? More like Just Ridiculous! Be sure to check out the trailer above,too, which showcases some of the action.

Press Release
Just Cause 2 demo date announced
Massive freeroaming demo planned for hotly anticipated action sequel

Friday 26th February/… Square Enix London Studios, a part of Square Enix Europe, today announced an incredible, action-packed demo for the hotly anticipated freeroaming action game Just Cause 2 will release on March 4th, 2010.

Available for PlayStation® 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC, the Just Cause 2 demo will feature a massive 35 square miles of the Lautan Lama Desert, a vast expanse of stunning, sun-scorched scenery taking up just one of the many islands in the 400 square miles of the Panau archipelago. Packed with towns, villages, military installations, mountain ranges, missions and more, the demo will feature an astonishing amount of activities for the player… and opportunities for adrenaline-fuelled chaos are limitless.

Hunt down and assassinate one of the game’s 50 military colonels; devastate military bases, bio fuel chambers, government infrastructure and more; hijack tuk tuks, military 4×4s, armoured vehicles, mopeds, helicopter gunships, light aircraft, mini vans and numerous other military and civilian vehicles; freefall from desert outcrops or from burning planes at 20,000 feet; and unlock one full, multi-stage mission, traversing the mountains to a heavily fortified government radar station and ending in an unforgettable desert car chase.

“The Just Cause 2 demo is simply massive and with so much to do, the replay value is enormous,” said Lee Singleton, General Manager of Square Enix London Studios. “It’s easily one of the biggest freeroaming demos of all time and for fans of openworld games, it’s unmissable.”  Read more... (710 words, 7 images, estimated 2:50 mins reading time)

NewsIn my opinion, this is actually one of the coolest ideas for a racing game in quite some time. North One Sport, promoter for FIA WRC (World Rally Championship) has agreed to running a cooperative effort with Black Bean Games and iOpener Media to try to implement real-time positioning into WRC games.

Basically the premise of the concept is to allow users the ability to race their rally cars on the race track in the game as the streaming of the actual race with actual racers will be coinciding with it. In other words, players can essentially race against the actual rally car drivers on the same track, at the same time. If they could actually get it to work, it would be awesome, and a big bridge between real life and gaming. Here’s what Simon Long of North One Sport has said:

This study should take us a step closer to our goal of allowing WRC fans anywhere in the world the opportunity to become part of the action. Using the internet they would be able to compete in the rally on the same stages against some of the best drivers in the world. If this test is successful then we hope in the future to crown our first virtual rally champion.

iOpener’s CEO, Andy Lürling, also stated:

Together we aim to configure North One Sport’s systems and iOpener’s patented technology to capture high accuracy live action GPS which can then be integrated into the next generation of WRC video games. These games will allow fans to drive, co-drive, manage or simply watch the WRC from the heart of the action.

This is actually a pretty big concept. If it can come to fruition, it would definitely be something very cool. Be sure to read the entire press release in the tab!

Press Release
26 February 2010
WRC TO BE THE SUBJECT OF INNOVATIVE VIDEO GAME CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

North One Sport, global Promoter for the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), has agreed a technical cooperation to investigate the feasibility of real-time rally gaming. The consortium, including iOpener Media and Black Bean Games, will explore a new interactive gaming concept for the WRC based on real-time positioning data.

iOpener has been developing real-time high-accuracy positioning data in interactive applications since 2007 and, in conjunction with North One Sport, has secured the cooperation of Gulf Horizon Group. Black Bean Games, publisher of the upcoming official WRC console game, will also support the project with further technical expertise provided by their in-house production studio Milestone.

The partners will work together to collect a continuous stream of positioning and telemetry data from the cars competing on WRC rallies. This data will then be applied and tested in a step-by-step plan aiming to deliver a gaming experience that is consistent, reliable and accurate.  Read more... (705 words, 8 images, estimated 2:49 mins reading time)