Hi everyone! It’s been a while since we made the announcement of rain at Gamescom, but ever since then, we have been working hard to ensure the wait for more information was worthwhile.

rain was developed by the creative minds from PlayStation C.A.M.P!, the team behind unique titles like TOKYO JUNGLE and echochrome. Rain evolved from a truly unique concept where an imaginative world comes to life once is starts raining.

Move your cursor over each image below to reveal the world of rain.

The story of rain is the enchanting tale about a boy who chases after a girl with an invisible silhouette. After discovering that the girl is being hunted by ghostly creatures, he embarks on his own journey into the mysterious world of rain to save her and discovers he has also become invisible. Players will play as the boy, whose silhouette can only be seen in the rain. Using the unique ability to appear and disappear under cover players must learn to navigate through the unknown to advance. Just like in the real world, what can be seen isn’t everything and using imagination is the only way to reveal the truth.

Throughout the game you will be challenged to think ahead and plan your movements to advance. For example, when you direct the boy underneath cover, he will disappear from enemy view, or to draw enemies away from your path you may need step into the rain to become visible or can pick up items to taunt them. More details will be shared on these mechanics and puzzles at a later date. However, we are pleased to share with you – for the first time – our first gameplay video from the beginning of the game, “The Children and the Night”. Watch the video at the top of this post, and make sure to turn your speakers up for the full experience!

The world of rain is full of “uncertainty” and as you play through the boy will experience both a sense of fear and excitement as he explores the unknown world. Told through an artistic approach to narration, rain’s expressive sounds, those of rainfall and splashing water, combined with this otherworldly tale is designed to awaken the sense of uncertainty and solitude inherent in every player as well.

This week for GDC we will also be showing our first live demo to media, so keep an eye out for even more news on rain. We are very excited to have shared these early details and are looking forward to providing you a deeper look at rain very soon.

The creative minds in PlayStation C.A.M.P! have created an entirely original puzzle game exclusively for PS Vita, and it’s created a strong buzz since its debut at Tokyo Game Show last Fall. Today, we’re announcing that OPEN ME! an addictive augmented reality puzzle game for PS Vita, is coming to North America later this year.

The goal in OPEN ME! is simple – open the box and collect the items inside. This may sound easy, but these boxes are full of traps; players will need to use Vita’s augmented reality features to look closely at the boxes from every direction, looking for the slightest hint on how to open them.

By using PS Vita’s cameras and smart augmented reality technology, the elusive box will appear on the screen in seconds. Touch the screen to open the box, but be careful, the lids of some boxes are razor sharp and they will shut tight if you fail. Boxes range from a simple wooden box to a more sophisticated box made of metal, each with its own unique tricks to opening the box. Examples of challenges include stacking colorful boxes from the inside of a larger box, or exploring and disarming a box’s security system (i.e. spinning blades or propellers). So you can definitely say that “thinking outside the box” is a requirement.

OPEN ME! will also feature a multiplayer mode, where communication skills between players and speed are key in opening these boxes. Multiplayer will require two PS Vita systems loaded with OPEN ME!. Like single player, each challenge requires something different for each puzzle such as angling lasers at a fellow player to light up sensors or synchronizing button pressing. More details on both single and multiplayer gameplay will be shared at a later date.

We will be showing OPEN ME! at the upcoming Game Developer’s Conference, over at the Silicon Studio booth, so for all you industry folks who are attending the show feel free to get a sneak peek of the game. More information will be coming soon — stay tuned!

Today, we are releasing four additional animal characters (Crocodile, Giraffe, Kangaroo, Panda) and giving away more costumes, so please be sure to check out PlayStation Store this afternoon.

In other news, we’ve received many questions about TOKYO JUNGLE’s premise and gameplay, so we asked Game Director Yohei Kataoka from Crispy’s and Producer Masaaki Yamagiwa from Japan Studio to elaborate on the game’s concept and inception.

Dais Kawaguchi, Assistant Producer: Can you please explain how you came up with the idea for TOKYO JUNGLE?

Yohei Kataoka, Game Director: The business philosophy for “Crispy’s Corporation,” the studio I established, is to “develop a new product that nobody has ever seen before.”

However, just because it’s new doesn’t mean it will be well received. When I was struggling to figure out how to create something that’s innovative and compelling, I came across an article of famous singer-songwriters in Japan and how they conceive their inspirations when creating lyrics. The method was to first come up with the “nouns” and “adjectives” separately, and then combining them later to create the song titles and lyrics.

For example, you have an adjective, “long,” and a noun, “cat.” Everybody is familiar with each of these words, but when you combine them, you will get, “Long Cat,” which is strange but catchy. When I read that article, I had a theory. If we combine a “common theme” and another “common theme,” would it become something unique and catchy? That’s how it came about.

Just making something new will not sell. I believed that in order to successfully sell a new title, we need to present something new, and something that everybody likes (something catchy). So, we came up with the following combinations: “Animals,” which are in common existence and something that most people like.
Plus, “a city where humans have disappeared,” a popular science fiction theme.

By combining these two themes, we believed that we could create an innovative and universally appealing new game IP.

DK: TOKYO JUNGLE is so unique. What was the most entertaining part about making the game?
YK: The background images are made by processing photo images, and the photo shooting was quite a handful. If there were people in the photo images, we needed to edit them out, so we chose to shoot at dawn when there aren’t any people.

We took the photos by standing on top of the center divider, in the middle of the street, taking side steps as we took photos, one shot per step… we looked like complete psychopaths out there (lol). We took over 500 shots, per photo session and ended up with tens of thousands of pictures.

DK: Are you nervous about the reaction over in the United States? Do you think the game will translate here?

Masaaki Yamagiwa, Producer: When we saw the smile on everyone’s face when we showcased TOKYO JUNGLE at E3 and Gamescom, we were convinced that it will be accepted overseas as well. Please enjoy TOKYO JUNGLE, a game where we strived to embrace Japanese uniqueness.

How many playable animal characters are there as in the U.S. version? Will you have the same downloadable animal feature?
MY: There will be 52 types of characters available and yes, all the animals available in the Japanese version will be available in the US version.

Are there any animals that you wish you could have included in the game?
YK: I wanted to have a T-Rex because I love monster movies like Godzilla. Our prototype actually had a stage where a T-Rex crashes through the freeway and chases animals.

I know this is a silly question, but if you were an animal in the game which one would you be?
YK: I think it’s important not to get hunted, so a hippopotamus (LOL). In real life and in game, hippos are very strong, so be careful!
MY: Baby chick… because when we announced TOKYO JUNGLE in Japan, the Baby Chick was just as popular as the Pomeranian. (LOL)

I’ve got great news for PlayStation Plus members: You’ll be able to get TOKYO JUNGLE at a 20% discount for two weeks (until October 9th)! In addition, we are giving away four DLC animals for free! These animals will only be free for one week (until October 2nd), so don’t miss out!

Developed by PlayStation C.A.M.P and Crispy’s, Tokyo Jungle is an action-adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic Japan, where humankind no longer exists and animals must ruthlessly fight for their lives. In this world, there’s just one rule — only the strong survive!

Tokyo Jungle puts you in the shoes (paws?) of over 50 playable animals ranging from Pomeranians to Lions. Playing your animal of choice, unleash your inner beast to hunt your way to the top of Tokyo’s post-apocalyptic food chain.

There are two game modes: in Story Mode, you’ll play as a range of different animals whose lives are intertwined as they struggle to survive in the Tokyo wilderness, while unraveling the mystery of mankind’s disappearance. In Survival Mode, you will hunt, occupy territories, and produce offspring to secure future generations and resist extinction. As you progress, you’ll also obtain survival points to unlock playable animals and purchase costumes to increase your abilities.

Whether in Story or Survival Mode, you never know where your next meal will come from or the dangers you’ll face in this concrete jungle, so be prepared for anything and everything when Tokyo Jungle hits PlayStation Network on September 25th for $14.99.

In this dark, mysterious world, you take on the role of a boy who becomes invisible, so his figure can only be seen in the rain. Freshly revealed at Gamescom, watch the announce trailer for a first look at this wondrous story.

That’s all for now, but keep an eye out for more news about rain in the coming months.

If you’ve had a craving for an addictive, fast-paced action game, this is exactly what you’ve been waiting for. In Malicious, you have the ability to jump right into boss battles, acquire new skills by defeating them, and eliminate Malicious to save the kingdom of Santville.

Developed by Alvion and exclusive to PlayStation 3, Malicious will be available for $9.99 when the PlayStation Store updates today. If you are a PlayStation Plus member, you’ll nab the game at a 20% discount (until August 7th). Also, as promised in the previous post, we’re also releasing a ton of avatars and dynamic themes today — be sure to check them out!

We really hope you enjoy the game and are ready to take your spot on the leaderboards. Check it out and let us know what you think!

In Malicious, you’ll take control of a “Spirit Vessel” awakened by prophets to defeat Holders, evil giants bent on destroying The Kingdom. You’re armed with the Mantle of Cinders, a magical artifact that takes the form of weapons or a shield.

Rather than crawling through lengthy dungeons to find and defeat enemies, this game gives you the power to select whichever stage you want and jump directly into epic boss battles in whatever order you please. Upon defeating each boss, you’ll absorb its power to obtain new and unique abilities, so the choice is yours as to how you’ll progress. In the end, however, you have one goal — prepare to face the ultimate evil, Malicious!

Malicious will be available for $9.99 on the PlayStation Network starting July 24. We’ll be announcing more information in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

Hello Uberhero fans! Get your thumbs ready for a brand new foot-tappin’, song-hummin’, eyeball-stabbin’ adventure! Today, Patapon 3 fans will be able to partake in a slew of new multiplayer adventures. Take on Stone Golems, Salamanders, Deth squads and prove your Patapon-greatness.

If this isn’t enough, there are also two new missions against the giant eye-sore (ha!) Darantula – - this evil life-sucking nemesis will challenge even the best of rhythm-keepers with its deadly poison attacks. Once you survive (make that if you survive) this deadly monster, rile up a squad-o-four to take on the dreaded sandworm Dokakanel — he’s back, and he’s angry!

There you have it folks: Deth squads, check; poison spewing evil monsters, check; earth-shaking fire breathing sandworms, check. All this eye-watering greatness will be coming to you today! It’s what your thumbs have been craving…

This week we’d like to introduce few videos that caught the attention of the team.

Yasuhiro Kawagoe – Sound Director *noisycroak Co., Ltd.

“I liked the uniqueness of drawing traditional Japanese“ORIGAMI” using Japanese sounds. Also, I was surprised by the idea of having the background pattern come up using the eraser at the end of the video!”

Hiroshi Shiina – Producer

“The Artist quickly learned how to use the tools and I love the artwork! Also, I liked how he drew without having any hesitation. It seemed so natural. If anyone is having difficulty drawing on the edge of the screen, try moving your body to the left and right or stepping closer to the camera”

Kenei Hayama – Art Director

“It made me expect that something was going to happen, but nothing actually did..
Scratching the head was cute and I was simply attracted by the artwork.”

Thanks again to everyone who posted the videos! For anyone who wants to see what people are creating, please visit the YouTube Beat Sketcher channel.

We’d also like to announce that the updated demo is now available on the PlayStation Store! So if you still haven’t had a chance to try out Beat Sketcher or would like to check out the updated demo, make sure to download it today!

And finally, here is another video created by Ichiro Ebisu, the sound creator.

Happy Holidays!!