Cool Your Jets

Saber Interactive has released a highly adrenalized trailer for its upcoming racing sequel Redout II. The anti-gravity jet streamer is currently in development for PC and console platforms, is shooting for a 2022 release, and �as?? you can see in the video below �is looking suitably flashy.

Redout II, described by developer 34BigThings as "the future of racing" will offer up a selection of 12 distinct chassis, ready and waiting for the player's customization skills. Build the finest-looking racer in cyberspace, and then blast through 36 equally dazzling courses. The anti-g action will reach eye-popping speeds of over 1,000?? km/h and is soundtracked by a dynamic score that features a party of legendary electro artists including Gior?gio Moroder, Zardonic, and Dance with the Dead.

//youtu.be/2NEw3AktR4s

The hi-octane sequel will feature an array of single-player modes including standa??rd races, time attack modes, boss races, and even a Last Man Standing option, fleshed out with a full single-player campaign. When you're finally ready to test your mettle against the rest of the world, then various multiplayer modes await, supporting up to 12 players on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. These modes will be refreshed with seasonal content and other limited-time events post-launch, with players battling it out for exclusive in-game rewards.

Finally, for the devoted, a Photo Mode will allow players to capture each and every one of their glory moments, while Redout II's intricate calibration system will offer up options to tweak the overall acceleration, steering, strafing, and drifting of the game's engine, fine-tuning the entire game to the skills of both first-timers and veterans. Overall, Redout II is looking incredibly sharp at this stage of development, and well worth a spot on the radar for any F-Zero/WipEout fans out there.

Redout II is currently i??n development for PlayStation, PC, Xbox, an?d Nintendo Switch.

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It's a racing management game for mobile

Long-time WipEout fans are going to want to keep clinging to the excellent WipEout Omega Collection on PS4, but if you're open to something different �and I mean very, very different �there's a new (Sony-licensed) mobile game in the works at developer Amuzo and publisher Rogue Games. WipEout Rush is coming to iOS and Android.

The futuristic racing world is still present, but it's an altogether different experience.

//youtu.be/7WbpDbAFC2Y

Case in point, WipEout Rush pitches itself as an "intense marriage of merge, idle, and? card collection," where you're managing the r?aces in a single-player campaign with 12 cups.

The most interesting facet, to me anyway, is the character-driven approach with animated comics. But maybe that's me just feeling wistful about the dormant F-Zero series.

According to the summary, the main aim is to "tune and upgrade ships and weapons for each individual race," then "experiment with ships and tracks to find the winning combination." As for the soundtrack, expect electronica from Alastair Lindsay.

Like I said, this is all pretty unexpected. Whenever a company comes out with a mobile adaptation of a tried-and-true game (or especially game series) that essentially switches genres or makes big changes to accommodate the platform, there's going to be friction. I don't think WipEout Rush will be for me, and that's fine. I just wish it were a companion release, rather than the only thing for WipEout fans to look forward to at the moment.

A new full-fledged WipEout with PS5 VR support would be ??fantastic. Just saying.

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Because those are mutally exclusive

At long last, Sony has delivered a solid month for PlayStation Plus subscribers. After last month's kerfuffle with removing PES 2019 for the "classic" that is Detroit: Become Human, there really isn't much reason to complain about August's options. Both Sniper Elite 4 and Wipeout Omega Collection are worth playing and should occupy even the most discerni?ng of players.

While I don't see the common thread here, you're bound to get some fun out of either title. The current selection will be removed after August 5, so you still have another week to grab last month's options. I'd say don't miss out on Detroit, but I don't want to lie to anyone.

Dominate the racetrack? or decimate the enemy with Au?gust's lineup [PlayStation Blog]

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Wipin' out, Wipeout, Wipin out, Wipeout...

Publisher Wired Productions has dropped a cool new feature onto light-speed racing title GRIP. The free update, which is live today on PS4, PC and Xbox One, adds?? a range of slick anti-gravity vehicles, or "AirBlades" to the game's garage.

Immediately leaping on the obvious similarities between GRIP and two popular PS1 racing franchises, Wired Productions Managing Director Leo Zullo noted "I’m pretty sure if WipeOut and Rollcage hooked up, this is the baby they’d pop out. It’s beyond?? exciting to finally be able to reveal AirBlades, as we see? it as a true game changer."

Players are now able to take to the starting line in either Rollers or AirBlades, racing for the finish line while unleashing mayhem along the way. The update also includes several new tracks, though the AirBlades are retroactively compatible with every course in GRIP to date.

GRIP: Combat Racing is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One. A Ni??ntendo Switc??h port is currently in development and is expected to launch toward the end of May.

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Currently in Early Access

Since mid-2017 a game called Formula Fusion has been running in Early Access on Steam, delighting fans of Wipeout throughout its growth proce?ss. But they'??re finally nearing the finish line as the game is now set for a PC/PS4/Xbox One release later this year and even got a new name change to boot.

The project is now called "Pacer,"? and is gearing up for a launch "later this year/summer." In the end it'll have 14 tracks to choose from, five racers, 10 weapons and several custom loadouts. The visuals are going to be greatly updated for the day one proper launch, with an alleged 140FPS (maxing out at 200) for a 1070 GPU. There's also an eight track original soundtrack, coupled with licensed tracks. Hosted servers, ranked play, leaderboards and a "unique race mode for single and multiplayer" are confirmed.

Even in Early Access the reception for Formula Fusion has been positive, so this Pacer launch should raise the bar a bit. Given that the last Wipeout release was the Omega Collection remaster in 2017 (and Studio Liverpool is dead), this is great news for those of you looking for futuristic racers (Fast Racing Neo comes to mind in terms of recent releases, as well as Xenon Racer.

Big News [Steam]

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Anti-gravity action

Futuristic racers like Wipeout and F-Zero are few and far between these days. Although recently got a sweet Wipeout collection, but I won't hold my breath on a new F-Zero, so it's always nice to see smaller studios de?velop som??ething in the vein of these anti-gravity racers.

Antigraviator from Cybernetic Walrus is, at a glance, a modern take on these classic titles, which sees ??players pilot a futuristic racer in the year 2210. I dropped in on publisher Iceberg Interactive's booth at PAX East to try a few races against the game's developers.  

The most important detail for any racer that looks to Wipeout for inspiration is getting that sensation of genuine speed to feel just right, which is fortunately something that Antigraviator nails. But it isn't all about how fast you can go, getting a handle on drift??ing is also important as the two courses I tried had plenty of tricky turns to get accustomed to. 

Th??ese tracks are filled with boost pads, to help you get ahead when you're lagging behind. You can also collect pickups which allow you to store boost for later use. The faster your chosen vehicle accelerates, the less of these pickups it can hold, so having faster acceleration might buy you an early lead, but it won't mean much if other racers are always boosting past you. 

You can unlock new ships and parts to give you a competitive edge against the opposition in single player. You can sabotage your competitors mid-race with weapons like missiles and mines, or by triggering environmental hazards like rock slides. The player in first place doesn't have any access to these traps, however, as they can only be focused on the racer in front of you. Speaking of other racers, Antigraviator supports up to four players in local split-screen play, in addition to its online multiplay??er.

Antigraviator is aiming for a Summer release on Steam, with Xbox One and PS4 versions not far behind. While there are no plans currently, I really do hope Cybernetic Walrus is considering a Switch release. I can at least pretend I have a new F-Zero then. 

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It looks and plays like a dream

It's hard to believe today's PlayStation VR update for WipEout Omega Collection is free.

As opposed to some games that support virtual reality across just a subset of the content or in side modes, here, everything is playable with the headset. WipEout HD, Fury, and 2048 are fully supported. The menus and interface have been ??fine-tuned. Heck, even the mid-race photo mode still works!

There are numerous comfort settings and camera options that you can switch between during races, and certain levels (you can probably guess which) include a warning the first tim?e you play them.

After hearing early buzz about the patch, I made sure to re-download Omega Collection this afternoon and re-experience these games from a fresh point of view. I feel pretty confident calling it one of the best PlayStation VR titles to date, right up there with Resident Evil 7. The cockpit view in VR is ?so good -- not just to look at, but to play -- that I'll have a tough time going back to the old standard.

If you give this a shot, I'd suggest warming up on one of the less-intense tracks. Even though I rarely feel discomfort in VR any more, it took me a few laps to find my footing. Save Sol for later.

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A variety of gaming's superstars

U.S. retailer GameStop, as well as GAME Spain, have listed a selection of new f?igurines for pre-order. The toys, representing numerous gaming characters, are the first in a new range named Totaku, designed by in-house outfit ThinkGeek.

The non-function??al figures stand just under four inches tall and will retail for around $10 each. Style similarities to previous toy ranges, such as Nintendo amiibo and Disney Infinity, are readily apparent. Although the toys? have no in-game usage, the Totaku bases can be interlocked, allowing collectors to build wacky crossover dioramas.

The first wave features characters from God of War, PaRappa the Rapper, Crash Bandicoot, Bloodborne, WipeOut, Little Big Planet and Tekken. De?spite the Sony influence on display in a lot of these choices, the Totaku range of characters will not be tied to any particular company or brand.

The first wave of Totaku figurines launches on March 23. It has yet to be confirmed which territories of GameStop and GAME will carry ??the range internationally.

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This will be amazing

WipEout on PlayStation 4 is set to get a little more intense. Announced at the PlayStation Experience, the game will be getting a free PSVR update in 2018. According to the PlayStation Blog, the update will include t??hree new ships exclusive for PSVR pilots. Every track in the game will be playable in VR as will every game mode, online or offline.

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Superfly

Omega Collection is going to catch some people by surprise.

For dedicated WipEout avoiders, this bundling of WipEout HD, Fury, and 2048 is a chance to see what the fuss is about on modern hardware and an opportunity to realize first-hand why the series' adora?tion is warranted.

For hardened returning players, there are going to be plenty of déjà vu moments as they tear through these same topsy-turvy tracks yet again, but the 60 frames-per-second, 4K, HDR sheen applied to this collection (with the correct PlayStation 4 Pro and TV setup) is bou??nd to impress.

Gosh this game looks clean.

WipEout Omega Collection (PS4 [reviewed on PS4 Pro])
Developer: Clever Beans, EPOS Game Studios
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Released: June 6, 2017
MSRP: $39.99

The most notable transformation is undoubtedly WipEout 2048 given its PS Vita origins. I never played that game until now and I can hardly fathom doing so on a handheld, even one as capable as the Vita. Omega Collection addresses some clear issues that bogged down the original version back in 2012, including pesky load times and a less-than-ideal frame rate. Here, everything's good. As for WipEout HD and its Fury expansion (both of which have their own individual campaigns with branching unlockable events), they alr??eady looked slick and ran well on PS3??. Now, on PS4, they're extra sharp.

Of course, these games play well, too. The floaty yet deceptively responsive handling of the anti-gravity ships is a joy to master, as is know?ing just when to pump the air brakes to squeeze around tight turns and how to set yourself up for ba?rrel-roll opportunities to give your ship a temporary jolt.

This satisfying sense of high-speed movement is what will keep you coming back to WipEout, and it's great to see so many tracks that push you to intuitively pick up the nuances. When I'm playing at my absolute best, I feel like I'm in one of those "Here's what F1 drivers actually see" videos. For newcomers, the Pilot Assist toggle will help keep you from over-correcting t??urns and pinballing off walls, but it's not a perf?ect or permanent solution -- the feature can have an ill-informed mind of its own.

More than just racing, the games also have enough other activities to keep you from ever feeling too stuck in one place as you chase after the criteria for gold medals and the coveted elite passes. In Detonator, you'll shoot down mines and drop EMPs to score points. In Zone, you'll become one with yourself as your vessel is pushed faster and faster until it can't possibly take any more abuse. It's these two event types in particular that have me disappointed Omega Collection couldn't squeeze in at least partia?l PlayStation VR support. With their simplified but vibrant aesthetic, they'd be a perfect?? fit.

I also can't neglect to mention the energizing, tonally-appropriate soundtrack, which will feel familiar but perhaps not quite as familiar as you'd hope if you've been with WipEout since the PS1 days. For my part, some songs served as a distraction, but most heigh?tened the experience, maki?ng my harrowing maneuvers all the more gratifying. I didn't feel the need to dig into custom playlists on Spotify.

Online multiplayer, in my experience, has been great. From the lobby screen, you'll be able to see if the group is in a race o??r about to wrap up, and room settings like the mode, map, speed class, and which weapons if any are enabled. You can compete against up to seven players, and I didn't perceive any lag in big or small groups except for an occasional slight delay on weapon pickups. It's a painless process to create matches or join them (apart from getting wrecked by absurdly skilled players who force the "Did Not Finish" clock to start counting down.) I've never seen more than a handful of lobbies at once, but I've always been able to get in somewhere. People are probably taking their time with the campaigns.

My thoughts on these titles have gone largely unchanged since my review-in-progress. I still vastly prefer the easily discernible tracks of HD and Fury to the wider, oftentimes more overwhelming layouts of 2048 when doing solo races or time trials. (That said, I have a special place in my heart for the aerial insanity that is Sol. It's thrilling.) The latter game can also be something of a heated mess when facing hyper-aggressive AI opponents in combat. At times, their behavior is entertaining in its own right -- and it feels in-credible to get revenge with a charged-up plasma blast or a? well-timed quake -- but the rapid-fire chaos can prove irritating when everyone decides to pummel you mercilessly.

All told, this is a content-rich collection, one that is especially worth investing in for WipEout newcomers. Longtime players might feel fatigue from tracks that have seen repeated use over the years, but even then, I'd argue the audio and visual polish present in Omega Collection makes it worthwhile -- with or without a 4K-ready setup. The? dream ?of the '90s is alive at PlayStation.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game pr??ovided by the publisher.]}

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Gotta go fast

With the Omega Collection, Sony has assembled WipEout HD (PS3), WipEout Fury (the expansion to HD), and WipEout 2048 (??PS Vita), touching them up to feel more at home on PlayStat?ion 4.

You? probably don't need me to tell you that it's a must-play for long-time f?ans, so I'll just add that even if you have little to no nostalgia for these anti-gravity racers, this is a tremendously good value.

WipEout Omega Collection (PS4 [reviewed on PS4 Pro])
Developer: Clever Beans, EPOS Game Studios
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Released: June 6, 2017
MSRP: $39.99

Aside from reworked textures and some new visual tricks, you're also getting support for 60 frames per second and, with a Pl??ayStation 4 Pro and the right televisi?on, 4K HDR. No PSVR support, sadly.

These games won't look like they were made from the ground up with PS4 in mind (not that I'd expect them to), but they also don't look outdated, due in large part to the lively, detail-packed landscapes that surround their futuristic tracks. (For reference, WipEout HD released in 2008, while 2048 debuted in 2012.) Rather, the main draw here is that all three titles look super crisp and are consistently smooth -- and unlike some underbaked compilations, the interface in this package clearly wasn't an afterthought. It's seamless. Also, the load times: they're far better in 2048 than you might remember.

I love the non-linear way in which you can play and unlock events, to say nothing of the fact that HD, Fury, and 2048 are presented as their own individual games for the singl?e-player but are all easily and cohesively accessible from a list when you create custom races or set up multiplayer.

My plan of attack in each group of events has been to always go for the single-ship stuff (like Time Trial, Speed Lap, and the stamina-testing Zone) first to build up some familiarity and then attempt to face the AI in hectic weaponized death races. I find the latter events to be a little luck-based, and especially in the case of 2048, I need every last bit of good fortune I can muster. Something about that game's wider tracks and busier visuals trips me up. Still, progress has been steady. All of the included titles do a good job of letting you not bite off more ?than you can chew -- unless you actually prefer to crank the difficulty and only move on with gold medals and elite passes, in which case, more power to you.

Even as someone who never got deep into the series until now, it's such a treat to see WipEout in the limelight again, even if it is thanks to a remastered collection and not an all-new entry (which I hope comes next). When everything's going right and you're barreling do??wn the track, nailing all the dastardly turns like an omnipotent pilot with the exact right EDM jam playing, it's such a euphoric experience.

Omega Collection is a great, approachable way into WipEout that slots nicely into the gaming landscape in 201??7. As you'd expect, the featured titles hold up, and the interface that binds everything together here is clean as hell. It ticks basically every box I'd want from this type of package.

That said, before I can reach my final verdict, I need to try out the online multiplayer (it's gonna be a bloodbath for me!) and push further into WipEout 2048. That'll be easy enough to test from launch day on, so expect me to come back with a full Omega Collection review later this week.

_{[This review in progre??ss is based on a retail build of the game provi?ded by the publisher.]}

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Expect some omissions

Seeing the WipEout name pop up again is bittersweet, but some WipEout is better than no WipEout.

The remastered-for-PS4 Omega Collection is coming soon, containing WipEout HD, HD Fury, and 2048 with enhanced visuals. Prior to the June 6 launch, Sony has trotted out the complete soundtrack.

1. ADDIKTION – Shake It (Wipeout Omega Instrumental Edit)
2. Airwolf – Talking Bass feat. Stace Cadet (Taiki Nulight Edit)
3. Black Sun Empire & State of Mind – Kill That Noise (Wipeout Omega Edit)
4. Boys Noize – XTC (The Chemical Brothers Remix)
5. Brodinski feat Louisahhh – Let The Beat Control Your Body
6. Carbon Community vs. Burufunk – Community Funk (Deadmau5 remix)
7. David Tort & Danielle Simeone – You Got To (Wipeout Omega Edit)
8. DC Breaks – Breathe (Instrumental VIP Mix)
9. CODE:MANTA – DFCK
10. Dillon Francis & NGHTMRE – Need You (DJ Hanzel & Drezo Remix)
11. DJ Kentaro feat. Matrix & Futurebound – North South East West (Tha New Team Remix)
12. Emika – Double Edge (GeRM Remix)
13. James Talk – Remote (Deadmau5 Remix)
14. Jerome Isma-Ae & Paul Thomas – Tomorrow (Luke Chable Remix)
15. Krakota – Lust Thrust
16. Matrix & Futurebound – Glow Worm
17. Matt Anthony – Headlights
18. Memtrix – IC YR PAIN
19. Metrik – Bring It Like That
20. Movement Machina & Timo Vaittinen – Upsides Have Downsides (Wipeout Omega Edit)
21. Noisia & The Upbeats – Dead Limit
22. Red One – Born Free
23. Soundprank – Obsidian
24. Swanky Tunes – Give It
25. Swedish House Mafia vs Knife Party – Antidote (Swedish House Mafia Dub)
26. The Chemical Brothers – C-h-e-m-i-c-a-l
27. The Prodigy – Invaders Must Die
28. Warden – Get Down

The choice of music has been such an integral part of this series that fans are bound to have strong feelings about what has and hasn't made the cut. I'm glad they got at least some Chemical Brothers.

WipEout Omega Collection: Listen to the Full So?undtrack [PlayStation Blog]

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HARIMAU

Sorry, I can't bring myself to use catchy game-related words in the headline like "WipEout Omega Collection boosts into your living room this June." Makes me cringe as much as how every ad says "slam dunk" during the NCAA basketball tournament. No, it "releases" on June 6 in America and June 7 in Europe, 2017 both digitally and physically. Seems like every release date I've reported on ??lately releases in?? America first by a day or two...weird.

As someone who still has more contact with Pyongyang than a Vita, this is a chance for me to catch up on WipEout 2048 finally.

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Online and split-screen multiplayer

Coming hot off the heels of Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, Sony kept the nostalgia train rolling by announcing a Wipeout remaster collection for PS4. Dubbed Wipeout Omega Collection, this package includes Wipeout HD, Fury, and 2048.

No pricing was announced?, but the game was given a tentative? release of summer 2017. If anything else comes out from this weekend, we'll keep you posted.

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Formula Fusion is the prototype

As some of you may know, the Wipeout franchise didn't really fare well over at Sony in recent years. But that's ok with developer R8Games, which is comprised of former Wipeout deve?lopers -- they want to bring the series back.

Showing off a project called Formula Fusion, the studio aims to get the game off the ground, but the problem is appar?ently with publishers who?? don't believe in the genre. While R8 works on convincing them otherwise, it has an early build ready as a proof of concept.

??Get a good look at what the game could end up like above. Just keep in mind that it's a pre-production build, with every early gameplay and visuals. With all that in mind it looks great!

Ex-Studio Liverpool Projects [Wipeout Zone]

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Sawfly Studios formed by ex-Psygnosis devs

It was a sad day for many when Sony closed its Sony Liverpool studio in 2012; more than 100 jobs went at one of the UK's oldest developers, chiefly known as the studio behind the Wipeout franchise. Thankfully, some of the former staff have founded a new company called Sawfly Studios and they're looking to release their first game within the next few months?.

Managing director Mike Humphrey is one of four ex-Sony Liverpool employees who are now working on an untitled project for publisher Ripstone which will be released on smartphones and tablets in the next few months. Th??ey're also in talks with other publishers and are looking to create their own intellectual properties.

Despite only numbering four people, the studio hopes to recruit more people after its first game launches -- but don't expect another Wipeout-esque title. Writing on the studio website, art director Jon Eggleton says titles like Limbo and Journey have provided inspiration.

Ex-Sony W??ipeout veterans create new vi?deo game studio [BBC]

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Taking a sec to pay respects

This year was great in general for videogames. Beyond the predictable success of games like Halo 4 and Call of Duty: Black Ops II, there were a ton of hits that came out of nowhere, including not just big publisher titles, but indie games as well. Narrative in gaming also started taking a greater stage with games such as Spec Ops: The Line and our very own game of the year, The Walking Dead, making waves with player agency in story and presenting well-develop??ed plots and ch??aracters to boot. 

The year wasn't entirely sparkles, double rainbows, and purple fairies&?nbsp;though. Along with the good came a hoard of bad for the industry. There were a mass number of studio closures, for starters. Here's a recap of some of the many development studios that didn't make it through the year. Out of respect for the subject matter, this list is not presented in any particular order.

Hudson Soft

Founded?? on May 18, 1973, Hu??dson Soft has been a force in this industry for so long that it seemed as if it would always be around. By 2003, the company had over 500 employees, with studios in both Tokyo and California. Throughout its history, Hudson designed a vast amount games and characters, including the iconic Bomberman, as well as less-iconic-but-still-identifiable Bonk.

This story was one that was drawn out, as last year saw the closure of the offices in California. The final nail would come this year, when even the Tokyo offices would also be shut down. It’s something that is definitely heartbreaking for many a fan of the company's works, ??as well as people who loved the classic bee logo -- doubly for people in both categories like me. With the clos?ure came the announcement that Konami would be absorbing what was left of Hudson, and retiring the name. So while the cute bee might be put out on the rocker on the front porch, hopefully the properties that bee ran won’t be neglected in the future.

THQ & THQ San Diego

Yesterday we reported that THQ had filed for bankruptcy. The company may not intend to reduce its workforce size during this period, but it's not a very optimistic situation. In March, the company reported a net loss of $239.9 million for the end of the fiscal year, which was over $100 million greater than the previous year's loss. Shortly after, THQ publicly made a deal with Electronic Arts to sell off its license to the UFC franchise. This directly lead to the closure of the THQ studio located in San Diego, the team behind the UFC games.

This is one of those times that just goes to show you how fragile some things are in the industry. One deal sealed the fate of a whole studio, and all the workers there. While this might not be the end for THQ yet, the company's long-term survival is by no means guaranteed. I don't usually root for a publisher, but my heart is out for this one, if only for Saints Row 4.

Black Hole Entertainment

Black Hole Entertainment might be known for a few different games. It developed a couple of Warhammer games: Mark of Chaos and Black March. The company's most notable recent achievement would be Heroes of Might and Magic 6,? which can be claimed as the reason for its ??downfall.

Shortly after filing for bankruptcy, an insider from the company came out with claims that Ubisoft, the publisher they worked with, was at fault. The claims laid down include? a lack of accountability from Ubisoft for missed deadlines, consistently sudden changes and feature removal demands by Ubisoft, and Ubisoft restructuring the key development team numerous times.

Supposedly, the penalties from the missed deadlines, as well as the losses from money spent on features taken out of the game?? after completed made it so that an unreasonable 200 million copies needed to be sold before Black Hole would see any profit. Whether these claims are true is unknown, but the fact that the company went bankrupt still remains.

Radical Entertainment

Radical Entertainment is mainly known for the recent series Prototype, but it has been around since 1991, getting passed between multiple publishing companies through its history. There were layoffs, and many claimed that these layoffs lead to th?e crash of the Vancouver game design mar??ket.

It was the oldest studio located in Vancouver, after all. This story happens to have a silver lining, as it appears that the company is still partially intact, functioning as a support st?udio for Activision Blizzard.

Rockstar Vancouver/Barking Dog

Rockstar's Vancouver studio is known for Bully and the recently released Max Payne 3. Shortly after the release of Max Payne 3, it was announced that Rockstar would be dissolving the studio to refocus its efforts in Canada o?n its Toronto-based studio.

This story?? does not bring the saddest?? news of closure though, unless you're someone complaining about the decline of the Vancouver market. All 35 of the Vancouver employees were offered positions within the Toronto studio. With the additional claim of more positions being created afterwards, hopefully this leads to big new projects coming from those folks.

Sony Liverpool/Psygnosis

Sony Liverpool, perhaps better known as Psygnosis, is the studio behind the WipEout series. At the start of the year, Sony Worldwide Studios came out with an announcement that they would be restructuring the Liverpool studio. Many of the projects they were working on were halted as a result. It wouldn't be until August when the announcement finally came about the studio's closing.

The studio employed roughly 100 people across two development teams. The studio was reportedly working on two projects at the time, each for the next-generation Sony console. While the facility at Liverpool remains functional, it is only to house other Sony Computer Entertainment Europe departments. The status of the two projects, one being a new WipEout, is unknown.

BigBig Studios

BigBig Studios, I feel, is mainly known for Pursuit Force, one of the better launch games for the PlayStation Portable. The studio was formed from?? a core team of four former Codemasters employees. Sony acquired the studio in 2007, and assigned them to work exclusively on games for the portab??le system.

That might have been the major component in the downfall of the studio, due to the generally dismal life of the portable device itself. The last game they made would be the recent Vita game, Little Deviants which released to less-than-stellar reviews. The studio would be shut down at the beginning of the year as part of restructuring of Sony's European studios.

Zipper Interactive

Zipper interactive started out making computer games before it became tied to the franchise that would rule the company for the most of its life span, SOCOM. In 2006, the studio w??as acquired by Sony Computer Entertainment and would go o?n to make games exclusively for the PlayStation brand. 

Not to let SCE Europe have all the fun restructuring studios, SCE Worldwide Studios announced in March that Zipper Interactive would be shut down. The reason given was that it was part of a normal cycle of resource re-alignment within Sony. The studio had roughly 80 employees at the time of closure. Its recent games, SOCOM 4, MAG, and Unit 13?? are still going to be supported, according to Sony.

Paragon Studios

NCSoft is one of the few companies that almost exclusively deals in MMOs. Of course, most of that is acquiring studios that make those kind of games and just putting the monetary system on top of that. There are two things that usually happen. Either the game becomes too bloated to sustain from a financial standpoint, or the people calling the shots shift their focus to something "new." Such is the case with City of Heroes, which was finally shut down this year, ?much to the outrage and disappointment of its playe?rs.

The really sad part comes with the liquidation of Paragon Studios, the developers behind the game. As of now, I don’t exactly know what happened to the folks who worked there, whether they were reassigned, or just let go entirely. At the very least,?? I hope that they are all?? still out there making games.

38 Studios and Big Huge Games

38 Studios started in 2006, originally named "Green Monster Games." Founded by Baseball star Curt Schilling with a dream to make his own MMO, he seemed to start out the right way, hiring talent that had great experience in the game world. In addition to writer R.A. Salvatore and artist Todd McFarlane, former general manager of games at Comcast Jennifer Maclean, former lead engineer at EA Jon Laff, and a former lead designer of EverQuest Travis McGeathy were in the employ of the studio. To further bolster the prestigious talent base of the company, 38 games acquired studio Big Huge Games, of Rise of Nations fame. The single-player RPG that BHG was working on at the time would be turned into a tie-in to Schilli??n??g's MMO.

It all looked like it was going the right way, and in 2010, the studio received a $75 million dollar guaranteed loan from the state of Rhode Island to relocate their business to the state, in the hopes of creating new jobs. In February of this year, that RPG would see release in the form of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, which received favorable reviews.

A missed loan payment just a few months later, and very shortly after, the entire 379 person workforce was laid off, with 38 Studios entering bankruptcy. Schilling and his studio has come under investigation since then for criminal charges, though at the time of writing, no federal charges have been filed against him. A state-level investigation is still underway. As for the folks under Big Huge Games, they're still happily together as Epic Baltimore.

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You've probably heard by now that Studio Liverpool, the lovely developers of the WipEout series, closed up shop last month. Liverpool calls it the "end of an era," and millions of fans across the globe are inclined to agree -- which begs the question -- what is going to happen to the WipEout series?

Well, even the studio doesn't know for sure, but they did put out a message on Facebook that confirmed the co?ntinuation of online play, as well as "plenty of community events, giveaways and goodies." Right now, the studio is "waiting" for news on the fate of the series. We also don't know what happened to the two "PS4" games Liverpool was working on as well.

Personally, I'll always remember them as Psygnosis, the company that developed and/or published a handful of my favorite games: Colony Wars, G-Police, Discworld, Rollcage, and many more. They will be missed.

WipEout [Facebook]

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In a statement released today by Sony, it was announced that SCE Studio Liverpool has been shut down. Founded as Psygnosis, the developer was best known for its work on the WipEout series.

"It has been decided that Liverpool Studio should be closed," reads the statement. "Liverpool Studio has been an important part of SCE Worldwide Studios since the outset of PlayStation, and have contributed greatly to PlayStation over the years. Everyone connected with Liverpool Studio, past and present, can be very proud of their achieve?ments.

"However, it was felt that by focusing our investment plans on other Studios that are currently working on exciting new ??projects, we would be in a stronger position to offer the best possible content for our consumers. Our Liverpool Facility will continue to operate, housing a number of other vital WWSE and SCEE Departments."

According to Eurogamer sources, Liverpool was making two PlayStation 4 games. One was a "dramatically different" WipEout title, while the other was said to be in the same vein as Splinter Cell and reportedly utilized motion-capture tech not unlike what Team Bondi used for LA Noire.

Sony closes WipEout developer Sony Liverpool [Eurogamer]
Sources: Sony Liverpool was working on WipEout PS4 and a S?plinter Cell style ga??me for PS4 [Eurogamer]

Full statement from Sony:

As part of SCE Worldwide Studios, we do regular reviews to ensure that the resources we have can create and produce high quality, innovative and commercially viable projects in an increas?ingly competitive marketplace. As part of this process, we have reviewed and assessed all current and planned projects for the short and medium term and have decided to make some changes to our European Studios.

It has been decided that Liverpool Studio should be closed. Liverpool Studio has been an important part of SCE Worldwide Studios since the outset of PlayStation, and have contributed greatly to PlayStation over the years. Everyone connected wit??h Liverpool Studio, past and p?resent, can be very proud of their achievements.

However, it was felt that by focusi?ng our investment plans on? other Studios that are currently working on exciting new projects, we would be in a stronger position to offer the best possible content for our consumers.

Our Liverpool Facility will continue to operate, housing a num?ber of other vital WWSE ??and SCEE Departments.

This should not take anything away from the great work WWS are doing and the incredible games and services?? that we have made, and continue to make, both for this coming year and further in the future.

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[Update: I originally wrote this all wrong and suggested games like UMvC3 would be free because I have shit for brains. I've fixed it all up now. Sorry about the original post being basically totally wrong and stupid. At least for once I can be accused of lying to make Sony look good.]

Sony wants to really push the cross-platform connectivity between the PS3 and PS Vita, and is letting three games play piggyback in order to do so. Anybody who buys such games as Hustle Kings, Wipeout 2048, or Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 on their Vita will be able get PS3 content downloaded for free. 

Top Darts, Motorstorm RC, and Hustle Kings can be played on one system if you buy it on the other. If you get Wipeout 2048 on Vita, you can get free tracks from Wipeout HD or Wipeout Fury.

That's a solid little scheme right there, and one worth taking advantage of. Cross-play could be the ace in the Vita's hole, especial?ly sinc??e the Vita's early consumers are sure to be dyed-in-the-wool Sony product fans. Well done Sony, you get a smiley sticker!

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The Wipeout games have always served as a solid system showcase with their flashy graphics and impressive sense of speed, so Studio Liverpool's latest, Wipeout 2048, makes for a nice launch ?title for the PlayStation Vita.&nbs?p;Nice, but not easy.

As with the other games in the series, this one's lovely looks reel you in. But then you're quickly hit with a lack of road resistance, too-fast movement, and the slight sense of motion sickness from all the swerving. That's not to mention the tight turns, gut-dropping dips, and the heat-seeking missiles on your tail. Suddenly you're sweat?ing, heart pounding, gritting your teeth into turns, and wondering what you signed up for.

Wipeout 2048 (PlayStation Vita)
Developer: SCEE Studio Liverpool
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Released: February 15, 2012
MSRP: $39.99

Studio Liverpool brings its super-fast hovercraft racer to the PlayStation Vita, and they didn't leave out a bit of speed in the move from console to portable. This game is as fast and flashy as its predecessors, and it really impresses on the Vita's high-res screen. The shiny crafts and the futuristic backdrops seem to pop right off the screen, and outside the occasional dip in frame rate from heavy action, it moves so smoothly that you'll wonder how the Vita isn't overheating. For emphasis: Wipeout 2048 is a beautiful game.

Also to be emphasized: Wipeout 2048 is a bitch. The game is set in a time slightly before the other series installments in a sort of prequel, so you'd notice some not-so-futuristic backdrop set pieces if you weren't smashing into walls or other racers at a bazillion miles an hour. This is a brutal and unforgiving racer, even with all the optional assists switched on. You'll have to get used to wall collisions early, as they are the norm for this game -- easily the floatiest one yet. Just like in the other Wipeout titles, you'll pilot an ant?i-gravity craft through some of the most bendy, twisty courses ever devised. While the Vita's tiny buttons and analog stick hold up well, you'll still be hard-pressed to stay on the track and keep up the speed needed to properly finish the race in a ranking position. When you do pull off a win, it feels ??amazing, and somehow also almost like a fluke. 

The problem with 2048's racing formula is that it feels like you got lucky when you finally do win. Sure, skill is needed to master the careful braking and cornering needed on these crazy tracks, but the standard battles -- which require both racing and combat -- feel like a free-for-all. In the Wipeout games, victory can only be captured by those that are able to pass over each track's boost points without running into walls or other players. This is already difficult in time attack races, but it becomes maddening when other racers are rammin??g into you, pushing you away from the boost points. Adding to the sense that luck is needed are the weapon pick-up points, seemingly loaded with power-ups at random. While the best items won't guarantee a victory, matches feel impossible to win when dud pick-ups come up in the random mix.

That all said, the racing action is exciting enough that you probably won't get too hung up on these faults. There's always the possibility of earning more experience points to gain better craft, and you'll earn that through standard play. The game's main mode is a campaign that takes you throu?gh multiple seasons of varied rac??e challenges where you're free to pick from branching paths where even losses will net you some experience points. Get through enough of these races and you'll nab a newer vehicle; many of these seem like the key to a barrier, finally pushing you through a race you couldn't master before. There's also an online option for this campaign mode, bringing leaderboards and additional race objectives into the mix. 

Multiplayer matches can also take place through this game's Crossplay feature, which allows up to eight players to race via an Ad Hoc connection simultaneously alongside PS3 players on Wipeout HD. 

The new control types that use the Vita's touch and tilt inputs are forgettable. You can switch on a tilt-to-steer control scheme, but it feels so off and floaty that it's barely worth trying. In this mode, you'll use the rear ??pad to boost, and the front panel to take in items, but it's so much easier to use the standard button control that this input scheme feels like a pointless addition. 

Load times in Wipeout 2048 are inexplicably bad. They're not to the point of being full-on painful, but definitely rank firmly at annoying, with half-minute waits coming up between every race. Even race restarts come in at a mind-boggling 15-20 seconds. These are ?load times that feel like they're just under that of a PSP title streaming off a UMD, and feel unnecessary coming off cartridge-based media.

There's plenty of thrilling racing action to be had in Wipeout 2048, with all th??e flashy looks and blinding speed you'd expect from a console title. Series fans will find a lot to love here, with plenty of new challenges, though those new to the series may find themselves frustrated with touchy controls and unforgiving levels. If you really need to go super-fast at Vita's launch, this one could fit the bill.  Otherwise, there are more accessible launch racers out there. 

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The Wipeout franchise will bring about the first cross-platform functionality between Vita and PS3. Sony tells us that many more titles are in the works, but for now it all kicks off in Vita's launch window with Wipeout 2048.

We got our hands on the upcoming Vita title and found out that it plays nicely with PS3 title Wipeout HD Fury. Shared Fury tracks on the Vita are race-able against PS3 players in a cross-platform mode. Both Conrad and I took on one of the producers of the game, our two Vita systems against his PS3 controller. Matching up only took a few seconds, and ?play went off without a ??hitch. Surprisingly, Conrad won. 

For those wondering how Wipeout 2048?? is looking, I have good news. It looks great, standing up nicely to the PS3 game running right alongside it. There's great lighting and a nice sense of speed. I used the standard steering configuration (analog stick and shoulder buttons), but there's also a touch and tilt steering option, not unlike an iPhone rac??er.

For the Vita launch window, the only other cross play you'll see is in Warrior's Lair, which uses cloud game saves to continue play on another Vita or a PS3. Let's hope that Sony takes advantage ?of the Vita's high graphic spec and connectivity features to create more titles with cross-platform ?features.

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The first time you see quantum levitation, it's hard not to be blown?? away. As Arthur C. Clarke said, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from ?magic." The Internet, as it turns out, is quick to remind us of this on a daily basis.

The "Japan Institute of Science and Technology" has more directly targeted people like you and me with its work, which brings the concept of futuristic racing series Wipeout to life on a miniature scale. However, the presentation and lack of details surrounding this project make me skeptic?al that it's legitimate, despite the seemingly magical nature of quantum levitation.

Conceptually, I'm satisf??ied with this little setup, even if it isn't wholly on the level. I'd buy one. (Assuming it was for real, of course.)

[Thanks, jaya]

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Oh happy days! The PlayStation Vita has an official launch date, and with that, a release date for its lineup of launch titles. We recently had the chance to play around with some of these including Wipeout 2048, the latest installment in Sony's hype?r-??futuristic racer.

With 2048, players get all the same hardcore, precision heavy racing th?at the series is known for, with added features that make use of the Vita's hardware.

Wipeout 2048 (PlayStation Vita)
Developer: SCE Studio Liverpool
Publisher: SCEE
Release: February 22, 2012

As the name suggests, this Wipeout takes place in the year 2048, the near-future compared to the super futuristic star-dates of most Wipeout games. As far as the series timeline goes, this game takes place at the dawn of anti-gravity racing, before the first Wipeout on the original PlayStation.

This change in setting affects the games look and feel quite a bit. Aesthetically, 2048 retains a good amount of the series' hyper-futuristic look, but incorporates m??ore city streets, parks, and other contemporary scenes. During gameplay, the new (or is it old?) setting allows for some crazy track scenarios, such as the driving up a skyscraper, then back down on the track Empire Climb.

Track design in general has been altered for this release. Being the hardcore racer that it is, Wipeout has always pitted players against the track almost as much as other players. In an effort to make 2048 more accessible, the team at Liverpool has made tracks wider, a subtle but noticeable change as you will spend less time fighting to stay on course. Fans need not worry though, as a relative noob to the series, you should happy to hear that I still fell of the track plenty of times. Just not as much as in, say, Wipeout HD.

Another change to track design are the multiple track paths. Not to be confused with shortcuts, 2048 features branching tracks that incorporate a risk/reward system. So while taking one route may be the the shortest distance to the finish line, it will have more sharp turns and a greater chance for error. Or on a different track, you may run with a route that has more sp??eed boosts while the other route offers more weapon pickups. 

When actually racing on these tracks, Wipeout 2048 makes use of the PS Vita gyroscope with tilt and touch controls. Of course, there is still the classic thumbstick and face button controls, but Wipeout aims to make use of Vita's motion capabilities, in order to ease in more casual gamers accustomed to playing their iPod or iPhone. The controls break down like this: You hold one finger on the back touch pad to accelerate while steering your vehicle by shifting the Vita left and right. Weapons are managed by taping the right half of the screen for offensive weapons (plasma, missiles, cannons, etc.) and tapping the left half to manage your shields. You use the L an R buttons to control your left and right airbrakes respectively. So while 2048 does use touch, the face buttons are act?ive as well.

While great for a game like Modnation, the motion controls in 2048 didn't work all that well in this demo. For a game that requires so much precision, using motion to steer your craft is far too unruly. Overshooting a turn is common and even simple maneuvers, like hitti?ng a speed pad on a straight path, are made harder to pull off. In its current shape, I can't see motion being the favored control option. Managing weapons with the touch screen worked very well though, and when used with the analog controls, felt like the most natural way ??to play.

The final feature shown off for the game was the online play. The first thing you'll notice with the o?nline play is that you are prompted to take a picture with the Vita camera at the start of each race. Whoever places first at the end of the race gets to have their mug plastered on the screen of every other user. It will be interesting it see how "creative" people get with their pics.

Online for 2048 will feature eight player races on any of the games ten tracks. Online play will also feature an online campaign mode, essentially a system of secondary objectives, outside of simply winning, to reward both seasoned high level players and newcomers. For a higher ranked racer these objectives include wrecking a certain number of racers and finishing in first place, whereas lower ranked competitors need only avoid getting wrecked and finish in the top five. The online modes of Wipeout 2048 are rounded out with cross platform play between this game and Wipeout HD Fury on PS3. Basically, 2048 users will be able to compete against Fury users online using tracks and vehicles from Wipeout HD Fury.

If you have played Wipeout before, you know what to expect here. The racing is tight, fast, and punishing to players not up to the challenge. As it is, it looks to be another so??lid entry into the series, ??but as a Vita title, it doesn't do anything mind blowing with the new hardware.

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