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Games Web

The Making of Gravity Cat

Remember that fantastic promo video for Gravity Rush 2 (Gravity Daze 2) I mentioned the other day? Sony has now shared a fun “behind the scenes” video, that reveals just how far they went to achieve that rotating room sequence. The video includes English subtitles.

Categories
Games

Smartphone Games from Sony

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On the eve of the release of Super Mario Run — surely one of the most anticipated mobile games ever — Sony has officially announced the titles that its mobile-focused subsidiary ForwardWorks is working on, and it’s a pretty attractive lineup. They detail a few classic RPG series (Arc the Lad, Wild Arms), but what I’m mostly excited to play are the promised PaRappa the Rapper and Boku no Natsuyasumi (My Summer Holiday) games, although we don’t know much about these yet. I’ve actually never played a Boku no Natsuyasumi game, but I fell in love with the series after reading the themed issue of the now-defunct Scroll magazine (I highly recommend that issue). Here’s also a promo video by Sony to promote the lineup.

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Design Events Technology

It’s a Sony

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I love my buddy Sam‘s monthly “Tokyo Thrift” column over at The Verge — in which he uncovers classic Japanese electronics — and he ends 2016 in style with a massive look at the current “It’s a Sony” exhibition at the soon-to-be-gone Sony building in Ginza (it will be replaced by a park). Take a stroll down memory lane with tons of tech that reminded me how much I used to love Sony electronics (before I turned into an Apple fanboy).

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Events Games Personal

For Honor Alpha in Japan

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It’s been incredibly exciting for me this week to see our game, For Honor, get a live debut in Japan through our Alpha event that kicked off yesterday — following a similar event in North America and Europe last month.

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To all my friends in Japan, if you’d like to play the game, it’s available now as a download on the Japanese PSN Store, and the event runs until Monday. You’ll need a credit card for the download, due to the game being rated “Z” (for age verification).

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It’s been pretty neat seeing the game featured on the front page of the Japanese PSN Store on the web, as well as on the console (see images in this post).

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Architecture Stores

Ginza Place

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The latest project from my former employer (and good friends) Klein Dytham Architects is a gorgeous one, and takes the form of the brand new Ginza Place building in Ginza, which hosts swanky new showrooms for Nissan and Sony. It opened today. Here’s how KDa’s Mark Dytham describes the project:

Our latest project, Ginza Place, opens to the public tomorrow. Located on one of the most iconic corners in the world, the Ginza 4-Chome crossing. Klein Dytham architecture in partnership with Taisei Corporation were responsible for the facade design and the overall massing of this new 11 storey building.

The facade, made from 5315 individual aluminium panels reflects the craftsmanship and quality which is synonymous with Ginza and JapanThe project massing takes its cues from the historic Wako building opposite with it’s clear horizontal banding which allow balconies on the 3rd and 7th floors to have unprecedented views of Ginza, Chuo Dori and Harumi Dori.

Ginza Place is a gateway to the re-birth of Ginza and has already become a new landmark for Tokyo and Japan ready for the build up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The building is home to Nissan and Sony’s new global flagship showrooms and 5 restaurants and cafes.

You’ll find a few renderings in this Spoon & Tamago post, and we can expect to see more photos soon.

Categories
Events Games Music

RYO-Z & PES & Tofubeats & PlayStation

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Sony tried something new with the sizzle reel that kicked off its pre-Tokyo Game Show PlayStation conference yesterday. The great 5-minute video features RYO-Z and PES of the group RIP SLYME, rapping about the included games on top of beats provided by Tofubeats. It’s fun stuff, and makes for an entertaining way to take in the lineup.