I just received a very swank looking black envelope (it even had my name and Kotaku written in silver foil) in the mail. Inside was this very stark invitation. On the back? A time, date and a location during E3 and the Playstation logo. Obviously, this has got to be for Killzone PS3, but what is it? It's got to be a hands-on for Killzone PS3? Right? I mean SCEA did already say at Gamer's Day that Killzone for the PS3 would be shown at this year's E3. Oh, and it's two and a half hours long. Brian Crecente

So, knowing that you'll be picked apart by every Sony anti-fanboy and studied with microscopic precision by the media, how you feelin'?

Excitement with an underlying: "OH MY GOD WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!" I am sure there are a hundred developers around the globe feeling the same way right now though. Everyone wants their game to play look and sound perfectly when the public first get to see it. If you are working on an AAA Next Gen beast of a game or something for mobile phones you want to make a good impression on people. And if you have the baggage that we have we have to give it that extra little bit. Hopefully it will all go brilliantly and we'll shut up even some of the most ardent critics.

Yes, baggage. Shame about that. Don't worry, Guerrilla, I'm going to do my best to give it a fair shake. In fact, maybe I'll whack my skull with a hammer right beforehand, try and knock a bit of that CG trailer memory out before we see it. Michael McWhertor

Q&A Session With Guerrilla Games [Killzone Unit]

However, before he rolled film, he extended one caveat to the press. "I need to kind of couch this first. This is to show you the technology, not to show you the game. So please don't be thinking about the game too much, I just want you to be looking at the imagery and how we've constructed some of the scenes and how complex some of the scenes are."

What played was a dark, quietly operatic look at the destructable environments of Killzone, the rag-doll physics of dying Hellghast soldiers, the lighting and environmental effects that the Guerilla crew have been slaving away on since the game's genesis. Windows shattered and troops fell as gunfire ripped through indoor environments. Outdoors a tank battle and multiple firefights showed the game will feature plenty of action.

So how did it look? I tried hard to heed Harrison's warning about the clip, but I couldn't help but focus on the game itself.

Visually it was certainly less impressive than the infamous E3 2005 pre-rendered target trailer, that's for sure. Animation quality varied, looking awkward at times. Moments smacked uncomfortably of Vivendi's F.E.A.R. and will probably cause a bit of fanboy ruckus when it's finally shown to the public this July at E3. There's obviously a long way to go, but, in my opinion, Sony was very wise to have kept the game under wraps and not tarnish today's Home and LittleBigPlanet announcements. Michael McWhertor

There was some debate yesterday on Three Speech about whether or not Sony has any comment on the current "solid" rumors by Luke Smith from 1UP and CVG regarding Killzone being shown at GDC next month, possibly with a playable demo. The response is:

"No, Killzone won't be at GDC at all," stated SCEA Manager, Ryan Bowling, in a conversation with IGN held yesterday afternoon. "The time for that game is coming and we'll have new information about it in the future, but not at GDC."

Does that still leave room for it to be shown at a private event during, before or right after GDC? I suppose. It's hard to tell if this is about semantics or corrections. Brian Crecente

KILLZONE WILL NOT BE SHOWN AT GDC NEXT MONTH [Three Speech]

Following a justifiably unbelievable showing at E3 2005, then a media lockdown, Guerilla Games and their baby Killzone 2 have finally resurfaced.

In an article in the Dutch newspaper de Volksrant, the team give scant, but interesting details on the game's development. With a budget exceeding $21 million, it will be "the biggest multimedia project in Dutch history." Wow! I'm pretty sure the Kotaku readership knows its Dutch history, so I think that statement speaks for itself.

What other details did they drop? Not much, other than that the Killzone team has increased threefold and that we should expect episodic content.

Check Gamespot for more info tidbits, then put yourself into lockdown mode until the game shows up in stores to avoid the hype, pissing, moaning, fanboy infighting, etc. Michael McWhertor

PS3 Killzone resurfaces [Gamespot]
Harrison: "Killzone For PS3 To Exceed Expectations" [Kotaku]

Well, "some elements" that is. After the next-gen Killzone trailer shown at E3 2005, the following revelation that it was entirely pre-rendered, the huge dip in graphical quality from Tekken fantasy (2005) to Tekken reality (2006), a similar drop for Capcom's Devil May Cry 4, well, we're all a bit jaded I think.

But, speaking with OPM, Sony's Phil Harrison said of the highly anticipated Guerilla title:

With Killzone, the expectation internally and externally is very high - and I won't show it until it's going to exceed people's expectations. It will be next year before we show it again, but it's coming along very well. The team are working very hard, they know exactly what they have to do and there's no doubt they will achieve it, but there's nothing to be served by something that doesn't satisfy my goals for the project. I can tell you, though, that some elements already exceed the trailer.

We'll just see about that, Phil. Then we'll go into mind-numbing nitpickery about how this particle effect looks "just okay" and this shadow "looks a bit worse" and this and that and the other thing. Don't you just hate us and our unrealistic expectations already? Michael McWhertor

MORE COMMENTS FROM PHIL HARRISON LIFTED FROM FORTHCOMING INTERVIEW

Games of the Week is pressed for time! And there are a LOT of big releases. Let's see if we can get game descriptions down to three words or less! New, notable, now!

Final Fantasy XII (PS2)
Shirtless RPG epic.

Need for Speed Carbon (GC, PC, PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360)
Night driving drifting.

Need for Speed Carbon: Own the City (DS, GBA, PSP)
The portable version!

Neverwinter Nights 2 (PC)
D&D mega-hit sequel.

Grand Theft Auto Vice City Stories (PSP)
More GTA PSP!

F.E.A.R. (Xbox 360)
Scary, sparky FPS.

Children of Mana (DS)
Square-Enix RPG sequel.

Powerstone Collection (PSP)
Frantic 3D fighters!

Killzone: Liberation (PSP)
3rd person shooter.

Lawnmower Racing Mania 2007 (Xbox)
Maniacal lawnmower racing.

That was harder than I thought! I'm going to consider the Powerstone Collection and Final Fantasy XII, but I'm backed up. You lords and ladies picking up anything this week? Three word responses are encouraged.

According to a Sony head, the Killzone details dished out alongside those two are legit.

For my weekly bet, I'll wager a 6-pack of PBR and a box of Tabasco Cheez Its that we'll see these games announced at or before E3.

Sony Officially Denies God Of War 2, GT4 Online Reports [Gamasutra]
Eurogamer Leaks God of War, Gran Turismo Info - Then Pulls It [Kotaku]

Thankfully, Gamasutra got to the Eurogamer links before stories about God of War 2, Gran Turismo 4 Online Edition and information about Killzone PSP were replaced with the following: "The information that previously appeared here has been removed under the threat of legal action from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe."

The stories allegedly came from "leaked marketing documentation" and indicated that Kratos is back and God of War 2 will be released stateside in February 2007 for the PlayStation 2 with a European release soon to follow. According to the documents, Gran Turismo 4 Online Edition will be released in the second quarter of this year and feature six player online play, worldwide rankings and replay upload options. The usual fleet of cars will be there, this time around 700 vehicles with 50 tracks to race on. We mentioned the Killzone details earlier this morning.

Thanks, Superatt

Report: God of War 2, Killzone PSP, Gran Turismo 4 Online Edition Details Revealed [Gamasutra]
Killzone PSP Details Unload

Eurogamer has a bunch of information on the upcoming Killzone title for the PSP. Currently planned for release Nov. 3 (yes, both in the U.S. and Europe), Killzone: Liberation is expected to have challenge modes, multiplayer and co-op play. More information available on the handheld Killzone coming this May.

New Killzone PSP Details Leak [Eurogamer]

Killzone for PS2 on sale for $19.99 [Amazon]

Killzone Ditches Perspective For PSP [Ferrago]

Rendered or Real-time? The fanboys and girls have gone back and forth in the months since Killzone's showing at E3 with little no information from Killzone developer Guerilla Games. 1UP reports that a post made on the official PlayStation forums by lead tester Seb Downie indicates that new Killzone news is on its way. Downie, to the chagrin of angry forum trolls, then returned to hiding behind his NDA.

Killzone News Soon [1UP]

Gaming-Age reports that Sony acquired Guerilla Games in an effort to strengthen its development core. Guerilla made Killzone, which should be best remembered for being called a Halo-killer, rather than actually being one. Additionally, Guerilla is hard at work making the Killzone sequel for the PS3 and developing a Killzone title for the PSP. I'm sure that excites somebody, right?

Sony Acquires Guerilla Games [Gaming-Age]

Sony has added seven games to their Greatest Hits library, which is a fancy way of saying "price cut."

The titles are ATV Offroad Fury 3, Hot Shots Golf: Fore!, Jak 3, Killzone, Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal, Sly 2: Band of Thieves and Syphon Filter.

If you don't own Killzone, I'd say run out and pick up a copy for $19.99, it's definitely worth it.