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Third-party publisher Konami jump-started its Gamescom showing in Cologne, Germany with an official press conference to make announcements and spotlight some software. The company's conference began with an assortment of video footage displaying various console and handheld software and it took the next 45 minutes to go over six key games across a range of platforms, including the next major installment in the Castlevania franchise.
The first of the six games shown on video was Tower of Shadow for Wii. The title, boasting a very stylized look, follows a main character's shadow through a platforming, puzzle-filled universe. It will debut in spring of 2010.
The next game, for iPhone and iPod Touch, was Krazy Kart Racing. The game is a fast-paced racer for Apple's handheld. You can use either touch-screen or accelerometer-based controls depending on your preference. "One of the true innovations this year is the way we managed camera balancing. We have dynamic camera balancing," the game's lead producer, Axel de Rouge, said. Krazy Kart Racing will also support six-player online multiplayer. He then showed a brief trailer for the game, which looked a lot like a Mario Kart clone compete with over-the-top levels, zany racers and a wide assortment of power-ups. The title will be available in the next couple weeks on the App Store.
The third game was Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, a game we've previewed extensively previously -- and will, by the time you read this, have more full-level walkthrough footage showcasing the title's unique psych profile feature. At its press conference, Konami displayed a slightly modified Silent Hill trailer (from the previous E3 one), in which most of the sam sequences returned, but a few new characters and dialog sequences were interspersed as proof that the decisions you make really do change the game.
Konami then welcomed Hideo Kojima to the stage. He said, "I am very proud to be here in Cologne and to take part in the first ever Gamescom. What I want to introduce to everyone today is Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker on the PSP. Peace Walker will be a true sequel in the Metal Gear saga." Kojima said he will not only produce, but work on game design and direct the title. He chose the platform for the sequel because games today are fully portable, he said.
Kojima showed a new trailer for Peace Walker and debuted a first glimpse of the title's four-player cooperative mode. "In reality, special forces never do their missions alone. They work together in teams. So if you would, I want you to imagine how different this will be when compared to ordinary stealth games," Kojima said.
Peace Walker footage showed Snake running through a battlefield, dodging gunfire and also a barrage of missiles from a jet. He rolls, dives and sprints to safety, but is eventually taken down by the enemy forces. That's when another Snake comes to his aide, gives him medical aid, and revives him. The second Snake helps the first to his feet. Later, the two can be seen working together in actual gameplay scenarios. If one Snake nears another, players can choose to "snake" around together -- the second character will follow the first in perfect unison. In another scene, one Snake conjures his trademark hiding spot, a cardboard box, and the other hides behind him. Afterward, both hide in the box. And a little later still, the trailer shows a scene in which Snake is covering the front and another the rear as the two of them work in perfect harmony.
"More will be debuted at Tokyo Game Show, so I hope you will look forward to it,' said Kojima.
Konami's famous director then introduced Dave Cox, producer of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. "A few months ago at the E3 show, we introduced a new Castlevania for Xbox 360 and PS3. Today we want to part the curtain a little bit more and reveal some new things about the game," he said. Cox continued that this new game needed to be accessible to everyone; sport very high production standards; and it had to honor what had come before, "but not be a slave to it." According to the producer, the title exists on its own and as such players will not need to have played any other version of Castlevania to understand it. Lords of Shadow will of course feature some trademarks of the franchise, like using the classic whip and fighting vampires and werewolves. At the same time, the project will deliver something new.
"I can assure you we are being very respectable of what has gone before. Without giving anything away, this game is a true love letter to the classic Castlevania games that i grew up with," said Cox and debuted a new, extended trailer.
Patrick Stewart provides voiceover for the storyline. "What motivates a man to confront the challenges that most of us would run from? It is written that a pure-hearted warrior will claim the power of the Lords of Shadow as his own." The game follows Gabriel on a quest for redemption. He can be seen swinging through environments with his whip, battling a giant monstrosity in the sow, platforming Prince of Persia style, squaring off against a huge spider, and generally beating the hell out of enemies. The game looks fantastic and the narrative seems intriguing.
Konami next introduced Pro Evolution Soccer 2010. Shingo 'Seabass' Takatsuka, producer, PES Productions at Konami, chatted about the latest improvements to the acclaimed soccer (or football, if you're European) series. "I think some of you played the demo version of PES 2010 back in June. Some of your important comments are implemented when we made the final adjustments and even added some new things in the game. We received so many requests about new moves for players that we added about 300 movements," he said. "We also heard many requests about the keepers and we did manage to implement these as well." Players can now move in all directions -- not just eight, he added. He then demoed a trailer representing the PS3, PC and Xbox 360 versions of the game. PES 2010 for Wii will be released in Europe on November 19; on PS2 and PSP on November 5; and on PS3, 360 and PC on October 22.
With that, Konami's press conference concluded.
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The first of the six games shown on video was Tower of Shadow for Wii. The title, boasting a very stylized look, follows a main character's shadow through a platforming, puzzle-filled universe. It will debut in spring of 2010.
The next game, for iPhone and iPod Touch, was Krazy Kart Racing. The game is a fast-paced racer for Apple's handheld. You can use either touch-screen or accelerometer-based controls depending on your preference. "One of the true innovations this year is the way we managed camera balancing. We have dynamic camera balancing," the game's lead producer, Axel de Rouge, said. Krazy Kart Racing will also support six-player online multiplayer. He then showed a brief trailer for the game, which looked a lot like a Mario Kart clone compete with over-the-top levels, zany racers and a wide assortment of power-ups. The title will be available in the next couple weeks on the App Store.
The third game was Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, a game we've previewed extensively previously -- and will, by the time you read this, have more full-level walkthrough footage showcasing the title's unique psych profile feature. At its press conference, Konami displayed a slightly modified Silent Hill trailer (from the previous E3 one), in which most of the sam sequences returned, but a few new characters and dialog sequences were interspersed as proof that the decisions you make really do change the game.
Konami then welcomed Hideo Kojima to the stage. He said, "I am very proud to be here in Cologne and to take part in the first ever Gamescom. What I want to introduce to everyone today is Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker on the PSP. Peace Walker will be a true sequel in the Metal Gear saga." Kojima said he will not only produce, but work on game design and direct the title. He chose the platform for the sequel because games today are fully portable, he said.
Kojima showed a new trailer for Peace Walker and debuted a first glimpse of the title's four-player cooperative mode. "In reality, special forces never do their missions alone. They work together in teams. So if you would, I want you to imagine how different this will be when compared to ordinary stealth games," Kojima said.
Peace Walker footage showed Snake running through a battlefield, dodging gunfire and also a barrage of missiles from a jet. He rolls, dives and sprints to safety, but is eventually taken down by the enemy forces. That's when another Snake comes to his aide, gives him medical aid, and revives him. The second Snake helps the first to his feet. Later, the two can be seen working together in actual gameplay scenarios. If one Snake nears another, players can choose to "snake" around together -- the second character will follow the first in perfect unison. In another scene, one Snake conjures his trademark hiding spot, a cardboard box, and the other hides behind him. Afterward, both hide in the box. And a little later still, the trailer shows a scene in which Snake is covering the front and another the rear as the two of them work in perfect harmony.
"More will be debuted at Tokyo Game Show, so I hope you will look forward to it,' said Kojima.
Konami's famous director then introduced Dave Cox, producer of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. "A few months ago at the E3 show, we introduced a new Castlevania for Xbox 360 and PS3. Today we want to part the curtain a little bit more and reveal some new things about the game," he said. Cox continued that this new game needed to be accessible to everyone; sport very high production standards; and it had to honor what had come before, "but not be a slave to it." According to the producer, the title exists on its own and as such players will not need to have played any other version of Castlevania to understand it. Lords of Shadow will of course feature some trademarks of the franchise, like using the classic whip and fighting vampires and werewolves. At the same time, the project will deliver something new.
"I can assure you we are being very respectable of what has gone before. Without giving anything away, this game is a true love letter to the classic Castlevania games that i grew up with," said Cox and debuted a new, extended trailer.
Patrick Stewart provides voiceover for the storyline. "What motivates a man to confront the challenges that most of us would run from? It is written that a pure-hearted warrior will claim the power of the Lords of Shadow as his own." The game follows Gabriel on a quest for redemption. He can be seen swinging through environments with his whip, battling a giant monstrosity in the sow, platforming Prince of Persia style, squaring off against a huge spider, and generally beating the hell out of enemies. The game looks fantastic and the narrative seems intriguing.
Konami next introduced Pro Evolution Soccer 2010. Shingo 'Seabass' Takatsuka, producer, PES Productions at Konami, chatted about the latest improvements to the acclaimed soccer (or football, if you're European) series. "I think some of you played the demo version of PES 2010 back in June. Some of your important comments are implemented when we made the final adjustments and even added some new things in the game. We received so many requests about new moves for players that we added about 300 movements," he said. "We also heard many requests about the keepers and we did manage to implement these as well." Players can now move in all directions -- not just eight, he added. He then demoed a trailer representing the PS3, PC and Xbox 360 versions of the game. PES 2010 for Wii will be released in Europe on November 19; on PS2 and PSP on November 5; and on PS3, 360 and PC on October 22.
With that, Konami's press conference concluded.
source