Two big games to be announced in the upcoming OPMs

[cliffbo]

Vanessa Morgan, Editor - OPSM

Now in her eighth year of gaming writing, and already a respected name in the computer and console game industry, gaming doyenne Vanessa Morgan has taken up the coveted role of Editor of one of the biggest and most popular gaming magazines in Australia and New Zealand, Official PlayStation® Magazine.

We had a chat to Vanessa about what it's like to be the first female Editor of Official PlayStation® Magazine, what the coolest part of her job is, what her favourite games are and where she sees the future of PLAYSTATION®3.

Read on for the full story from Miss PlayStation herself...

1. How long have you been in the games industry for? How did you get into it?

Eight years. That's way, way, way too many years of playing all the average games that none of the guys wanted to touch for mags like Hyper, PCPP, PSW, Total Gamer, etc. Followed by getting a few breaks with overseas trips to see what was SquareSoft then Nintendo and E3. I then went on to edit the games section for K-Zone, TV hits and share my button mashing experiences in the Sun Herald, The West Australian, The Age, online, radio, TV and everywhere that would help assist with my world domination.

2. How long have you been playing videogames for?

I've heard rumours that my mum had me hooked up to a Magnavox Odyssey whilst in the womb but my first real memory is getting my hands on a NES and jumping on our chunky family computer around 8 or 10 years of age. Don't do the maths!

3. How did you get to be the Editor of Official PlayStation® Magazine?

I was kidnapped. After a couple of weeks of being chained to the desk and offered serious bribes I consented. I can now roam the office on a long rope. ARE YOU JOKING? This is the ultimate job for any gamer! When the dearly departed Naz left the post I was thrilled to get a call from Derwent Howard. And what a time to take on this huge title. Expect big things from us in 2008.

4. We hear you're the first female Editor of Official PlayStation® magazine. How do you feel about that?

Being female? Or being first? Both are pretty sweet. Both have advantages and disadvantages. I play the advantages.

5. What's the coolest part of the job?

Dealing with the boys in the office, they're all complete geek freaks. The debates, fights, challenges and the experience is what makes the mag. They make me look good and feed everything into making us number one. The overseas travel ain't tooooo bad and well, I play games for a living. You can't beat my job. Also, it makes for a great pick-up line.

6. Do you get lots of fan mail?

Oh it's pouring in! Most of it starts with "Hey Naz" or "I haven't got my prize yet". This however may change when the first issue hits stands May 28th and i get the "YOU'RE A GIRL" emails. Which of course will be a shock to my parents.

7. What's the weirdest thing you've done in the name of gaming?

Swam in a pool of baked beans (they get into everything and they are just little balls of slime). Yes, I lost a bet. No, you cannot see the photos.

8. What do you enjoy about gaming?

Forgetting, letting go and getting into the story or experience of the game. Added bonus is walking all over my opposition - boys NEVER like being ripped to shreds by a girl.

9. What types of games do you enjoy playing?

Backwards heads, flesh dripping from bodies, deformities, dead dogs with sharks teeth... all the seriously messed up things that will keep me up till 5am either through abject terror or a seriously well done survival horror story.

10. What's your earliest gaming memory?

Sneaking onto the library computer when I was meant to be borrowing books, to play Alley Cat after completing a marathon session the night before when my olds were sleeping.

11. What's your favourite game(s)?

Ico, Silent Hill 2, Burnout 3, Final Fantasy VII or X, Beyond Good & Evil, LocoRoco, Thief, Resident Evil, GTAIV. The list is endless.

12. What are your thoughts on PLAYSTATION®3?

2008 is the year for PS3! Big titles returning, new IPs, HUGE announcements. It's exciting to see the console start to reach its potential.

13. What do you think of Blu-ray?

VICTORY! It's not until you compare Blu-ray to DVD that you realise the difference, but to me the most exciting thing is what it means for content in the future.

14. Where do you see the future of PLAYSTATION®3 taking us?

Strong titles, superior graphics, more variety. I'm looking forward to HOME and the ways in which that will change how we interact with the PS3.Plus I think we'll be visiting world's that have pushed the most creative developers to the max, inspired by some of the most warped minds you'll never meet (mostly because they've been locked up and signed to contracts forbidding them to speak to norms like us).

15. What are the top 5 PLAYSTATION®3 games you're most excited about?

1. LittleBigPlanet
2 Motorstorm 2
3. MGS4
4. An unannounced title coming to PS3 for the first time
5. Another unannounced title coming to PS3 that'll BLOW you away

Sorry, not meaning to rub it in but OMG! The titles are BIG and so were the forms I've had to sign about not releasing any info until after the embargo dates pass BUT all will be revealed in the next two issues of the mag. We've had to fly to London, Paris, San Fran, Vegas and LA to nab this info. We're tired and our eyes are square.

16. What are your interests outside of the gaming world?

MUSIC! MUSIC! MUSIC! Rock, punk, psychobilly, metal... just about anything except COUNTRY! Bleurgh! I also help run a club in Sydney called Black Cherry, I do hip hop class twice a week and can often be found in various pubs throughout the inner west.

17. Which games character most closely represents you and why?

I think the obvious call would have to be Solid Snake - that man is just so darn sexy. Hmmm... physically it's gotta be Paine from FFX-2 - badass with the goth spiked hair, maybe a little of the attitude as well. Maybe throw in a little bit of Alyx Vance's (Half Life) friendly nature, technical know-how and zombie kicking ability and of course a lot of Chun Li "I'm the strongest woman in the world".

[Sephiroth_VII]

4. An unannounced title coming to PS3 for the first time
Translation: It's part of a series which used to be exclusive to another platform(probably 360) but now it's gone MP.

More interested in "5," since it sound like it'll be a new franchise :)

[ddaryl]

Another big tease.. how many times do publication use "HUGE" when they have some info they can't disclose under NDA

but I'm ready to see this stuff from Sony, because this is what the PS3/cell is all about... Shit that will just blow you away.

[julps31]

Interesting... Wonder if one of em is a sequel. Theres a several games i'd love to see come back for the PS3 that haven't been announced (Twisted Metal, Syphon Filter to main a few). But I wont entertain the thought to much.

[masteratt]

Oh yay two new games!!!!

*slow clap*


The rest of the interview was more amusing, I've enjoyed reading it.

[Segitz]

Translation: It used to be exclusive to another platform(probably 360) but now it's gone MP.
More interested in "5," since it sound like it'll be a new franchise :)

I never looked at it that way... Very interesting indeed...

Which one would that be?

My guess would be Mass Effect 2 (or maybe both on one massive Blu Ray) or Dead Rising 2... anything else is uninteresting, I think, or impossible, because MS publishes it (i.e. Gear or Halo, or the Mistwalker games)

[the boney king of nowhere.]

"two unannounced games coming to ps3."

how is this even news?

i'm sure there are lot more than two.

[Jay Gee]

Lucky ass baked beans...

[masteratt]

But we don't know how hot she is, maybe they were unlucky.


Gives me an idea though: For the marketing of Assassin's Creed 2, Jade Raymond should take a naked baked bean bath.
Or just pose naked with a "Buy Assassin's Creed 2" sign, whichever way is cool.

[gnznroses]

the "for the first time" = BioShock

?

[Jay Gee]

Gives me an idea though: For the marketing of Assassin's Creed 2, Jade Raymond should take a naked baked bean bath.
Or just pose naked with a "Buy Assassin's Creed 2" sign, whichever way is cool.
The latter would definitely catapult the game into the history books as most pandered next-gen title EVER. Even MS would step back and take notes.

[Sephiroth_VII]

the "for the first time" = BioShock

?

That sounds realistic, since there's been lots of rumors about it for a while.

IIRC, the first one sold less copies than they expected, right?

[cliffbo]

i think the title coming to the PS3 'for the first time' is GOW3... the other title is impossible to guess because i think it's entirely new

[Raitei]

dunno.. im with others on the first.. i think its a previous exclusive. Bioshock seems likely (remember, there was actually ps3 relevant comments in the .ini files on the 360)

[masteratt]

Obviously it's coming to the PS3.

Wasn't there even an announcement or something saying it's coming September?

[VG Aficionado]

I hope the thread title makes sense now.

Bioshock might happen, or at least Bioshock 2. I'm more interested in the other suggested game.

[LiquidEagle]

I'm more interested in MGS4 still :-p

[Segitz]

But we don't know how hot she is, maybe they were unlucky.


Gives me an idea though: For the marketing of Assassin's Creed 2, Jade Raymond should take a naked baked bean bath.
Or just pose naked with a "Buy Assassin's Creed 2" sign, whichever way is cool.

On the UK or Australian PS site, there was a photo of her... and I for one was... in awe of her... non-hotness...

http://au.playstation.com/assets/images/news/vmintro.jpg

[masteratt]

Let's not be sexist, women are not to be objectified.

Seriously though Ubisoft; Jade Raymond naked = 90Mil Assassin's Creed 2 sales.

[<3frosty]

That sounds realistic, since there's been lots of rumors about it for a while.

IIRC, the first one sold less copies than they expected, right?

Not really. The first one has sold over 2 million copies since release, and as it is a shooter, it sold well on the 360. The competition for shooters was pretty intense last year, but the multiple awards and critical praise helped boost sales as well.

They didnt announce a BioShock 2 because the first sold poorly.



HOWEVER, i would look forward to a port more then BioShock 2 as the team that created BioShock is not working on the sequel for some dumb reason.



Also, she obviously dropped some hints, as whatever is being released has studios in London, Paris, San Fran, Vegas, and LA. It doesnt help though that we are talking about two studios here and she wasnt specific about where they had to fly for which impending announcement. Also, notice the "Our eyes are square" comment. Square enix?

We've had to fly to London, Paris, San Fran, Vegas and LA to nab this info. We're tired and our eyes are square.

[GTAce]

"for the first time" could also mean a PS1/2 franchise, dont get to over excited.

[Sephiroth_VII]

Not really. The first one has sold over 2 million copies since release, and as it is a shooter, it sold well on the 360. The competition for shooters was pretty intense last year, but the multiple awards and critical praise helped boost sales as well.

They didnt announce a BioShock 2 because the first sold poorly.
Looking at VGChartz proves you right :duh:
Also, she obviously dropped some hints, as whatever is being released has studios in London, Paris, San Fran, Vegas, and LA. It doesnt help though that we are talking about two studios here and she wasnt specific about where they had to fly for which impending announcement. Also, notice the "Our eyes are square" comment. Square enix?
I think you're reading way too much into that, haha!
"for the first time" could also mean a PS1/2 franchise, dont get to over excited.

True, I hadn't thought about that... Bummer :(

[GTAce]

Well it could also mean a new Jak & Daxter, Dragon Quest, Ace Combat, or something like that.

[Z]

I don't take paper gaming publications seriousl these days till they prove they have something. for example, only GI has surprised me with true exclusive unveilings.
for all we know, the mag could feature Infamous or a previously announced title. I don't like the "it'll blow you away, inject you again, and blow you away some more!" shit for paper magz.
as for the other one, I think EA will be involve- which is always a good thing.

PS. this better not be one of Ubi's a;ready announced games.

[GTAce]

Just expect something like this Ubisuck thingy, just like me and you wont be dissapointed.

[masteratt]

lol Z, because the internet "this will blow you away" news ALWAYS deliver ¬_¬

[Z]

no, because mags are 30 days apart. by the time they get a game up, we've already know about it and maybe even seen some pics of it. I can only remember GI with constant honest 'world exclusive first look' game reveals that just pop out of nowhere.

also, I cannot get excited with a person that puts MS2 ahead of M, freaking, G, fucking, S, hell 4! seriously? you are more excited with a rally arcade racer than the biggest launch on PS3 since forever- the one that will only be topped by FF13?! there is something seriously wrong with her. this is like saying I am excited about GRiD more than GTA4.

and I don't care about preferences. comparing these two games is just whack by the definition of 3 online dictionary, 4 encyclopedias and 2 tabloids and one weather channel.

[stuart_r]

YAY PS3 Vib Ribbon LOL

[CreativeWriter]

Black 2 hasn't been announced yet, right? "Blow you away" made me think it might be that. Wasn't that a PS2 exclusive?

[GTAce]

Nope also was on Xbox, but both versions where iirc the same, best looking PS2 shooter.

[the boney king of nowhere.]

black was awesome. it was the last ps2 shooter i played, then when i went back to play killzone last night, it seemed, frankly, shit. it's incredibly glitchy, the framerate seems to hover around 15-20fps and it's incredibly clunky... but i spent a couple of hours on it today, it's solid enough. takes some getting used to though.

mind you, the only shooters i've played recently have been on next-gen consoles. guess i've been spoiled.

[Z]

who here wants to be their Vegimite (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Vegemiteontoast_large.jpg)that it is a port of Ace Combat 6?

YAY PS3 Vib Ribbon LOL

that's already released as a retro PSN game.

[tolkyn]

Just expect something like this Ubisuck thingy, just like me and you wont be dissapointed.

Good call.

The other game is probably not Crysis, but Bioshock. The quote from the OPM UK is something like the "Big Daddy" of AAA FPS.
Originally Posted by SolidSnakex:
Actually I don't think the snowboarding game has anything to do with it. And I don't know where you're getting Crysis. OPM UK says that next month they'll be previewing the "Big Daddy" of AAA FPS. Which means Bioshock. And that'd be the one she mentioned is something that hasn't been on the PS3 before.


EDIT: Apparently the snowboarding game has nothing to do with it. So the BIG title that "will blow you away" still is unknown. Hype rising again!

[Segitz]

Bah... I don't want Bioshock... (played it on the PC and... didn't like it)

[TEEDA]

New game : With Hideki kamiya or shinji mikami behind the game I read elsewhere :

Bayonetta (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PW7T3bF5nk)

A DMC-like game

[Sephiroth_VII]

According to Danish magazine Gameinformer(which is usually very reliable when it comes to stuff like this) Bioshock is "pretty much confirmed for a PS3 release later this year."

[Raitei]

i was sortof expecting the big title to be exclusive. Dunno why, it was never noted so (i know were not sure batonetta is the title)

Also, snowboarding games (prays for ssx5 again)

[cliffbo]

i hope it's the new ICO game!

[Sephiroth_VII]

^^I didn't say it was necessarily one of the two games mentioned in the interview ;)

[ops2p]

"for the first time" could also mean a PS1/2 franchise, dont get to over excited.


Krazy Ivan 2

Ah sh*t......Shoots self due to broken NDA....:wave:

[GTAce]

:lol:

[Sephiroth_VII]

ZOMG! I want Krazy Ivan 2, plz!!!!

[TEEDA]

I ll never cease to repeat

Z.O.E 3

Come on KOji-san ! Take some vacations and bring us back the best mecha game ever !

[GTAce]

Well that would also fit to something Kojima said a couple of days ago, that he wants to make a game for a wider audience, while MGS4 is more for the hardcore gamer.

[ddaryl]

I ll never cease to repeat

Z.O.E 3

Come on KOji-san ! Take some vacations and bring us back the best mecha game ever !

yeah ZOE 3 would be awesome.

as would Twisted Metal. i'm ready for it

[TEEDA]

I just have the feeling that THIS one might be Jak & Daxter again !!! OMG !!! yes I d loce to get Daxter back :-D
There are plenty of first party titles to get back on PS3.
I just hope they ll do a Syphon Filter again, but closer to the PS1 series not the Omega Strain...

But If those announced titles are new IPs I don't mind.

[Sephiroth_VII]

delete

[Sephiroth_VII]

Well that would also fit to something Kojima said a couple of days ago, that he wants to make a game for a wider audience, while MGS4 is more for the hardcore gamer.

ZOE is for a wider audience?

[GTAce]

Just like the post button.

[Sephiroth_VII]

I could've sworn I hit edit :huh:

[hybridofsteel]

Kojima should stay the hell away from Zone of Enders. When he directed it, it sucked. Shuyo Murata who directed the sequel (which was awesome) should return for ZOE3.

[julps31]

I just have the feeling that THIS one might be Jak & Daxter again !!! OMG !!! yes I d loce to get Daxter back :-D
There are plenty of first party titles to get back on PS3.
I just hope they ll do a Syphon Filter again, but closer to the PS1 series not the Omega Strain...

But If those announced titles are new IPs I don't mind.Yea I would love a new Jak and Daxter (couldn't imagine those graphics lol). And definantly a new Syphon filter with a strong story based single player. I would have high hopes for it since the past few psp games have been solid.

[cliffbo]

Kojima Up For Some Giant Space Robots

zoe_box.jpgNow that Metal Gear Solid 4 is in the can, what's next for Hideo Kojima? That's that rumored Snatcher remake with No More Heroes creator Suda51. Anything else? Says Kojima:

I would like to say that Zone of the Enders is quite near the priority list… [after MGS4] it might be good to change to outer space or robots or things like that for a change.

Really, who doesn't like giant robots fighting? ZOE 3 anyone?

http://kotaku.com/5008977/kojima-up-for-some-giant-space-robots

[Sephiroth_VII]

Kojima should stay the hell away from Zone of Enders. When he directed it, it sucked. Shuyo Murata who directed the sequel (which was awesome) should return for ZOE3.

Yeah, I wonder what went wrong.

[yoshaw]

ZOE3!! yessss :cry2:

[Segitz]

Ignore ZoE and do a new Snatcher!!! This is an ORDER, Mr. Kojima!

[drakkar]

Isn't the info hitting on the 15th, Australian time? Surely we must have some info now?

[LaLiLuLeLo]

Ignore ZoE and do a new Snatcher!!! This is an ORDER, Mr. Kojima!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/Lalilulelo/gifs/1193688711626.gif

[acousticvan]

I would like to see a new IP.

[GTAce]

After the new HAWX pics, i just had an idea for an old PS1 franchise i would love to see: WingOver!

It wont come but i had to post this, good bye. :closed:

[Z]

isn't the issue out tomorrow?