For example, the new device finally includes dual analog sticks, something that has been sorely lacking for years in every iteration of the original PSP, and may be a problem in Nintendo’s new 3DS.  They are also sticks - not just nubs – and hopefully these should relieve the frustration many gamers experienced with the paltry one found in the current PSP. Sony has also finally bit the bullet and embraced touch technology.  The NGP will feature a capacitive touch screen (similar to an iPhone’s screen), as well as a touchpad on the back, which will presumably allow for touch-based controls that won’t interfere with your view of the screen.

The NGP also will have two built-in cameras (good-bye, bulky add-ons!), one facing outward, and one facing in, enabling various practical as well as in-game applications.  Like the iPhone and the 3DS, the NGP has built-in sensors for tilt and movement: A gyroscope, an accelerometer, and an electronic compass.  The device will also be WiFi capable, and have 3G, making it unique in that you can always have an Internet connection.  However, Sony hasn’t specified yet whether the device will require a contract and if a WiFi-only model will be available at a slightly lower cost.  Most likely we will learn more about this as the year goes on, since Sony has said the device won’t launch until the end of the year at the earliest.

Another thing achievement junkies will be pleased to hear: The NGP will be able to connect to PSN just like your PS3 does, and will support trophies at long last.  The device will also be partially backwards compatible, able to play PSP games, PS One titles, and Minis, provided these are digital in form, as the new device abandons the maligned UMD drive and discs in favour of flash-based media for retail games.

The NGP boasts power comparable to the PS3, and its OLED screen is supposedly better than anything else portable on the market. Reportedly, it blows the retina-display of Apple’s iPhone 4 out of the water with four times the resolution of the current PSP.  Over 80 publishers are supposedly on board and preparing games for the new device, although none have been revealed.  Along with the reveal of the NGP, Sony also revealed what they are calling the PlayStation Suite, which is sort of like an app store and will be available on Android devices to provide the “PlayStation experience” to various devices, including the yet-to-be-officially announced PSP Phone.  It isn’t clear whether these apps will be different from content normally found via PSN, and/or whether the PlayStation Suite will be available on the NGP.  Still, with the PS Suite presumably set to launch in tune with the NGP, it would seem that Sony has finally realized how much of a competitor Apple and its App Store really are.

Although no official price has yet been released, and probably won’t be for some time, some analysts are suggesting the device may have a list price of at least $299 US at launch due to the expensive equipment (such as the OLED screen, touch pad back, and more).  However, if Sony really has learned their lessons from the PSP Go, they’ll put the price at $250 US, making it a direct competition for Nintendo’s 3DS.

Personally, as much as I love my DSes (yes, I have several), right now Sony’s new device is looking much more appealing than Nintendo’s.  Of course, we have yet to hear pricing or any specific games, and we all know that games and the price are what sell systems, not fancy tech specs.

[Source: Sony North America Blog, Wired]

Currently, you can choose from the regular Sackboy, a Sackboy with his tongue hanging out, or a Tron-esque neon Sackboy. Each figure comes with a pop-up lasso and stickers.

Product specifications:

• A tiny and fun way to bring LittleBigPlanet into your real life.
• Three different figures: Sackboy Regular, Sackboy Tongue (aka: Happy Sackboy), and Neon.
• Multiple points of articulation, including a ball-jointed head.
• Pop-it Lasso is bendy for grabbing fun.
• Includes: Figure, Pop-it Lasso, and sticker sheet.
• Dimensions: 4″ tall (duh).

These are cute, and perfect for the LBP lover in your life.  It’s almost a shame they don’t offer a bundle option for those who want them all, or a set of snap-on clothing to customize your little Sackboy figure.

[Source: ThinkGeek.com]

Now, although you can download the client today, you won’t be able to participate in the beta until January 4, 2010. But look on the bright side: by downloading the client today, you can spend more time exploring what MAG has to offer come January. This final wave of the beta will close on January 10, 2010.

Further details can be found on the PlayStation Blog. Start downloading, soldier!

With Firmware 3.10 installed, PlayStation 3 owners can not only post status updates and view their friends’ news streams from the comfort of their couches, they can also enable their PS3 to instantly share which Trophies have been earned while playing games. Additionally, PS3 users will be able to share their PlayStation Store Purchase Log via their Facebook feed, keeping friends and family updated on their latest purchases, as well as in-game statistics and events. The Facebook integration also puts the PS3’s web browser to good use, allowing users to follow links shared by their friends.

“Launching Facebook for the PlayStation community is a natural fit for our goal of delivering unparalleled connected experiences – from connecting our community to each other to connecting our customers to great entertainment downloaded from the PlayStation Store,” said Susan Panico, Senior Director, PlayStation Network, SCEA. “As we pass the third anniversary of PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Network, we’re excited to deepen the social experiences of PlayStation Network and kick-off the first phase of our integration with Facebook.”

Firmware 3.10 will bring a few other goodies as well, including a re-design of the Friends List to make it less cumbersome, and a more simplified manner of viewing and displaying photos via the XMB. The update will enter circulation sometime today, and we can’t wait to put the new features to the test.

Our demo began in a spacious garage setting, with separate sections of the garage dedicated to each aspect of the game’s customization tools: character creation, car creation, and level creation. Wanting to establish an in-game identity before we moved on, our first order of business was to create a character, or Mod, to represent us.

When we navigated to the appropriate section of the garage, we were greeted by a white, featureless character awaiting our creative touch. The customization options were very extensive, allowing us to customize every article of clothing, facial feature, and colour, so our demo operator chose to generate a random Mod for a little inspiration. After letting the system generate a few random Mods, which were truly random, resulting in some hideous but hilarious characters, we stumbled across one that brought a smile to our faces: a purple monkey-like character wearing red chaps and a top hat. Classy! He was a good start, but he needed a little more work. We added a tuxedo jacket to go along with his chaps, and changed his eyes to make him appear a little crazier. We then decided to change his ears, and after determining their size and placing them, they immediately adopted the exact shade of purple found on the rest of his body. As our demo operator pointed out, this was just a small example of ModNation Racers doing the work for you, a goal that the designers set out to accomplish right from the start.

With our Mod created, it was time to give him some wheels. Heading over to the car shop, we were given another blank canvas in the shape of a car. After previewing some of the car customization options, which included everything from tires, to steering wheels, to engines and seats, we once again opted for a random creation. After a few spins of the wheel of fate, we were given a large, white muscle car with a lawn chair for a seat and a pizza box for a steering wheel. This somehow seemed appropriate for our little simian friend, so we decided to keep it. However, after noting that some of the randomly generated cars had radically different body sizes, ranging from vans to Formula 1 racing cars, we inquired about our vehicle’s attributes. We were very pleased to learn that all cars in ModNation Racers, despite their appearance, are equal. This enables all audiences to compete on the same level, allowing casual and hardcore gamers alike to participate in the same races. And speaking of races, it was time to create one.

We hopped over to the track editor and were welcomed by a large, flat, and grassy landscape. Wanting something a little more rugged, we changed the landscape to a desert motif instead. We quickly familiarized ourselves with the tools, and were soon making all manner of natural rock and land formations, each of which were automatically textured as we sculpted them. Once again, ModNation Racers doing the work for you. After we were pleased with the layout of our landscape, we decided it was time to put a track on it. We selected the track-laying tool, and our Mod and his car appeared on the landscape, waiting for us to drive around. As we drove, the track was laid down behind us, making the process of creating a track as simple as driving. We were able to add hills to our track in two different ways, by driving over the hills we had already created in our landscape, or by pulling back on the analog stick, prompting our Mod to leave the ground as he drove. Once we were satisfied with the layout, we pressed and held the triangle button, which automatically guided the remainder of the track back to our starting segment. It was all so simple, and took only a matter of minutes to complete.

As soon as the track was completed, several AI racers were automatically placed on the road, driving around as though a real race was in progress. This enabled us to observe how the AI read and navigated our track, which was quite exciting to watch. While the AI racers made their laps, we decided to give them a little eye candy. We selected some prefabricated decorations, such as shops and houses, and using the track-side decorations tool, were placed alongside the track with very little difficulty. Furthermore, each house and shop that we placed was randomized to appear different from the rest, preventing the scenery from looking too repetitive. All too easy!

With the track looking like a professional design, we felt that it was time to add some gameplay elements. Much like other games in the kart racing genre, ModNation Racers features a multitude of power-ups that can be found in item boxes, as well as other genre staples such as boost pads and on-track obstacles. Placing these, like everything else in the game, was both intuitive and easy. For instance, as we placed boost pads, they conformed to the direction of the road, ensuring that any driver that hit them would accelerate in the proper direction. However, if you want to be devious, you can opt to set the direction manually instead.

Eager to put our creation to the test, we got behind the pizza box wheel of our roaring muscle car and immediately began a race. The track looked beautiful as we made our laps, and one could barely tell that it was created in a matter of minutes using the tools provided. Everything looked so professional and unique, but best of all, it was fun to play. The actual kart racing felt similar to most games in the genre, with exaggerated but fun physics and tight controls, while the power-ups and boost meter bring a strategic element to each race. Online races will be available for up to twelve players, and local play can support up to four players via split screen.

Most kart racing games are defined by their characters and their tracks, and ModNation Racers will offer a limitless supply of both. With the ability to share Mods and tracks built directly into the core of the game, new fan favourites could surface every day. That said, the success of ModNation Racers will ultimately be determined by the community that embraces it, but with tools that are intuitive and easy to use, and gameplay that is both fun and engaging, United Front Games have given it a fantastic head start.

Join us later this week for an interview with lead designer of ModNation Racers, William Ho.

However, several exclusive blockbuster titles, such as God of War III, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Heavy Rain, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time, and ModNation Racers were. The event also featured a very strong third-party presence, with Tekken 6, Army of Two: The 40th Day, The Saboteur, Assassin’s Creed II, Lego Rock Band, Band Hero, and more being playable on the show floor. With a line-up that strong, even Cobra Commander couldn’t help but come out of hiding to have a little fun (and drink some Sprite).

As usual, you can count on GameNorth to provide you with in-depth hands-on previews and impressions of the games present at the show, as well as an interview or two with some of the developers. In the meantime, however, we leave you with the sights of the PlayStation Holiday Preview Event, held in the beautiful Burroughes Building on Toronto’s Queen Street West.

Enjoy!

Set to land more gracefully on store shelves on September 1, the PlayStation 3 Slim model features a much more streamlined form factor, making it roughly 33% smaller than the original PlayStation 3, with a 120GB hard disk drive, and a very enticing price point of $299. And yes, that’s Canadian dollars, folks. Furthermore, existing PlayStation 3 models, known now as The Fatties, will see a price reduction as well. The 80GB fatty is forthwith available for $299 Canadian, and the 160GB model is available for $399 Canadian. But why spend money on those, when a little patience will earn you an unforgettable evening with a younger, slimmer model? Unfortunately, one thing that the PlayStation Slim model still lacks is the true backwards compatibility found in the early 60GB fatties.

With some blockbuster titles lined up for this Fall, such as Uncharted 2 and Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time, this new model and price drop could result in a banner year for Sony’s black box. With a well-established and growing library of great games, built-in Blu-ray disc playback, and a free online service, there has never been a more attractive time to grab a PlayStation 3.

“What excited me most about the game was it was the first of which I’ve come across that had a big idea and a character arc,” Turner said. “It is, I believe, the future of gaming. The game, while big and fun, is at its core a love ballad to the underachiever, which is what our hero, Cole McGrath, is.”

The story in inFAMOUS, developed by Sucker Punch, and the nature of the protagonist’s powers could make for an exciting film, but there are a lot of elements that I’d like to see left out of the movie, namely Cole’s friend Zeke – the most annoying character ever – and the terrible dialogue. If Turner can improve on those aspects of the source material and present a mature experience, we could have a winner.

Could we see a level designed to emulate the X-Men’s Danger Room? What about a battle with a giant Sackboy Sentinel? So many possibilities! Though the inclusion of Wolverine is awesome, the Canadian comic nerd in me would also like to see some Alpha Flight representation. Give us Guardian, Vindicator, and maybe even Northstar! Just don’t give us Puck!

This collaboration is still in the early stages, so it is likely that we won’t see this content until later this year, or sometime in 2010.

In addition, Sony revealed that they will be offering four different pre-order items through four different retailers, making the act of purchasing the game as annoying as possible. And seeing as how each item is digital in nature, it’s not like they all couldn’t fit in one box.

Best Buy pre-orders will award players with golden guns for multiplayer, similar to those found in Gears of War 2. Amazon gets an in-game Treasure Map item that allows players to discover hidden treasures throughout the game. Game Crazy gets a currency multiplier item that allows players to accumulate money faster in multiplayer. Lastly, GameStop and EB Games will award players with early access to the multiplayer demo.

Personally, I like maps, so I feel obligated to pre-order the game via Amazon, but it really sucks that I won’t have access to the other three items.

Does anyone think this is a good idea? And if so, I’d like to hear why.

WipEout HD – $14.99 (originally $19.99)
Flock! – $7.49 (originally $14.99)
Savage Moon – $4.99 (originally $9.99)
Crash Commando – $4.99 (originally $9.99)
PixelJunk Eden – $4.99 (originally $9.99)
Brain Challenge – $4.99 (originally $9.99)
3 on 3 NHL Arcade – $4.99 (originally $9.99)

Once again, the sale will only last until next week’s update, so if you’ve had your eye on one of these titles and have been waiting for the price to drop, be sure to grab it before it’s too late. I think I’m finally going to grab a copy of WipEout HD, but I wish its sale price was just a little more generous.

Also arriving on the PlayStation Store this week is Namco Museum Essentials, bringing five classic Namco arcade titles – Pac-Man, Galaga, Dig Dug, Dragon Spirit, and a visually enhanced version of Xevious – straight into your living room. Complete with PlayStation Home rewards and trophies, Namco Museum Essentials is a great way to play the 80’s.

Additional downloads include:

PSone Classics PS3 / PSP

Spec Ops: Ranger Elite ($5.99)
Immerse yourself in one of the first realistic military tactical combat simulators to be released. Choose your two-man team from a squad of five highly trained specialists: machine gunner, grenadier, rifleman, close quarters specialist, and sniper. Choose to complete your mission through stealth or all-out assault as you’re in control of an elite team of U.S. Army Rangers.

Game Demos

Trash Panic Demo
FUEL Demo
Namco Museum Essentials Trial

Add-on Game Content

LittleBigPlanet – Ghostbusters Costume Pack ($5.99)
LittleBigPlanet – Ghostbusters Uniform Costume ($1.99)
LittleBigPlanet – Ghostbusters StayPuft Marshmallow Man Costume ($1.99)
LittleBigPlanet – Ghostbusters Slimer Costume ($1.99)
LittleBigPlanet – “No Ghosts” Logo Costume ($1.99)

Cross Edge – Bromidic Pack (free)
Cross Edge – Defense Is Offense Pack 1 (free)
Cross Edge – Defense Is Offense Pack 2 (free)

Dynasty Warriors 6 Empires – Desert Armor Set (Men) DLC (free)
Dynasty Warriors 6 Empires – Lion Armor Set (Men) DLC (free)
Dynasty Warriors 6 Empires – Paladin Armor Set (Women) (free)
Dynasty Warriors 6 Empires – Shaman Armor Set (Women) (free)

NCAA Football 2010 – Add-Ons (x17) ($1.25 – $12.50)

Guitar Hero World Tour
Anything ‘Cept The Truth – Eagles of Death Metal ($1.99)
Cherry Cola – Eagles of Death Metal ($1.99)
I Only Want You – Eagles of Death Metal ($1.99)
Eagles of Death Metal Track Pack ($5.49)

Rock Band
Dissident Aggressor (Live) – Judas Priest ($1.99)
Eat Me Alive (Live) – Judas Priest ($1.99)
Prophecy (Live) – Judas Priest ($1.99)
Judas Priest Pack 01 ($5.49)

Hang You from the Heavens – The Dead Weather ($1.99)
No Hassle Night – The Dead Weather ($1.99)
Treat Me Like Your Mother – The Dead Weather ($1.99)
The Dead Weather Pack 01 ($5.49)

All Going Out Together – Big Dipper ($0.99)
She’s Fetching – Big Dipper ($0.99)
Younger Bums – Big Dipper ($0.99)
Big Dipper Pack 01 ($2.99)

Other releases on the PlayStation Network this week include Qore Episode 14. This month’s episode of Sony’s high-definition interactive video production takes subscribers into the dark and dangerous world of Assassin’s Creed 2.

And with our Canada Day celebrations behind us, it’s time for our southern neighbours to celebrate their Independence Day. To help them celebrate, the cool cats at Media Molecule have released a free Statue of Liberty costume add-on for LittleBigPlanet.

Further downloadable content includes:

High Velocity Bowling Ball Pack 6 – 4th of July Americana ($0.99)
High Velocity Bowling Ball Pack 7 – Route 66 Americana ($0.99)

MotorStorm Pacific Rift – Monarch Signature Livery Pack (free)
MotorStorm Pacific Rift – Speed Expansion ($9.99)

Cross Edge – Safety Pack (free)
Cross Edge – Additional Dungeon 2 (free)
Cross Edge – New Costume Set 1 ($3.99)

Quantum of Solace: The Game – 007 Camille Map Pack ($4.99)

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 – The Predator ($7.50)

Guitar Hero World Tour
21st Century (Digital Boy) – Bad Religion ($1.99)
Linoleum – NOFX ($1.99)
Ruby Soho - by Rancid ($1.99)
Epitaph Punk-O-Rama Track Pack ($5.49)

Rock Band
Blue Morning, Blue Day – Foreigner ($1.99)
Feels Like the First Time – Foreigner ($1.99)
Headknocker – Foreigner ($1.99)
Foreigner Pack 01 ($5.49)
Image of the Invisible – Thrice ($1.99)
Sweet Talk – Dear and the Headlights ($1.99)
Warped Tour 2009 Pack 02 ($5.49)Wears Prada, and “Image of the Invisible” by Thrice.
Weapon of Choice – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club ($1.99)

PS3 Themes
Anime MBM 4 PS3 ($1.49)
Farmer’s Daughter PS3 Theme ($1.99)
Ink Skulls PS3 Theme ($1.49)
Sniper Girls PS3 Theme ($1.49)

This week only sees one game demo land on the service, but it was home-grown right here in Canada. Developed by the boys at Blue Castle Games, PlayStation 3 owners can get a taste of the BIG leagues with a demo for The BIGS 2

And as per usual, a host of downloadable add-on content will be made available this week. For those that have some cash burning a hole in their pocket, here’s the full list of available DLC:

High Velocity Bowling – 60’s Surf Ball Pack ($0.99)
High Velocity Bowling – Tiki Polynesian Ball Pack ($0.99)

LittleBigPlanet – Summer Solstice Costume (free)
LittleBigPlanet – Artists Sitcker Pack – Jon Burgerman ($1.99)

MotorStorm Pacific Rift Wombat Signature Livery Pack (free)

Cross Edge – Mystery Synth Pack (free)
Cross Edge – Mighty Rare Pack (free)
Cross Edge – Additional Dungeon 1 (free)

Disgaea 3: Absence Of Justice – Class World Command Attack Mode ($3.99)

Cuboid – Bundle Pack ($4.99)
Cuboid – Level Editor ($3.99)
Cuboid – Booster Pack ($2.99)

Guitar Hero World Tour
Chalk Dust Torture (Live) – Phish ($1.99)
Down With Disease (Live) – Phish ($1.99)
Sample In A Jar (Live) – Phish ($1.99)
Phish Live Track Pack ($5.49)

Rock Band
Little of Your Time — Maroon 5 ($1.99)
Makes Me Wonder — Maroon 5 ($1.99)
Wake Up Call — Maroon 5 ($1.99)
Maroon 5 Pack 1 ($5.49)
21st Century (Digital Boy) — Bad Religion ($1.99)
The Downfall of Us All — A Day to Remember ($1.99)
The Flood — Escape the Fate ($1.99)
I Didn’t Say I Was Powerful, I Said I Was a Wizard — Chiodos ($1.99)
Reinventing Your Exit — Underoath ($1.99)
Warped Tour 2009 Pack 1 ($8.49)
Alive — Pearl Jam ($1.99)
Brother — Pearl Jam ($1.99)
State of Love and Trust — Pearl Jam ($1.99)
Pearl Jam Ten Bonus Pack ($5.49)

Perhaps this will finally convince SquareEnix to produce that next-generation remake that all the kids have been clamouring for.

It would be a lot more helpful if Sony actually told us how many people played the game instead of how many people registered. But still, getting 3 million people to fill out some forms and click some buttons is quite an achievement.

Free Realms features 15 jobs and a Trading Card Game (TCG). I haven’t played Free Realms (I already have too many jobs), but I do love me some TCGs! Anyone have any idea if it’s good?

Here’s a full list of what’s available this week:

Downloadable Games

Heavy Weapon – $9.99
Gunstar Heroes – $4.99
Bomberman ULTRA – $9.99

Add-on Game Content

Killzone 2 Flash & Thunder Pack – $5.99
LittleBigPlanet ICO Costume Pack – $5.99
LittleBigPlanet Gaius costume – $1.99
LittleBigPlanet Quadratus costume – $1.99
LittleBigPlanet Ico costume – $1.99
LittleBigPlanet Wander costume – $1.99
LittleBigPlanet Yorda costume – $1.99
MotorStorm Atlas Signature Livery Pack – free
Burnout Paradise Big Surf Island – $12.99
Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 2 – $9.99

Players can switch between five different character classes at the drop of a hat – quite literally. Each fortress includes machines that produce character class hats, and players may swap hats on a whim in order to adopt a new class. Character classes include The Ranger, The Worker, The Priest, The Mage and The Warrior, each of which provide their own unique abilities. Only with an efficient assortment of hats and a whole lot of co-operation will players be able to rescue their princess and prove victorious!

Click here to watch the video

The controller consists of a wand with a glowing orb at the end and a camera that tracks the movement of that orb. Movements in all three dimensions can be tracked, and every movement is translated on screen with pinpoint precision.

In the demo that we were shown, a representative from Sony demonstrated how the wand could be digitally replaced by any manner of item on screen. To illustrate this, the camera displayed the demonstrator himself on screen holding a digital tennis racket in his hand. When he swung his arms around, the image on screen replicated his movements and the tennis racket accurately emulated the movements of the glowing wand. A tennis ball was conjured before him, and the demonstrator swung at it a few times with his racket, eventually sending it off into the distance. Using the angle and speed of his swing, the PlayStation motion controller software was able to create a realistic trajectory for the flight of the ball.

Further demonstrations involved the use of a sword to attack a skeletal training dummy. Like the ball, the dummy reacted realistically to the blows it was dealt, using the speed and angle of the demonstrators swing to determine the appropriate physics. Then the demonstrator grabbed a second wand and loaded a bow and arrow demonstration. One wand represented the bow in the digital world while the other represented the arrow. Nocking the arrow as a real archer would, the demonstrator pulled back with the arrow wand to increase the tension while the bow wand was used to aim. Pressing a button found on the arrow wand allowed him to release the arrow, sending it into the chest of an approaching skeleton warrior.

Eager to show off the many applications for game design, the Sony representative loaded a first-person shooter program. The wand in his hand transformed into a golden pistol, and once again using the button on the wand he was able to fire bullets around the environment. Then it got really interesting. The demonstrator took a few steps backwards and his first-person perspective moved accordingly. Because the camera is able to track the movements of the wand in all three dimensions, it knew that the demonstrator had stepped away from it. This level of implementation will make it possible for developers to create first-person environments in which players will realistically move. If only my living room was large enough to encompass their imagination.

Motion controls are changing the industry. Originally designed to bridge the gap between the casual and the hardcore – a bridge that many hardcore gamers believe should never have been built – motion controls may threaten to eliminate the hardcore entirely. But what if someone could design a motion control system that both demographics would accept? The gap would disappear and no bridge would need be built. It seems like an impossible conclusion, but with the entire industry shifting focus toward the motion control phenomenon, it may be coming sooner than you think.

Each stage acts as a flow simulation in which players will attempt to control various types of liquid and solid matter. Is there a waterfall of molten lava blocking access to the next survivor? Reroute the lava flow to another area by destroying the earth beneath it. But be careful, that lava may travel to another area and make spelunker soup out of some other unsuspecting survivors.

Due in Fall of 2009 for the PlayStation Network, PixelJunk Shooter is the fourth game in Q-Games’ successful PixelJunk series. Combining simple and addictive gameplay with equally simple and addictive graphics, PixelJunk Shooter looks to live up to the standard set by its predecessors.

Click here to watch the video

With the dynamically evolving storytelling mechanics of Heavy Rain, the next victim could be you.

Click here to watch the video

To further reveal the gameplay enhancements found Rachet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time, Insomniac Games have sent us this walkthrough video. Guided by Creative Director Brian Allgeier, the video gives us a glimpse of the new characters, new weapons, and new locales found in the game.

Click here to watch the video

The colours are rich and vibrant, the environment and character details are staggering, and the animations and facial expressions are unbelievably life-like. The best part? It’s all real-time.

Actually, the best part is the return of my beloved Elena Fisher, but that may just be me. Thanks, Naughty Dog!

Click here to watch the video

From what was shown, the last chapter of the prestigious God of War series didn’t look to have anything really new to offer besides moves, weapons, and enemies. The same Active Time Events, brutality, huge bosses, mythical enemies, and wonderful, saucy action. One neat thing that happened was that the start menu melded seamlessly into gameplay.

Oh, and those poor, poor bird creatures. We haven’t received the trailer from E3 yet, but we’ll be sure to post it when we do.

Players can customize their own characters, build their own karts, and design their own race tracks. The characters themselves – called Mods – resemble super-stylized versions of vinyl figures and can be fully customized from head to toe. The karts are just as customizable, allowing players to apply custom decals and paint jobs to match the attitude of their Mod. But the most impressive aspect of ModNation Racers is the track design functionality.

Players are given simple and accessible tools to create any track that they can dream up. Like LittleBigPlanet before it, all of the creation tools used to create the in-game tracks will ship with ModNation Racers. The best part? The tools are so simple and intuitive that a professional-looking and fun track can be designed in mere minutes. Players can add hairpin turns, rickety old bridges, create hills, and add other elements to the race track on a whim.

And it wouldn’t be a Play, Create, Share game if you couldn’t share all of your creations with the community. Players will be able to share their Mod character designs, their customized karts, and their twisting tracks with the rest of the world via the PlayStation Network.

Best of all? ModNation Racers looks like a blast to play. With plenty of items and weapons to pick up while blazing around the track, coupled with the limitless potential for new content and online multiplayer, ModNation Racers quickly raced to front of my most anticipated games list.

ModNation Racers launches in 2010, and I’ll be waiting at pole position.

Microsoft will inaugurate the event on Monday morning with their annual E3 press conference. Electronic Arts and Ubisoft will follow with their own press conferences throughout Monday afternoon, and Nintendo and Sony will take their turns on Tuesday.

The industry is buzzing with announcement rumours for this year’s show, and our contacts lead us to believe that there are plenty of surprises in store for us. Stay tuned to GameNorth for the latest in news, previews and announcements from the show. But in the meantime, Timmy’s Run!

The press conference schedule:

Microsoft
Monday, June 1st
10:30am PST / 1:30pm EST

Electronic Arts
Monday, June 1st
2pm PST / 5pm EST

Ubisoft
Monday, June 1st
5pm PST / 8pm EST

Nintendo
Tuesday, June 2nd
9am PST / 12pm EST

Sony
Tuesday, June 2nd
11am PST / 2pm EST