E3 Running Live Diary (Sony Press Conference)

Finally the long wait for Playstation fans everywhere ends.  The PS4 will be revealed tonight along with over forty games.  This will be our first chance to openly compare the Xbox One and the PS4.  The next few days will determine the first days of the console war.  Keep refreshing the page to get up to date information on the conference.

• Clear jab at Microsoft to begin the conference.  Gaming consoles are made for gamers and are not suppose to be just entertainment devices.
• It appears as if Sony is late or Microsoft hacked into all of Sony's video feeds.
• Conference final begins at 9:17!
• Intro video was very impressive.  Showed the biggest titles in Playstation history.
• New things coming to Playstation Vita this year.
• "Vita is just beginning its life cycle."
• 85 new Vita titles this year, including Batman Arkham Origins, Counter Spy, Killzone Mercenary and more.
• Remastering old Playstation games for the Vita.
• New Vita coming this summer with Walking Dead bundle.
• Sony is now showing a "Last of Us" trailer.  This game is already out so I'm not including it in the new games list.
• Playstation 3 Titles (we'll just put the PS4 one's in a different column).
• Game #1: Rain, Fall 2013. Trailer played, no details yet.
• Game #2: Beyond, another trailer, main character is voiced by Ellen Page.  Presumably for 2013.  Didn't see.
• Game #3: Gran Turismo 6, new features, similar graphics.
• Game #4: Batman Arkham Origins, coming back to the Playstation with a new partnership with Werner Bros.
• New Playstation 3 bundle with Grand Theft Auto Five.  Includes a really nice GTAV headset.
• Playstation 4 Reveal
• "Console of unparalleled power."
• The console is a half gloss, half matte coloring that is slightly angled backwards.  Picture will be posted when available.
• Honestly, looks pretty similar to the Xbox One in terms of looks and exterior design.
• Michael Lynton on stage to discuss the new features.  Head of Sony Pictures, the guys who make good movies.
• States that Sony Pictures will be developing new programming with their brand.  Not good for other streaming services like Netflix.
• Video Unlimited service allows you to rent and own Sony's movies.
• Music Unlimited service allows you to stream, buy and share music worldwide.
• Introduces some new apps to the Playstation Network, none of them will be exclusives but its still very nice that they are included on the app market.
• Sony's Head of Game Studios is now on stage discussing the increased effort to bring forth new , exclusive titles.
• GAMES for Playstation 4 - - - - -
• Game #1: Exclusive title for the Playstation 4 entitled The Order - 1856. The game seemingly takes place in the 1800's as they are being drawn by a horse and buggy (also note the title).  However, characters depicted in the game have advanced weaponry and communication devices.  The horse carriage stops and the characters step out and begin firing at figures in the dark.  Kind of looked like zombies but I'm not sure.
• Game #2: Killzone for the Playstation 4.  Looked very nice.  I notice they added a feature that allowed you to see enemies behind walls like in Halo 4.  Made me laugh.
• Game #3: Drive Club, new racing title coming to the Playstation 4.
• Game #4: inFamous Second Son looks good.  Nice gameplay integration with the many powers.  No actual gameplay was seen though, just a video so I can't be sure.
• All these titles above will be released at the launch of the Playstation 4.
• Actual in game video of The Dark Sorcerer as seen on the new Playstation 4.  Pretty hilarious video as I totally bought into it being a game.  "It's amazing and funny."  Will be played at the booth and on the web to give users a view into the capabilities of the Playstation 4.  Check it out on Youtube and on their website.
• Game #5: Transistor, from Supergiant Games (creators of Bastion), seems like a type of platforming game.  Probably won't check it out myself but looks intriguing.
• Independent Game Development - Tons of new independent games in the new indie game section on the Playstation Network.  Sony is displaying multiple indie titles.  Too fast to cover any here but it goes to show Sony's commitment to the independent game community.  Many of these games were available on other platforms.
• Game #6: Diablo 3 will be getting special Playstation specific rewards/DLC's.  Obviously not an exclusive title.
• Game #7: From Square Enix studios, Final Fantasy XV was entirely in Japanese and looked absurd, like more absurd than the previous installments.  Gameplay was frantic involving magic, swords, guns and more.  Time slowed down and sped  up.  The playable character's agility was encompassed by bursts of light when he moved really fast.  Didn't seem slow which was a complaint in the last installment.  Looked as beautiful as ever though.
• Game #8: Kingdom Hearts 3. I honestly never got into these games and the clip they showed was short.  Graphics didn't seem to be too different.  But glad they continued the franchise.  Big score for Disney.
• Game #9: Assassin's Creed: Black Flag is being presented again with some specific gameplay scenes.  Don't take my wrong, I love the series but they are playing up this pirates theme way too much.  Its like the main story of the game doesn't matter anymore.  During the gameplay, whoever was playing clearly failed to assassinate an enemy and it made me laugh.  More ship driving for AC fans who clamored for that!  And oh my... Assassin's Creed just froze on stage.... That is not what you want to see from a game demonstration.
• Game #10: Watch-Dogs. I'm glad they are giving this game more spot light.  Ubisoft didn't show anything earlier.  It appears as if were about to get some gameplay.  And we are! Let's hope it doesn't freeze like Black Flag.  Watch-Dogs has some nice driving mechanics with a GTA type mini-map in the bottom right.  As you walk around, you can see people using their electronic devices.  In addition, you can hack into other devices and use them to communicate and more.  Specifically showed gameplay where you use electronics to deceive and allure enemies away from one of your comrades.  Pretty cool, not as life changing as the earlier video but a neat idea.  Tablet integration! Watch-Dogs displays the mini-map on your tablet so you can see enemies.  Your cell phone works like the Mass Effect hud allowing you to use abilities such as Blackout which disables all lighting in the area.  Playstation owners will receive an additional hour of gameplay.
• Game #11: NBA 2k14 begins its presentation with LeBron talking to his digital self and asking him whether he can ball like, well, himself? This will go head to head with EA's NBA Live (and probably will win due to the NBA market being Playstation owneres).  Its apparent no one in the audience really likes Lebron as the presentation leader makes a joke about how LeBron will need those skills in the game tomorrow night.
• Game #12: Elders Scrolls Online is coming to the Playstation 4 in 2014.  They will have an exclusive BETA for Playstation 4.  I'm pumped.  Looks great if they can pull of that kind of environment on a console.  An MMORPG like this has never been attempted on a console before (sort of).  Definitely will discuss this in more depth later.
• Game #13: Mad Max will be available on Playstation with an exclusive survival kit.  Don't know much about it.  They just played a short video with no gameplay.
• Playstation 4 supports used games. Your move Microsoft.
• Playstation 4 utilizes disc based games. 
• Playstation 4 disc based games don't need to be connected online to play or require any time of communication. President of Playstation even stated that you don't need to be connected every 24 hours.  What a big screw you to Microsoft.
• Less than $5 per month, Playstation Plus members can access betas, exclusive content, videos and more.  Applies to all Playstation products.  Subscription fees are new to Playstation.  It will be interesting to see what happens with this.
• Game 14: DESTINY Live Gameplay Reveal.
• Exploring the frontier in what remains of Russia.
• Fallout type of artistry touch and graphics.  Very rustic and more.  Not ready to say the graphics aren't next-gen cause their good, just not what I expected.  
• Guns are equipped with modern type sights.
• Warlock class has a "Ghost." Allows to illuminate dark areas and speaks like an AI.
• Gameplay combines gunfire with magic abilities for the Warlock.  Seems very fun.
• Loot is distributed in little yellow balls after you kill a boss type enemy.
• Guns that were received for loot mirror weapons in Borderlands 1 and 2.  One is a sniper rifle and the other a machine gun with electricity surging through it.
• Titan class joins the Warlock and Hunter.  
• The group encounters a "Public Event." Enemies are dropping from a large ship as many teams of men and women attempt to kill giant monster type creatures.  Feels like a public event in an MMO, think world events in World of Warcraft.
• Long term partnership with Bungie to provide exclusive content (possibly).
• To be released in 2014 for both PS4 and Xbox One.
• Playstation Cloud Service provides PS3 games to be streamed onto your Playstation.  If this works it'd be very cool.  I worry about lag issues and more so they will need a ton of servers.
• Playstation 4 will be available for $399.