Lords of Shadow is a day long, to release on two discs for 360

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow will last players around 24 hours according to producer Dave Cox. Speaking to XBW 360, he also said that the game would ship on two discs for 360 and one blu-ray for PS3.

Converting a game onto one DVD disc will be a problem Microsoft will have to face “more and more” in the coming years, Cox told the magazine.

“Microsoft actually sent their tech guys to the studio to see the game and look at [how we're] compressing it, but they said: ‘Okay, it’s good. You’re doing all you can,” he said.

“I think it’s something Microsoft are going to experience more and more – that they need to help developers overcome the storage problem.”

Cox added that, similar to Forza 3, the 360 version will allow users an install option in-game  that will enable them to play the full game on the second disc.

The producer further commented on the length of the game, saying that the it would require approximately an entire day’s play to complete, with the longest cut-scene (the ending) being 14 minutes.

“Our longest one is 14 minutes, which is the end sequence… The game’s around 24 hours long and every level’s different. We have so much variety and we re-use very little assets.”

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is scheduled for a fall release for PS3 and 360. The game is being developed by Mercury Steam with creative input from Kojima Productions.

Analyst: 2-3 million PS Plus subscribers needed for PSN to profit

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter has said that unless 2-3 million PlayStation owners subscribe to online service PlayStation Plus within the next two years, Sony can’t expect to generate profit on the PlayStation Network as a whole.

“Sony is already spending the money on PlayStation Network, so layering on a new group of users paying it for a service will be profitable,” said Pachter on the latest episode of his Gamestrailers show Patch Attack.

“PlayStation Plus will take a while to get up to the same level as Xbox Live and I think you will see around 1 million subscribers early on, which amounts to around $50 million in profit.

“What this means is the PlayStation Network as a whole will not become profitable, as I’m guessing it costs Sony about a couple-of-hundred-million a year to maintain. What Sony will be hoping is the new service drives people to download more movies and games and therefore bring in more money.

“I think for Sony to make a profit on the PlayStation Network, it will need at least 2-3 million PlayStation Plus subscribers within the next two years.”

PlayStation Plus which was released at the end of June, allows subscribers automatic firmware updates and enables access to offers and discounts on PSN downloadable content.

DiRT 3 drifts into view with debut trailer

DiRT 3 was officially revealed in a trailer during last night’s X-Games.

Judging from the trailer, Codemasters will once again be tackling a variety of terrains and potentially adding even more rally sport types like Gymkhana.

Although no platforms were confirmed, the game will be released sometime in 2011.

Makers of Killzone working on new IP

Guerilla Games, the studio behind the successful Killzone series, have revealed that they are hard at work at a new IP(Intellectual Property).

Killzone 3, which will incorporate 3D visuals and PlayStation Move functionality, is currently the developer’s main focus with a release scheduled for February 2011. However, Managing Director Herman Hulst confirmed that a new project is in the pipeline.

According to Hulst, the project is still in its concept stage. He did not reveal any further details or hints about the style of the game.

PS3 outsold 360 by 28% in last 12 months

In by far the most significant lead Sony has placed over Microsoft since the PS3′s launch in 2006, the PlayStation 3 outsold the Xbox 360 by 4 million units in the 12 months ending June 30.

Microsoft had reported that it had sold 10.3 million consoles in its last financial year, which ended June 30. In comparison, Sony confirmed that 14.3 million PlayStation 3 systems had been sold in the same time period, with lifetime sales now at 38.1 million.

The gap between the two consoles now stands at a slender 3.6 million units.

Guillermo del Toro working with a “big company” on gaming titles

Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, known for directing Hellboy and the critically acclaimed Pan’s Labyrinth, has stated that he is working with a “big company” on a few gaming titles.

In an interview with MTV News, del Toro said that as he is no longer in line to direct The Hobbit film(whose script he has helped write), he would be interested in creating a game for it akin to a “revolution”.

“One of the things we’re announcing in the next few weeks is a big deal with a big company,” he said. “We’re going to do games that are going to be technically and narratively very interesting.

“It’s not a development deal. We’re going to do it. We’re doing them. And we’re going to announce it soon enough.”

Halo: Reach gets new campaign trailer

If this trailer is any indication, Bungie are definitely looking to go out with a bang in their final Halo game.

“The Battle Begins”, September 14th.

Rumour: Next GTA to be set in Hollywood

In a peculiar post earlier today, news site VG247 hinted that the next iteration in Rockstar’s hugely popular Grand Theft Auto series will be set in Hollywood. According to the site, a reveal of the new game could happen “soon”.

Adding even more fuel to the rumour fire, Eurogamer have learned from “an indpendent source” that Rockstar is definitely researching locations around Hollywood. However, the source did not reveal whether the research was related specifically to the Grand Theft Auto series.

The last game in the series, Grand Theft Auto IV, was released in 2008 and has sold over 17 million copies.

Capcom and Namco team up for Street Fighter x Tekken

Rivals no more? The two most prominent fighting series in the gaming world will come face to face in Street Fighter x Tekken, announced yesterday during the Capcom panel at ComiCon.

According to producers, Yoshinori Ono and Katsuhiro Harada, the developers have been discussing a crossover for as long as a year.

Namco and Capcom will be collaborating on two new titles. The first, aformentioned Street Fighter x Tekken, will be helmed by Capcom and make use of Street Fighter IV’s cel shaded artwork and traditional 2D design. Namco will then take on development of the second game, Tekken x Street Fighter, which will make use of the Tekken series staple 3D framework and graphical style.

The games are being developed for Ps3 and 360. As for release dates, those won’t be announced for “a while”.

Reveal trailer and first gameplay video below:

LittleBigPlanet 2 gets release date, Collector’s Edition

The sequel to Media Molecule’s 2008 critical and commercial hit now has an official US release date; November 16th.  SCEA(Sony Computer Entertainment America) also announced a “limited” Collector’s Edition for the game.

The Collector’s Edition will feature:

• A copy of LBP2
• 7′ Sackboy plushie
• LBP game ends – “keep your PS3 games in a tidy, organized and ‘Sack-ured” within these unique bookends”
• A massive bootload of pre-order DLC, including:
  Toy Story 3 Aliens costume
  Tron: Legacy Clu costume
  Muppets Great Gonzo costume
  Ratchet costume
  Clank costume
  Even More Animals costumes: Crocodile, Vulture, Cobra, Mandrill
• And two costumes exclusive to the CE:
  Jak costume
  Daxter costume
• Five LBP2 avatars for PSN

LittleBigPlanet 2 reveal trailer: