Want to read everything about Resistance 2’s 300-foot tall, skyscraper-smashing Leviathan? Then you’ll want to pick-up of the August issue of GamePro Magazine! In the 10-page Resistance 2 cover story, you’ll see the first details and images of one of our boss Chimera, which we call the Leviathan. In addition, GamePro got the chance to play through a lengthy segment of our Chicago single-player level, and checked out our 8-player online co-op and competitive multiplayer. The issue is hitting subscribers now and goes on newsstands early next week, but if you really can’t wait, here’s a sneak peak at a couple of the new screenshots below.

Obviously, you’ll have to go buy the magazine to see more of Resistance 2, which also features an exclusive three-page fold-out cover showing some art our team created of Nathan Hale in Chicago and a few other surprises. Check out a preview here

If you are a Resistance fan, this issue is a must-have.

Next up for us is E3. We’re working hard to prepare for the big show. Stay tuned for lots of new info from us soon.

As always, Bryan Intihar and I will be around answering your questions in the comments section.

1. What game do you have at E3 this year?
2. Describe it in five words or less.
3. If you could sit one person in front of your game for an hour, who would it be?
4. What game do you most want an hour to sit in front of yourself (besides your own)?
5. How many E3’s does E3 2007 mark for you?
6. Describe the pre-2007 E3 experience in five words or less.
7. Most over used phrase or expression during E3 season.
8. You are asked to make suggestions for an E3 survival kit- what three items HAVE to be included?
9. What advice would you have for someone who has never experienced E3?
10. Describe what you anticipate from 2007’s newly formatted E3 in five words or less.

The plan is to do something similar, only I’ll be shooting video so you can better get to know the faces behind the games you’ll be playing over the next year or so.

Looking at this list, I’m thinking not all of these questions are relevant this year. So what would *you* ask? Keep in mind I’m asking the same questions to everyone I interview, and that it’s more focused on the person and the event than the games – I’ll of course invite you to share your game-specific questions *at* E3. So please don’t post: “how many multiplayer stages will there be in R2??”

I’ll ask that *next* month.

Oh, and later on tomorrow night, I’m going to drop by the Hollywood launch of Metal Gear Solid 4. Anything you’d like me to ask David Hayter (the incredibly gruff voice of Snake) or any of the producers on hand?

Speaking of MGS launches, if you end up taking some good pics of yourself in line (especially if you’re dressed up like Snake or Eva or Ocelot), give us some link love in the comments.

PS if you’re lining up at the West Hollywood Best Buy, make sure to say hi.

Once the camera was rolling, I asked her about transitioning from one game to the next, how much more work remains to be done, and *your* role in getting local multiplayer/split-screen into the sequel.

Like yesterday, if you’re not interested in what we’re talking about, enjoy the game playing in the background.

More videos to come later this week!

Greetings from E3 Judges Day! We’re here at the Roosevelt Hotel right in the center of Hollywood showing the press the biggest PlayStation titles for the year. I’ve had a chance to hang out and play some Killzone 2, Pixeljunk Eden, SOCOM: Confrontation, Little Big Planet and even Buzz PS3, so there are plenty of games for the press to check out. Now, of course, I’m here with Insomniac President and R2 Creative Director Ted Price as well as Assistant Creative Director Colin Munson. We’re talking to key journalists about Resistance 2, plus demoing our new 60-player multiplayer mode called Skirmish. This is the first opportunity for the press to get their hands on the game in the US, and we’re really excited to show off the multiplayer. We think we’re taking one of the best parts of Resistance: FOM to an entirely new level.

Our philosophy for Resistance 2 multiplayer is “Massive Battles, More Intimacy.” We’re accomplishing this by focusing the 60-player games into battles within battles. This basically means that you should constantly feel like you’re playing an important role in a larger war…every single game. Tying into that are what we’re calling rival squads as well as a rewards system that recognizes just about everything positive you can do in-game. It’s addictive. If you want to hear more about this new mode, you should check the latest episode of our podcast, The Full Moon Show. We talk about all the fun we’ve been having playtesting it over the past few weeks. You can download it at http://www.insomniacgames.com/podcast/podcast.php.

The multiplayer level we are demoing is set in Scotia, California, which is in the Redwood Forest. One thing we’re really excited about with Resistance 2 is the diversity of the environments across the United States, and we’re definitely taking advantage of it. To prove my point, we’re giving you a glimpse of a few screenshots of one of our single-player levels, Chicago. You’ll see one of our new enemies in these screens, the Grim, as well as some of the advances we’ve made graphically with our lighting technology. We’ll be blowing this level out in the August issue of Gamepro magazine and Resistance fans, you can’t miss it.

Speaking of screenshots, we know from listening to our fans that you always want more. But have you ever wondered exactly what goes into a screenshot?

They aren’t as easy to take as you might think when the game is in the middle of development. My fellow Community Manager Bryan Intihar just got his first experience of the pain it can be at times, to check out his blog on the matter, click here.

That’s all for now, but Bryan and I will be answering your questions in the comments as always.

JS

Much like last week’s PlayStation Day in Europe, games like Resistance 2, LittleBigPlanet, Killzone 2, SOCOM Confrontation and Motorstorm Pacific Rift will be on display. In addition, some eagerly anticipated PSN titles are playable, like PixelJunk Eden and Siren: Blood Curse.

Unlike Europe’s PlayStation Day, E3 Judges’ Day is a much more intimate affair. Therefore, we’ll do our best to pull back the curtain on the event. Throughout the day we’ll be posting Twitter updates and pointing you to coverage you’re sure to find compelling.

Attached are some pics I took this morning – if you’re a gamer and the sight of these future titles doesn’t get you drooling – kindly check your pulse.

See you this afternoon.

By now, you all have probably caught some part of our press conference, but you may not be aware of all the work that went into it. You guys seemed to have enjoyed the time lapse video we put together following our Gamer’s Day in May — so here’s another one from our press conference and our adjacent post-show arcade area at E3. Hope you enjoy it. Oh, and if you’re wondering what the glowing balls of light are in the arcade area, think ping pong balls…3,000 ping pong balls.

Get That E3 Feeling
Another E3 Winding Down, Plus a Quick Clarification
Sony PlayStation Games @ E3
Images From E3
We’re Just Getting Started…
New PS3, New Price & More News Coming

The fact that we’re even talking about E3 in July rather than in May illustrates one of the many changes to the annual gaming blowout. This year’s expo was more exclusive than ever and a big departure from the E3 events of years past. That meant fewer throbbing lights and screaming gamers, and even fewer non-industry insiders in attendance. But that doesn’t mean we’re not looking out for you. In fact, we gave 50 Gamer Advisory Panel members the opportunity to attend the SCEA E3 Press Event on July 11. Better still, we have two G.A.P. members, Trina Schwimmer and Colin Bennett, on the inside attending further E3 events. They’re reporting back with all the eagle-eyed observations and candor you need to get the gamer’s-eye view.

So check out their posts to get a glimpse of what’s going on this year at E3:

One quick thing before I head to the show for the last day. I just wanted to clarify something. I’ve seen a lot of posts this morning related to the 60GB SKU and the comments by SCEE President David Reeves. As we announced this week, SCEA’s product offering in North America consists of a 80GB PS3 available in August and a 60GB PS3 available now for $499. We will have ample supplies of both models to meet the needs of consumers for the foreseeable future.

Talk to you again soon, once we get back from Santa Monica.