Welcome to the final edition of the SIXAXIS Report. This week I discuss the history of the SIXAXIS Report, as well as news on games like Resistance 2, WarHawk, Tom Clancy¡¯s End War, Rainbow Six: Vegas 2, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, Sonic Unleashed, Motorstorm: Pacifica, and more.




Don't panic everyone; I'm not actually going anywhere. But the SIXAXIS Report is. I'll get into it more at the One Man Water Cooler~! But basically I'm going to be changing the name of the column since the SIXAXIS controllers are going to be replaced with the much sexier DualShock 3 controllers. Not only will the column be changing, but I'm letting you guys help decide on the new name. But that's for later; I've got to get to the news!

Sorry for the extremely boring week in news, literally nothing happened this week!



Going the way of the Dodo, it's Sony News of the Week

New classes for Resistance 2 revealed



Resistance: Fall of Man was the best launch title on the PlayStation 3 back in 2006. Well this year Insomniac looks to release Resistance 2 on the PS3, featuring 60 person online multiplayer. In addition to a new 8-person co-op and 60 person online multiplayer, Resistance 2 will also feature vehicles as well as multiplayer classes. While the classes haven't been officially revealed, Insomniac has released some early concept art for two of the classes. These two pictures are for the Special Ops and the Medic. Details on the classes have yet to be revealed, so I guess all I can add is that the classes look kind of cool, although I'm waiting to see the Chimera counterparts. Look for Resistance 2 on the PS3 this fall. I can't wait to see which will end up being better, Killzone 2 or Resistance 2 *both are supposed to be released this fall*.




Medic!

Credit: PlayStation Blog


Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 content unleashed



Well last week saw the release of Rainbow Six Vegas 2 on the 360 and PS3. I personally have things I love and hate about the game. I actually like the running feature, but on the other end I don't like the shooting through walls feature. Why bother getting behind cover if they can shoot right through it? I also don't like most of the maps, they better release Calypso Casino as downloadable content soon or I will kill something.

Any who, the point of this article is to let you know there are two free maps you can download. A lot of people I've been playing online have no idea how to get these two maps so here's how to do it. First to unlock the Comcast Event map click "extras" on the main menu of R6V2 then click "Comcast Gift". Once inside enter "Comcast Faster" to unlock the new map. To unlock the Rainbow Six 3 classic "Streets" go to "Extras" then "Exclusive Content" and you have to register a Ubisoft account before being able to download Streets for free. They're both pretty straightforward, so enjoy the two free maps!



Credit: Game Invasion


Blue streak, speeds by... SONIC THE HEDGEHOG!


If anyone knows what song that is from I will pimp them as the baddest dude around. Too fast for the naked eye... SONIC THE HEDGEHOG!


Well Sonic Team is at it again, as they've finally confirmed they're working on the next Sonic the Hedgehog game. After the disgrace that was Sonic the Hedgehog in 2006 Sonic Team looks to get back on the winning track with Sonic Unleashed *working title*. While no platforms have been announced I'm expecting PS3/360 since the graphics look better than what the Wii/PS2 can handle. I've always loved Sonic since I grew up with a Sega Genesis but I don't think anyone can deny how far Sonic and Sega have fallen. At times Sonic the Hedgehog was unplayable on 360/PS3, and the storyline was beyond retarded. It hasn't been confirmed, but apparently the story will follow directly after the 2006 Sonic the Hedgehog, which immediately crushes any hopes I could muster to get for Sonic Unleashed. Sonic interacting with humans and kissing girls is like throwing a toaster in a bathtub, it just doesn't mix. Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 were the last good 3D sonic games, so Sonic Unleashed has a lot to prove to me. Sonic Team is also apparently considering adding in gameplay where Sonic turns into a werewolf. I'm dead fucking serious. This game couldn't possibly sound more idiotic. Stop trying to slap me in the face Sonic Team. Here are a couple more pictures while we wait for more info on the game *probably E3, hopefully never so the game gets cancelled*.

Dear Sonic Team,

Sonic the Hedgehog lives on Mobius.

Fuck you very much,
Mark Salmela of the SIXAXIS Report




Please call him Dr. Robotnik again¡­

Credit: Sonic Stadium


Sony PlayStation Store update for the week of March 20


Must every game you be in suck now days?


Sony actually brought us a half-way decent update to the PlayStation Store this week. This week saw the release of demos for Condemned 2: Bloodshot and Sega Superstar Tennis, two games I've been waiting to try for a while. Condemned 2 is pretty good, improving on what Condemned 1 did back on the 360's launch. While I have yet to try multiplayer in Condemned 2 I hear it's not bad but not good either. Sega Superstar Tennis is a big let down for me, as the game just did not play on the level of a Virtua Tennis. Virtua Tennis was extremely deep and fun while Superstar Tennis removes a lot of the features in favor of making the game more family friendly. I like the music and the characters but the gameplay just isn't there. If I can find it in a bargain bin sometime I might pick it up but otherwise I recommend you avoid Sega Superstar Tennis.

We also got the Motorstorm: Pacifica trailer which I showed you guys last week. Motorstorm 2 will be called Motorstorm: Pacifica if you are confused. In addition there is the typical Rock Band update, some new courses for Tiger Woods, and more gameplay videos. The PC store saw Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee go up for download on the PSP and a bunch of random videos.

Credit: Sony



Sony Quick News!

Media Molecule has announced that Little Big Planet has officially entered the alpha phase. This debunks rumors of a closed beta currently running. Little Big Planet is on my list of games I'm looking forward to this year, hopefully we'll actually see the fall release of this year. I'm not sure if I can handle another delay.

PS3 firmware 2.20 will soon be released, adding the Blu-Ray Live 2.0 feature. This will give people the option of connecting Blu-Ray movies to the internet for even more downloadable content. It sounds pretty cool but I'm going to wait to see how it turns out before I start buying Blu-Ray movies.

The original Metal Gear Solid is now up for download on the PlayStation Network in Japan, with a US release hopefully coming in the near future. I would love to dig back into the original MGS before getting MGS4 in June. I would make a comment saying it would help me understand the storyline more but in all honesty I doubt it would help much.

Beta testers for Battlefield: Bad Company on the 360 have noticed in the menus that several of the guns appear to only be unlockable through purchase on XBLA. If that's true and there are weapons that are only unlockable via micro transactions than this game can go to hell. Here's hoping this is just a mistake *please be a mistake*.

It appears as if Codemasters is looking to publish a couple of new MMO's on the PS3/360, and are currently in talk with several developers. It still seems funny that there's all of these alleged MMO's making their way to consoles yet FFXI is one of the few to actually be released *and be successful*.

Prey 2 will not be coming to the PS3, which is ok with me because Prey 1 was ridiculously bad on the 360 last year.

Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain and Toys for Bob's Pandemonium have both been rated by the ESRB and look to be coming to the PlayStation Store as PS1 downloadable titles in the near future. I never really played either game so maybe someone can cue me in on what they're about.

Ninja Theory, creators of Heavenly Sword for the PS3 are about to start a new project for the PS3/360. Ninja Theory doesn't own the rights to Heavenly Sword so by default it has to be a new franchise, and Ninja Theory has already gone on record as saying the game won't be completed for another 2 to 3 years.

The in-game music store for Rock Band launched this week, as PS3 and 360 owners no longer have to quit the game and buy the songs on XBLA or PSN. There is also a new patch that stops users from buying the same song twice. Who the hell is actually buying the same song multiple times? You're told what songs are in a pack before you buy it.

A large patch was released for the PlayStation 3 version of The Orange Box this past week. Several issues playing online as well as technical glitches from the half-life games have been fixed. Portal still rules.

Unreal Tournament 3 saw a patch released this week as well, making improvements on the number of crashes users have been experiencing lately. Lag issues and problems uploading mods have also been fixed. To be honest I like Unreal Tournament 3 but there are too many other awesome FPS games I'd rather be playing than UT3.

Grand Theft Auto 4 has officially been rated M by the ESRB, so thankfully we won't run into the same problem we had last year with Manhunt 2 being rated AO and delayed for several months. For those of you who don't know you can't release AO games on home consoles due to Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo refusing to publish them.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will have in-game voice chatting despite previous rumors. The game will have 16 players online and will have the option for private races in case you and your buddies have a grudge you need to work out online. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will be released in North America on April 15 for $40.