We've heard of the rumor before that Coded Arms: Assault has been canceled for the PS3. And since we didn't really hear anything of it from Konami, people just assumed it's not true. Until today, that is.

The rumor mill has been pretty active lately, and even more so as it's been alleged that Konami's first person shooter, Coded Arms: Assault, for the PS3 will be shipping no more.

While there's been no official word yet from the publishers themselves, word nonetheless already spread like wildfire around the internet community. So, where did this blaze come from? Supposedly, from the Japanese magazine Famitsu. Originally set for a release come the second quarter of this year, it appears that we may never see it at all anymore.

No reasons yet, even the slightest speculation, as to why Konami would cancel such a potentially cool title for the PS3. But don't worry, we'll make sure to get right on it. So just keep it posted here.

Do you remember the latter portion of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty? You know... that portion where Hideo Kojima and his friends, after immersing you in the world he's created, decide to completely try and mess with your mind by messing with your perception of what was real and what wasn't in the game? Stuff like his famous "Fission Mailed" gameplay portion and the idea that you were being manipulated by a computer into doing what it wanted, even if you had the choice to disobey?

This new trailer for Coded Arms Assault feels a bit like that, except you're forced to make comparisons to The Matrix movies and games by default, or even just .hack for your PS2. Like it or not, the world you fight in is inside the computer.

Stranger still, you're playing a hacker who's going inside the computerized world to find information. The thing is, the cyberworld looks kinda like the real one, so instead of looking for code, you're hunting for an item, but then you have the item appear as code on your computer when you finish. Very trippy.

Worse still... if you die inside, you die for real. So says the game, and that's what makes the trailer creepy. Especially since it's a warning given to all visitors into the cyberworld. *shudder* If you can take the weirdness, here's the TGS 2006 trailer for Konami's Coded Arms Assault. Heaven keep you from harm, because we certainly can't.

Download: [Coded Arms Assault TGS 2006 Trailer]

Despite Konami's exclusion of the highly anticipated Cross-Talk function for PS3, Coded Arms: Assault is coming along quite nicely. We give you three new screens of actual gameplay (yes, that's actual gameplay).

The game is set in a virtual world wherein you - a somewhat high-powered, virtual SWAT police - have to infiltrate a system. You can play it in story mode, or may play in a 16-multiplayer match. There's also an option to play a 4-player co-op campaign. If you watch the trailer and see the game in action, you can see how the game developers really stressed the fact that you're in a virtual reality environment. Fans of the PSP installment surely have stuff to look forward to in this PS3 release - stuff like big robots to blow up, and some confidential files to hack into.

In a recent interview Coded Arms Producer Yasuo Daikai reveals some interesting facts about the PS3 iteration of Coded Arms. While Mr. Daikai did mention a plethora of features, one feature (one that could have possibly been the most highly anticipated) has been outright excluded.

The feature which will unfortunately not make it into this installment of Coded Arms PSP to PS3 is the Cross-Talk ability. That's right! Who would have thought that such a strong candidate for pioneering this gimmick on PS3 would choose to forsake it all together? Coded Arms was the first FPS (First-Person Shooter) to make it onto the PSP's pretty screen and when we all heard that Coded Arms was coming to PS3 - everyone simultaneously had the same mind-spark, "Cross-Talk unlockables! Yay"!

Mr. Daikai's explanation for the omission of Cross-Talk from Coded Arms: Assault could probably be considered a disappointment in itself, "It is best to think of Coded Arms Assault as a new game with a shared theme of virtual reality. However the stories are not related at all. The direct sequel in terms of story would be Coded Arms Contagion on PSP".

On the brighter side of things, Mr. Daikai mentions that Coded Arms "has changed 180-degrees" in terms of its focus on gameplay. Assault will feature vehicles, 16 person multiplayer, downloadable content, and a (virtual-virtual) environment where virtually (how apt!) anything can happen. Among the multiplayer modes, a 4 player co-op campaign will let you explore exclusive maps to access weapons that are otherwise unobtainable in single-player.

All in all, Coded Arms: Assault seems to be coming along nicely, and I can't wait to see it play at home in the future. In regards to the game's graphics and the use of pre-rendered cut scenes, Mr. Daikai responds, "We feel there is no need for pre-rendered movies with the PlayStation 3. The E3 trailer is all using in-game graphics". Truly uplifting words.

Read the full interview after the jump!

Here are some delicious new screenshots of Coded Arms: Assault. Matrix what?

     
     
     
     
    

Coded Arms: Assault is a First Person Shooter which puts players in the role of a hacker who is trying to obtain secret information from an evil super-corporation (much like Walmart, Microsoft, or Sony).  However, the hacking in this game is much, much more serious.  Mainly because computer programs manifest themselves as strange creatures and enemy soldiers which you have to actually do combat with.

Enjoy the screenshots, and keep checking back with QJ for more on the game!

In Coded Arms Assault, Konami's PSP-inspired FPS, the main character is a highly-skilled hacker-for-hire whose mission is to steal data from the chaos-generating Ashihara Corporation. Inside the virtual world, the hacker battles against the corporation's security system. As the hacker, gamers will encounter many characters such as the mysterious femme fatale, a professor involved in the creation of the virtual reality world, and other hackers that have the same goal as the main character. According to Producer Yasuo Daikai, "The story will keep players in for a roller-coaster ride filled with mystery and excitement."

Check the out Coded Arms Assault's The Extended First Look Trailer and see for yourself the virtual adventure that awaits you!

Download: [Coded Arms Assault (PS3): The Extended First Look Trailer]

Coded Arms: Assault lets players wreak havoc on their environment using heavy explosions to send masses of debris at their opponents, while also allowing them to strategically use high-powered weaponry to coax an enemy out of cover. There will be head-to-head multiplayer modes as well as a cooperative story mode that will be available online. Powered by the Unreal Engine 3, players will take the role of hackers in which they need to overthrow an evil corporation in the cyber world. Although the screens look like they could use some polishing, Coded Arms: Assault could definitely turn heads on the PS3 later this year. 

Coded Arms Assault for the PS3 and Coded Arms Contagion for the PSP have formally been announced by Konami Digital Entertainment as the newest additions to the Coded Arms series at an E3 press conference.

Coded Arms Assault for the PlayStation3 will have players assuming the roles of hackers in a virtual world where they will have to overthrow a corporation hell bent on generating chaos. Powered by the unreal Engine 3, players of Coded Arms Assault will take on various enemies, unleash deadly viruses and download new weapons they will use in this fight against evil. While in cyberspace, gamers will be able to unleash destruction on the game's environments if needed when they're fighting numerous opponents.

The campaign mode of the game with up to four players and can be played online co-operatively. Support for large-scale online combat on the other hand, can handle up to 16 players engaged head-to-head in multi-player-specific environments. Land and air-based vehicles can also be used in attacks for extra speed and power.

Coded Arms Contagion for the PSP is still a first-person shooting action where players will have to use their hacking abilities and high-powered weapons to survive the new cybernetic crisis they find themselves in. The players will take on the role of a lone security agent who needs to stop cyber-terrorists from gaining access to classified military information. There will be new enemies and a wide range of firearms and explosives selection that will definitely make this first-person shooter exciting.

Coded Arms Contagion can be played by up to eight players via the PSP's online and wireless local play. Players can also be invited to go head-to-head or form teams in different gameplay modes. Another feature included in this title for the PSP is the customizable controls you'll use to experience the ultimate portable online game.

In Sony's E3 press conference, President & CEO of SCEA Kaz Hirai showcased many games for the PS3 that looked absolutely marvelous. After showing many first-party titles, Kaz went on to say, "Our first-party line-up is looking pretty strong, but what about third-parties? How are they making out on the PlayStation3? Well, first let me share with you a collection of titles under development from the third-party community at large".

The auditorium must have been a very stinky place to be at this point, because I'm sure everyone had already crapped their pants after seeing the previous demonstrations. Among the trailers of new games that Kaz then played, was one that caught my attention over others. This was the trailer for Coded Arms: Assault. The total PSP nut that I am, this got me very excited!

Coded Arms was the first FPS released for the PSP, and seeing it come to the PS3 could mean big things! We already know that the PSP and PS3 together are capable of some pretty impressive doings. As we saw with the F1 game, the PSP acts as your car's rear-view mirror (That's a whole 'nother topic in itself... just imagine a peripheral that mounts your PSP to the top right side of your TV at an angle so that your PSP is actually hanging like a rear-view in a car). I think it's a pretty safe guess to say that we will probably see a lot of support for interaction between the PSP and PS3 in Coded Arms: Assault.

Download: [E3-06 Coded Arms: Assault for PS3 Trailer]