Sid Shuman
Senior Director, SIE Content Communications
11Author Replies
Like many of you, I suspect, I’m spending this weekend curled up with an old friend: The Dark Knight. So far, Arkham City is proving to be a delight. Gotham has never looked better (I’m told it dazzles in 3D!), and Batman himself has learned a host of powerful new techniques, from plunging off buildings to whiplashing over rooftops to some fancy new melee strikes and throws. Based on what I’ve played, Arkham City is the rare sequel that ups the ante in every conceivable way without compromising the series’ fundamental strengths. Nice job, Rocksteady! If you’re playing Arkham City, be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below.
Regular PlayStation.Blog readers also noticed a flurry of game announcements late in the week: The Starhawk Beta was announced for November (vouchers come with all copies of UNCHARTED 3!), inFAMOUS: Festival of Blood confirmed an October 25th PSN release date, Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest announced a November 15th release date, PixelJunk SideScroller showed off an eyeball-melting launch trailer (and a launch date of 10/25), and Touch My Katamari was confirmed as a PS Vita launch title.
Not a bad week, all in all! But now that we’re secure in the tender embrace of the weekend, what are you playing?
I’m playing: Batman: Arkham City (and little else, I’m afraid!)
I’m watching: The Walking Dead: Season 2, Trollhunter
I’m reading: The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan
The Most-Watched Video of the Week: PS Vita Developer Diaries: The Genesis
The 10 Most-Viewed Posts of the Week
Get Ready: PS Vita is Coming February 22nd — No surprises here! The biggest news of the week was the official launch date of PS Vita for the US, Latin America and Europe. Mark those calendars…
PlayStation Store Update — This PlayStation Store update is bursting at the seams. Check out PSN exclusives Okabu, PAYDAY: The Hesit, Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken, Dungeon Defenders, plus Sam & Max: Beyond Time And Space, Beat Hazard Ultra, Dead Space Digital, Ridge Racer 7: 3D License, Real Steel, and a demo for Everybody Dance. Phew!
3D Display Arrives in November, Read the FAQ — You’ve got questions and we’ve got answers for the 3D Display that hits on November 13th. Read on in the comments for even more information; we’ll update with fresh answers soon.
PS Store Now Available on Sony Corp “Sony Tablet S” — Read up on the launch lineup for PlayStation Suite’s debet on the Sony Tablet S: Jumping Flash!, Cool Boarders, and a host of other PSone classics. Any PlayStation Bloggers using Sony’s new tablet?
HEY PS+ MEMBERS READ THIS!!! N PATCHES HATERS. If there a patch that was just release u can download that patch while in the XBM menu just go 2 automatic update set the time ur on rite now n turn off PS3. It turn rite back on; turn on ur DS3 hit O n the patch will download while in XBM menu. I did the GT5 updated like that but it finished rite after i left PShome so it could of download while I was there or not. Either way it still cool.
u can thank my freaken family 4 this discovery. ;)
The UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception launch trailer has me drooling in anticipation.
I’m Playing: Resistance 3, Batman: Arkham City, UNCHARTED: Drake’s Fortune, and UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves. There are TOO many games coming out. Next week is Battlefield 3!
I’m Watching: Nikita season 2, The Walking Dead season 2, and Everwood.
I’m Reading: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine and Angel & Faith by Joss Whedon and company.
Hey Sid, any chance you could talk to Naughty Dog and DICE to release the UNCHARTED and Battlefield 3 soundtracks onto the PlayStation Store for purchase?
I’ve got a few things to say….
1) Arkham City’s story felt shorter than AA’s
2) The content Rocksteady packed into AC is going to keep me busy for quite some time :)
3) I originally thought GOTY would be between AC & Uncharted 3, but I believe U3 is going to blow everything away
4) In the 23 years i’ve been gaming, the GREATEST game i’ve played (taking all aspects of the game in account) up to this point Uncharted 2 (in my honest opinion) is unmatched
5) AC & Uncharted 2 are how sequels should be handled.
So, not only am I giving VERY HIGH praise to Rocksteady (GREAT JOB), but I also have to give VERY, VERY HIGH praise to ALL the team at Naughty Dog and everyone else who put time into U2.
I am very much anticipating Batman 3 and the future of Uncharted. I have two friends who tried to downplay U2 BEFORE they even seen or played it, needless to say, they’re stunned. HAHA!!!
Haven’t been able to stop playing Arkham City, I’m on New Game+ now getting all the riddles and riddler trophies. So freaking phenomenal overall, Rocksteady really blew it out of the park in regards to every single aspect of the game. Arkham Asylum was my personal GotY for ’09, and I’m guessing this year is now pretty set as I really can’t imagine anything coming along in the next couple months (Uncharted included) that would amaze me as much as AC has. I went into the game not having seen a single screenshot/gameplay video and was just wowed at every turn.
I’d love to jump forward in time to see what they put out next, thinking about it right now I can’t possibly imagine them improving upon everything they did in AC, but another sequel is definitely a possibility with all the characters that were either newly introduced or purposefully left out from AA. The little HQ easter egg you can find would make for an interesting plot line, and if they ever decide to completely wrap up all of the Bruce Wayne Batman enemy/character story-lines, a futuristic Batman Beyond game (handled of course by Rocksteady) could be incredibly cool.
hey sid i have a question if you could please answer. How long do we have to take advantage of the uncharted dlc deal? is it just until the game comes out?
im playing: UC3 subway mp, RE4 HD and i just finished ico collection :] I wish I was playing batman:/ cant wait for festival of blood this tuesday though! then UC3 the week after!
im reading: what im typing :p
im watching: horror movies due to halloween coming up :]
I would have to disagree on the 3D for Arkham City, if just doesn’t even seem like it there.
What Im playing: Arkham City, Sidway Newyork (AWESOME), and rocket birds
What I’m watching: Walking dead, south partk, and whatever the woman watches:(
What Im reading: Stuff on the internet
Shame on you SONY! 512mb of internal storage for the vita. how can you possibly think it’s enough? i cant even enjoy my ps3 anymore cause all 120gb are taken up by game data, so how will 512mb be enough for the vita, 16gb wasn’t even enough for the go. i never had this issue with my ps1 or ps2 and tonight i just bought a new copy of Duke Nukem and for what so my ps3 will tell me i cant play it because there’s not enough room on my ps3. what the hell is the point of having a f’ing blu-ray disc!?!?!?!?
# I’m playing: Batman: Arkham City, Shadow of the Colossus, Ico
# I’m watching: The Walking Dead: Season 2, Dexter Season 6, Modern Family Season 3, Glee season3, Supernatural season 7, and One Piece (at eps 519)
#I’m reading: Darlkly Dreaming Dexter.
Payday: The Heist is AWESOME! You guys HAVE to try that game. It is so addicting and has ome of the best and probably THE best coop I’ve played at least since Uncharted 2. $20 sounds like a lot for a downloadable game, but trust me that is nothing compared to the content and gameplay value in the game. Better than most full retail fps games this year! I believe it is a 9/10, guys I’m telling you try out the demo!!!
I’ve been up all nite playing Dark Souls so I’m kind of groggy but could somebody translate to standard English whatever @ 3 said? Something about downloading game patches while in the XMB rather than launching the game?
Anybody?
Bueller?
@Sid, I went to LA U3 event. Even my nongaming buddy thought the tournament was exciting. And, wants a Vita, after seeing the Golden Abyss trailer. Even the Muggles are blown away by Vita.
Playing: Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception multiplayer, Resistance 3, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Red Dead Redemption, Batman: Arkham City (at Game Stop, don’t have it yet)
Watching: Uncharted 3 launch tailer, Parks And Recreation via Netflix on my PS3
Reading: This blog of course, IGN, Joystiq, PSX Extreme, PSU, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire
Great week Sid. I’m looking forward to Arkham City, dug the beginning. Will get it at some point. However, Uncharted 3 will own all before it’s said and done. I simply cannot wait any longer. Just. One. More. Week. And a couple of days.
i played arkham city and it was so awesome pretty much smashed it in a day but it was an awesome story trying to get thru game + mode it makes it challenging!
IF YOU HAVEN’T FINISHED ARKHAM CITY, DON’T READ MY COMMENT BELOW!! VVVVV
I don’t understand what people are saying about the story of arkham city, how is arkham asylum better? Arkham Asylums main plot- Joker using Titan
Arkham City’s main plot- Hugo strange being controlled by Raas Al Ghul, and Joker being slowly killed by his own decisions back in Asylum.
How is Asylum better than city?
Asylum had like 4 big villains in the main story mode, City has like a thousand.
SOLOMON GRUNDY, BORN ON A MONDEE, CHRISTENED ON A TUESDEEE, MARRIED ON A WEDNESDEE…
Sorry but the new one edges out the story of Asylum in my book.
So people are nuts.
Looking forward to Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception which will be MORE THAN EPIC, Batman: Arkham City, Battlefield 3, AC: Revelations, Saints Row The Third, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. November will be the best month this year!
Why can’t we get any trailers for video games on PSN? Xbox and PC gets all of them? No Batman trailers! There is not even a trailer for the first AC game…
@ JoeTheBeast16 #32
People are saying that because they are either insane or Call of Duty and Uncharted fanboys, scarred that Batman will completely own game of the year.
they better offer some kind of pass for all dlc, don’t feel like getting ripped for all of it seperately.
the 1st 30 minutes, and everything after so far, i give it a 12 out of 10
Awsome !!! first Batman Arkham assylum then Arkham city now battlefield 3 then uncharted ( the best 2 game played cant wait for the 3rd one ) man this COOL !
Want that Starhawk Beta!
Hi, Sid, the biggest Playstation thing for me this week was the U3 AMC event. That was so much fun. I must attend other Playstation tournaments.
I’m just starting Dark Souls & Rochard.
Looking forward to getting back with Cole & my Zekester on Tuesday, plus the Move patch for I2.
Glad you swung by the AMC UNCHARTED 3 tournament! Which city did you attend?
HEY PS+ MEMBERS READ THIS!!! N PATCHES HATERS. If there a patch that was just release u can download that patch while in the XBM menu just go 2 automatic update set the time ur on rite now n turn off PS3. It turn rite back on; turn on ur DS3 hit O n the patch will download while in XBM menu. I did the GT5 updated like that but it finished rite after i left PShome so it could of download while I was there or not. Either way it still cool.
u can thank my freaken family 4 this discovery. ;)
The UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception launch trailer has me drooling in anticipation.
I’m Playing: Resistance 3, Batman: Arkham City, UNCHARTED: Drake’s Fortune, and UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves. There are TOO many games coming out. Next week is Battlefield 3!
I’m Watching: Nikita season 2, The Walking Dead season 2, and Everwood.
I’m Reading: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine and Angel & Faith by Joss Whedon and company.
You’ve got good taste! ^_^
I am curled up with a real old friend: Warhawk!
playing
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.arkham city, nuff said
What did you thing of the first 30 minutes or so?
SONY buy up Rocksteady! :P So we could have a Batman 3 on PS4! :D
I think they are a independent videogame developer? ? ?
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment bought them right around the time Arkham Aslym shipped!
Sid, playing Batman: Arkham City as well. It’s simply amazing, SO MUCH to do in the game, I’m not even 40% complete yet!
In 2009, my opinion was that Uncharted 2 slightly edged Arkham Asylum, but in 2011 I think Uncharted has a run for it’s money!
Nothing wrong with a little healthy competition! ;-)
i wish i was playing arkham city
Hey Sid, any chance you could talk to Naughty Dog and DICE to release the UNCHARTED and Battlefield 3 soundtracks onto the PlayStation Store for purchase?
Try hitting up @Battlefield on Twitter – they’re pretty responsive. I’ll make a note of the U3 soundtrack request, too.
I’ve got a few things to say….
1) Arkham City’s story felt shorter than AA’s
2) The content Rocksteady packed into AC is going to keep me busy for quite some time :)
3) I originally thought GOTY would be between AC & Uncharted 3, but I believe U3 is going to blow everything away
4) In the 23 years i’ve been gaming, the GREATEST game i’ve played (taking all aspects of the game in account) up to this point Uncharted 2 (in my honest opinion) is unmatched
5) AC & Uncharted 2 are how sequels should be handled.
So, not only am I giving VERY HIGH praise to Rocksteady (GREAT JOB), but I also have to give VERY, VERY HIGH praise to ALL the team at Naughty Dog and everyone else who put time into U2.
I am very much anticipating Batman 3 and the future of Uncharted. I have two friends who tried to downplay U2 BEFORE they even seen or played it, needless to say, they’re stunned. HAHA!!!
Thanks for sharing! I’m dying to play U3 too. It’s hard to imagine how ND will top U2’s story, but I have faith. :)
Please change the ugly Uncharted 3 box art.
will playstation vita have a google + app ?
Haven’t been able to stop playing Arkham City, I’m on New Game+ now getting all the riddles and riddler trophies. So freaking phenomenal overall, Rocksteady really blew it out of the park in regards to every single aspect of the game. Arkham Asylum was my personal GotY for ’09, and I’m guessing this year is now pretty set as I really can’t imagine anything coming along in the next couple months (Uncharted included) that would amaze me as much as AC has. I went into the game not having seen a single screenshot/gameplay video and was just wowed at every turn.
I’d love to jump forward in time to see what they put out next, thinking about it right now I can’t possibly imagine them improving upon everything they did in AC, but another sequel is definitely a possibility with all the characters that were either newly introduced or purposefully left out from AA. The little HQ easter egg you can find would make for an interesting plot line, and if they ever decide to completely wrap up all of the Bruce Wayne Batman enemy/character story-lines, a futuristic Batman Beyond game (handled of course by Rocksteady) could be incredibly cool.
hey sid i have a question if you could please answer. How long do we have to take advantage of the uncharted dlc deal? is it just until the game comes out?
im playing: UC3 subway mp, RE4 HD and i just finished ico collection :] I wish I was playing batman:/ cant wait for festival of blood this tuesday though! then UC3 the week after!
im reading: what im typing :p
im watching: horror movies due to halloween coming up :]
Never thought I’d read the name Carl Sagan on the PS Blog.
This just became the best article ever.
I would have to disagree on the 3D for Arkham City, if just doesn’t even seem like it there.
What Im playing: Arkham City, Sidway Newyork (AWESOME), and rocket birds
What I’m watching: Walking dead, south partk, and whatever the woman watches:(
What Im reading: Stuff on the internet
BATMAN almost platinum!! taking me for ever XD i want batman avatar =D
Probably the wrong place to ask, but did amazon stop selling psn codes? Thanks.
I’m playing Ratchet and Clank All 4 One and honestly it’s disappointing. Also, what the heck happened to Amy? I need my survival horror fix.
Hey there I got 1 question is the psn being Redesign or are we getting a update that I’ll change how the psn looks anytime soon ?
also wanted to add;
Shame on you SONY! 512mb of internal storage for the vita. how can you possibly think it’s enough? i cant even enjoy my ps3 anymore cause all 120gb are taken up by game data, so how will 512mb be enough for the vita, 16gb wasn’t even enough for the go. i never had this issue with my ps1 or ps2 and tonight i just bought a new copy of Duke Nukem and for what so my ps3 will tell me i cant play it because there’s not enough room on my ps3. what the hell is the point of having a f’ing blu-ray disc!?!?!?!?
Um…. I beat Arkham City on Thursday, completed all the riddler trophies and such. It was amazing!!
# I’m playing: Batman: Arkham City, Shadow of the Colossus, Ico
# I’m watching: The Walking Dead: Season 2, Dexter Season 6, Modern Family Season 3, Glee season3, Supernatural season 7, and One Piece (at eps 519)
#I’m reading: Darlkly Dreaming Dexter.
soooo… wait a second, the Vita will play Genesis games?
Payday: The Heist is AWESOME! You guys HAVE to try that game. It is so addicting and has ome of the best and probably THE best coop I’ve played at least since Uncharted 2. $20 sounds like a lot for a downloadable game, but trust me that is nothing compared to the content and gameplay value in the game. Better than most full retail fps games this year! I believe it is a 9/10, guys I’m telling you try out the demo!!!
Thanks for the recommendation!
I’ve been up all nite playing Dark Souls so I’m kind of groggy but could somebody translate to standard English whatever @ 3 said? Something about downloading game patches while in the XMB rather than launching the game?
Anybody?
Bueller?
@Sid, I went to LA U3 event. Even my nongaming buddy thought the tournament was exciting. And, wants a Vita, after seeing the Golden Abyss trailer. Even the Muggles are blown away by Vita.
LOL. Glad you could stop by! Was Arne down there? We went to the SF event on 10/18.
Playing: Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception multiplayer, Resistance 3, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Red Dead Redemption, Batman: Arkham City (at Game Stop, don’t have it yet)
Watching: Uncharted 3 launch tailer, Parks And Recreation via Netflix on my PS3
Reading: This blog of course, IGN, Joystiq, PSX Extreme, PSU, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire
Great week Sid. I’m looking forward to Arkham City, dug the beginning. Will get it at some point. However, Uncharted 3 will own all before it’s said and done. I simply cannot wait any longer. Just. One. More. Week. And a couple of days.
Batman has the best story of any game………ever!
It’s a great game. I can barely pry my fingers off it!
i played arkham city and it was so awesome pretty much smashed it in a day but it was an awesome story trying to get thru game + mode it makes it challenging!
SMALL BATMAN SPOILER!!!!!VVVVVVVVV
IF YOU HAVEN’T FINISHED ARKHAM CITY, DON’T READ MY COMMENT BELOW!! VVVVV
I don’t understand what people are saying about the story of arkham city, how is arkham asylum better? Arkham Asylums main plot- Joker using Titan
Arkham City’s main plot- Hugo strange being controlled by Raas Al Ghul, and Joker being slowly killed by his own decisions back in Asylum.
How is Asylum better than city?
Asylum had like 4 big villains in the main story mode, City has like a thousand.
SOLOMON GRUNDY, BORN ON A MONDEE, CHRISTENED ON A TUESDEEE, MARRIED ON A WEDNESDEE…
Sorry but the new one edges out the story of Asylum in my book.
So people are nuts.
Playing: Batman: Arkham City
Watching: Uncharted 3 Launch Trailer, Horrible Bosses.
Reading: Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
I wish to see more ”ps classics” on the store please,can you guys put star wars bounty haunter?
I think you’d need to talk to LucasArts about that!
I’m playing: Mafia 2, Dead Rising 2, Bulletstorm, inFamous 2
I’m watching: Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception Launch Trailer, Horrible Bosses, Hangover 2
I’m reading: The Lost Symbol, Angels & Demons, …
Looking forward to Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception which will be MORE THAN EPIC, Batman: Arkham City, Battlefield 3, AC: Revelations, Saints Row The Third, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. November will be the best month this year!
Why can’t we get any trailers for video games on PSN? Xbox and PC gets all of them? No Batman trailers! There is not even a trailer for the first AC game…
@ JoeTheBeast16 #32
People are saying that because they are either insane or Call of Duty and Uncharted fanboys, scarred that Batman will completely own game of the year.
they better offer some kind of pass for all dlc, don’t feel like getting ripped for all of it seperately.
the 1st 30 minutes, and everything after so far, i give it a 12 out of 10
Awsome !!! first Batman Arkham assylum then Arkham city now battlefield 3 then uncharted ( the best 2 game played cant wait for the 3rd one ) man this COOL !