(PS4)(PS3) Destiny

Halo meets Playstation for the first time and learned a few new tricks along the way.  Bungie, the original develops of Halo on XBox and XBox 360 have a new IP that they're bringing multi-platform, and it's mighty familiar. Early impressions are not ecstatic, but filled with hope for what it can be. It's a FPS with MMO elements, but it's not a MMO. It's got a loot system like Borderlands, but it's not Borderlands. And there's that whole Halo flair.

Previews:
Kotaku - I played 45 Minutes of Destiny, and it was kind, of boring.
IGN - I played Destiny and...
Polygon - What is Destiny offering that's new and different?
Playstation Blog - First PS4 Hands-on
Joystiq - Preview

Pre-Order:
>> Pre-Order the game for access to the summer beta.
>> Devil's Lair access (detailed in some previews linked above)
>> Gamestop Exclusive: If you are a PowerUp member, you get the exclusive Red Sparrow, a unique vehicle that's faster/more resilient than its in-game counterpart.

Destiny is now included in a special bundle of a white PS4 with White Dualshock 4.

The PS4 Beta launches July 17th. Playstation users can play an Alpha version tarting June 12th for a short period of time.

Joystiq | Polygon 1 | Polygon 2

FYI, if you had access to the Destiny Alpha that launched Thursday and was supposed to end at midnight Specific Time, well it is still going. So enjoy.

Those early previews linked before, don't listen to them. Destiny is completely awesome. I haven't explored the Player vs Player content, but the explore and co-op stuff is a blast with friends and with strangers.

IGN | Bungie Extends Destiny Alpha on PS4

Playstation Blog | Exclusive Content
There's a number of things Microsoft's console users won't have when it comes to playing Destiny.

Playstation Blog | Destiny Beta

The Destiny Beta is hitting on July 17th. If you pre-order the game, you get access to the Beta. (The alpha was a ton of fun, and the game looks mighty promising.)

You also get a "special reward" should you participate in the beta on July 26th.

Playstation Blog | Special Limited, Ghost, Digital editions.
Limited Edition
>> Limited Edition Steelbook Case and Game Disc
>> Guardian Folio
>>>>> “Arms and Armament” Field Guide: Many believe the weapons and armor featured in this record are a myth. You will learn the truth.
>>>>> Postcards from the Golden Age: Our worlds have been claimed by our enemies. Now, it’s time to take them back.
>>>>> Antique Star Chart: Explore the wild frontiers of our solar system. Discover all that we have lost.
>> Collector’s Edition Digital Content: The City has provided you with a cache of items to start you on your journey, including:
>>>>> A Unique Ghost Casing
>>>>> An Exclusive Player Emblem
>>>>> An Exclusive Player Ship Skin
>> Includes the Destiny Expansion Pass*


Destiny Ghost Edition
>> Limited Edition Steelbook Case and Game Disc
>> Ghost Replica: This is your motion-sensing Ghost, featuring lights and audio from the game. May it lead you through the Darkness.
>> Letter of Introduction: These worlds were once ours. If you accept your destiny, you will be asked to do the impossible.
>> Golden Age Relics:
>>>>> Patch
>>>>> Sticker
>>>>> Two Chrome slides of the Traveler
>> Guardian Folio
>>>>> “Arms and Armament” Field Guide: Many believe the weapons and armor featured in this record are a myth. You will learn the truth.
>>>>> Postcards from the Golden Age: Our worlds have been claimed by our enemies. Now, it’s time to take them back.
>>>>> Antique Star Chart: Explore the wild frontiers of our solar system. Discover all that we have lost.
>> Collector’s Edition Digital Content: The City has provided you with a cache of items to start you on your journey, including:
>>>>> A Unique Ghost Casing
>>>>> An Exclusive Player Emblem
>>>>> An Exclusive Player Ship Skin
>> Includes the Destiny Expansion Pass*

Destiny Digital Guardian Edition
>> Digital Download of Destiny
>> Early access to Vanguard Armory and Player Emblem pre-order bonus

>> Collector’s Edition Digital Content Pack: Exclusive in-game Ghost Casing, Player Ship, and Player Emblem
>> Includes the Destiny Expansion Pass*

*Destiny Expansion Pass
>> Destiny Expansion I: The Dark Below
>> Destiny Expansion II: House of Wolves
>>>>> Brand-new story missions
>>>>> Cooperative and competitive multiplayer arenas
>>>>> A wealth of all-new weapons, armor, and gear to earn
These expansions are exclusive to PS4 and PS3 for one year. XBOne and 360 won't see it until Fall 2015.

IGN | This is what Mars will look like in Destiny's beta next week

The app will be in the Google Play Store and Apple iTunes store in time for the Beta on Thursday. For Apple users, it will only work on iPhone to start, not iPad.  Bungie is not planning a Windows Phone version

Cool features include swapping your weapons on the fly through your app and having the swap take place in game right away. Live stats, 3D models of each of your characters and weapons. Access to the grimoire to see collectables and read the different lore of the Destiny universe.

The apps are available for download now:

Android Destiny App and iTunes Destiny App

The Destiny beta is live and I have three extra codes if anyone wants to join.

At this point, Sony has ironed out the issues they were having with keeping PSN up with all the download requests. It's all smooth sailing now.

The Destiny beta is in full force.  Today Bungie is holding an Iron Banner event starting at 4 pm Central in The Crucible, Destiny's competitive player vs player part of the game.

Joystiq | Iron Banner event

I was bored, messing around with Bungie's website, and decided to play with the clan feature.

To help group everyone together, you can join the AALoA clan.

Check it out.  AALoA Clan - Destiny

The Destiny beat is now open for free for everyone. No codes or pre-orders needed. Available for PS4 and PS3.

Free games for 2 days!

And if you download it, join the AALoA clan linked above.

The moon is open for about 90 minutes if you want to explore another story mission. It's a short experience.

IGN | End Game Raids

No matchmaking, fireteams of 6 people, and no waypoints on the map to tell you where to go. Sounds like challenging fun.

Bungie | Blog Post

It's finally official, your Beta characters will not transfer over to the new game. Not a big deal as everyone was capped at level 8.

Joystiq | Gamescom: 1st Expansion launches in December

The Sixth Axis | Bungie Interview

Worth a read when you have a moment.

EuroGamer.net Interview | Covers Size/Scope of Game, Level Caps, Raids, and more.

Destiny's trophies were released quite a while ago.

12 Character based trophies (Equipment, levels, social-based)
9 Crucible based trophies (Kill trophies)
10 story based trophies (Strikes, Missions)
6 PVE based trophies (Raids, Vanguard)
2 trophies that can be earned via PVE or PVP
1 trophy that is either story or PVE based

Trophy	Trophy Description
Change of Heart	Reverse a decision you made in an upgrade grid
Ship Rite	Rebuild a Jumpship
Lucky 7s	Attain a Grimoire score of 777
Decryptologist	Decrypt 25 Engrams
Use of Weapons	Dismantle 50 pieces of armor or weapons
The Life Exotic	Obtain and equip a piece of Exotic gear
A New Steed	Obtain and equip a new personal vehicle
Suited for War	Have all armor and weapon slots equipped with Legendary or Exotic Gear
Bane of the Emperor	Kill 25 Cabal with precision shots in 1 mission without dying
Bane of the Kell	Kill 25 Fallen with precision shots in 1 mission without dying
Bane of the Dead	Kill 25 Hive with precision shots in 1 mission without dying
Bane of the Machines	Kill 25 Vex with precision shots in 1 mission without dying
Blink of an Eye	Kill 5 enemies in 3 seconds
Valorous	Earn the maximum weekly Vanguard score
Notorious	Earn the maximum weekly Crucible score
Public Defender	Earn the highest tier of completion in 10 public events
Finders Keepers	Assist in capturing 50 capture points in Control
Relic Hunter	Assist in capturing 20 capture points in Salvage
Hunter Killer	Kill 100 Hunters in PvP
Giant Slayer	Kill 100 Titans in PvP
Witch Hunt	Kill 100 Warlocks in PvP
Ask Questions Later	Earn a first strike kill in PvP
Excessive Force	Register 25 kills in PvP with heavy weapons
Triple Play	Kill a Hunter, Titan, and Warlock without dying in a PvP match
Raider	Complete a Raid
Raiding Party	Complete a Raid with a full fireteam consisting of only your clan members
Epic Raider	Complete a Raid on hard difficulty
Inspector	Inspect another player
Vanguard Honor	Attain a Vanguard Rank 3
A Friend Indeed	Resurrect 5 fallen players
Rising Vanguard	Complete a Strike
Strength of the Pack	Complete a Strike with a full fireteam consisting of only your clan members
Flawless Striker	Complete a Strike without anyone in your fireteam dying
Ghost Hunter	Discover 50 dead ghosts
Dragon Slayer	Kill a champion of the Dark
Hunter Mastery	Fully upgrade a Hunter Subclass
Titan Mastery	Fully upgrade a Titan Subclass
Warlock Mastery	Fully upgrade a Warlock Subclass
Packing Heat	Fully upgrade an Exotic weapon
Fully Weaponized	Fully upgrade a Legendary weapon

If you have yet to order Destiny, go to Target and trade in a game and get an additional 20% off the game. Seriously, go do it. You're gonna have a lot of fun with Destiny.

Less than 7 days to go, or 6 days, 10 hours, 9 minutes to be exact.