Sony Gaming News

Ladies, gentlemen, princes, and cousins – How are you enjoying the PS Vita launch today? Those of you that have been following our crew over here at Namco Bandai Games know that we’re out in full force on PS Vita, and today we’ve set forth on an all-new adventure with The King of All Cosmos himself.

You can see what the critics are saying in the launch trailer below, but we think we want to hear what YOU have to think? Have you picked it up yet? Have you picked up EVERYTHING yet? Let us know, we want to hear from you!

You see, The King and @FilthieRich go way back to the PS2 days. It was there when I first met The King, much like many of you. We’ve had plenty of adventures together over the years, but we’ve never quite had a handheld frolic across the land of candy, crayons, robots, and cephalopods quite like this one. Definitely not one with two analog sticks… and definitely not one that lets you stretch and squeeze the Katamari for crazy new rolling maneuvers. The King has been pretty self-conscious lately – and he’s been on a mission to make sure he’s once and for all cooler than a school principal. And today, he’s seeking your approval.

Check out the trailer and sound off in the comments. What outfits have you unlocked? Which mission has been your favorite so far? Have you run into any other players using the “near” functionality? Are you wearing a pile of pink ice cream on your head? Come one, come all, and sound off… ROYAL RAINBOW… AWAY!

Today is a very exciting day for PlayStation, all of our loyal fans and the entire gaming industry. The highly anticipated PlayStation Vita, our next generation handheld gaming device, is now officially available here in the US. We celebrated this momentous occasion from coast to coast last night, kicking off at a midnight event in New York where an enthusiastic crowd from the PlayStation Nation came to get their PS Vita units.

When we set out to create PS Vita, we were determined to deliver the best handheld gaming experience the industry has ever seen, an experience that would rival current consoles and set the bar infinitely higher for those exploring the portable gaming space. In the year following its announcement, you’ve heard us throw around words like “revolutionary,” “innovative,” “game-changing” and more. In the past few weeks, fans like yourselves and members of the press have begun to share in our sentiments. Early reviews have hailed PS Vita as “the best handheld ever made” and “the most advanced portable gaming system ever made.” It’s clear that PS Vita is making a phenomenal impression on gamers across the world.

Once you have your PS Vita in hand, the choices are yours. With 25 titles available at launch, more than 70 others in development, and fan-favorite franchises such as Call of Duty, UNCHARTED, Assassin’s Creed, Resistance, Mortal Kombat and new IP like Unit 13 coming to your PS Vita, the hardest decision will be where to start. Our goal is to ensure that PS Vita owners are never without new entertainment choices. We’ve worked hard to create a lineup of great content unlike anything you’ve ever seen from a handheld gaming device and to add social features, services and functionality the will continuously enhance those great experiences anytime, anywhere.

We know that PlayStation has the best fans in the business and we want to thank you for your ongoing passion and dedication. For those of you who may just be joining the PlayStation Nation we say “welcome” and to every proud new owner of a PlayStation Vita…we hope you never stop playing.

When I say that Borderlands changed my life, it’s no exaggeration. It was the way that the game rewarded each and every action that got me. Every enemy I gunned down, every chest I opened brought a feeling of accomplishment and progression. So when I had the opportunity to join the team at Gearbox Software, I moved halfway across the country without a moment’s hesitation. Ever since, I’ve been seeing things that amaze me, things I know our fans will absolutely love. Things I haven’t been able to talk about… until today.

Because today, we’re blowing the lid off of Borderlands 2. We’ve got a new trailer, and if you haven’t already skimmed down and hit Play, let me tell you what you’re in for. You’re going to meet the four new playable characters. You’re going to catch a glimpse of the colorful new environments and areas you’ll be fighting through. You’re going to see what you’re up against, from new enemies like the multi-armed Bullymong and the robotic Loaders to the man with the plan to destroy you and everyone else on the planet, Handsome Jack. You’re going to see a fraction of the new weapons that await. Oh, and you’re going to learn when the release date is. That’s pretty important.

But, enough text. Let’s get this show on the road. Without further ado, Borderlands 2:

And that’s just the beginning. It barely scratches the surface of some of the underlying changes, especially when it comes to the way that characters grow and become more powerful throughout the game. Each character has their own unique Action Skill at the root of their multi-tiered Skill Trees, and as you complete more quests and kill more enemies and gain the necessary experience to start working down those Skill Trees, you’ll come across skills that do more than just add passive stats and perks — they change the way that character plays.

Let’s talk about Salvador the Gunzerker, for example. When you trigger his Action Skill, he’s able to temporarily dual wield any weapons in the game. And if you just want to run and gun and blow everything up and cause as much chaos and destruction as possible, there’s a Skill Tree for that. Or if you want to make him more of a tactician and focus on nailing that one perfect shot for ridiculous damage and money, there’s a Skill Tree for that as well.

And the same goes for the other characters. Maya’s Skill Trees and the way they alter her Phaselock Action Skill likewise enable players to customize the way she plays and the role she takes in battle, as do those of Axton and Zero.

As our Game Designer Jonathan Hemingway puts it, Borderlands 2 isn’t just about making a few big changes and improvements, it’s about making thousands of little ones as well. Everything is being tuned, refined, improved and reworked, and in the coming months we’ll be talking much more about, well, all of that.

We’ve heard your feedback, so now, for example, you can take your split-screen game online. From day one, Lead Designer Paul Hellquist and Writer Anthony Burch have been working side-by-side so that story has a stronger role. Art Director Jeramy Cooke and his team have been working to infuse the characters with more personality, the environments with more color, and the guns with far more badassitude than previously thought possible.

Oh, and one more thing. Pre-ordering puts you in the Borderlands 2 Premiere Club and nets you some pretty handy in-game bonuses, including a set of golden guns, that will help you get a leg-up on Handsome Jack when you’re first starting out. For more on the bonus items and the participating retailers, visit Borderlands2.com/preorder.

You’re going to need a lot of guns — Handsome Jack isn’t going to hold anything back. Neither should you.

It’s a fantastic day for Fun Bits Interactive and our good friends at SCEA Santa Monica Studio as we celebrate the official launch of PS Vita with a brand-new launch trailer for Escape Plan. Check it out below!

We also want to take this opportunity to thank all the lucky people who grabbed the game last week for the pre-order bundle release on Feb 14th. So far, the response has been fantastic and we really appreciate your support for the game!

Exclusive to the powerful and touch-tastic PS Vita, gamers can interact and experience the irreverent dark humor of Escape Plan with tactile swipes, slaps, pokes and reach-around taps. Part of the fun of Escape Plan is taking a moment to figure out all the new ways to interact with the game, as well as exploring the new interfaces of PS Vita’s hardware…all without splatting our hapless heroes all over the place. Never before have players been able to reach into a game from the front and back of a mobile device like this, and have it feel totally intuitive, natural and establish a real connection with the characters.

Right from the start you can tap characters to get their attention, give them a little slap to get them moving, manipulate dangerous hazards back and forth in the world, glide your hand along the back of PS Vita and see your finger leave a ghost trail in the air. Use carefully placed knocks to distract minions, herd and poke sheep around as unwilling little test subjects, and orchestrate all of your carefully placed gestures to guide Lil and Laarg through the bizarre labyrinth of twisted puzzles rooms.

Our eager excitement to get Escape Plan in your hands is peaking, so grab your PS Vita, hurry to the PSN, download the game, pop your headphones on (we truly love the music and sound effects) and help Lil and Laarg escape…or die trying.

Escape Plan is available now on PSN for $14.99. Let us know what you think!

MotorStorm RC has very humble beginnings. It started out as a simple concept we were playing around with during lunch times, a pet project to challenge each other to set the fastest times, originally using post-its on the wall as a low-fi leaderboard!

Through a lot of love, care, and attention, MotorStorm RC has been transformed into the most exciting and addictive racing game we’ve ever created. It gives me great pleasure to finally be able to share that experience with you all — MotorStorm RC will be available on March 6th for both PS Vita and PS3 from the North American PlayStation Store.

See how much fun it is for yourself by picking up the free demo when the full game hits PlayStation Store on March 6th, and check out the extremely rare vehicles while you’re there…if that sort of thing takes your fancy.

So much to do!

MotorStorm RC revisits the extreme locations its bigger brothers put on the map: battling around the rocks and mesas of Monument Valley, crashing through jungles and tearing up the sandy beaches of Pacific Rift, sliding across ice sheets and barrelling down the mountains of Arctic Edge, and weaving through a city ruined by Apocalypse.

You’ll race eight classic MotorStorm vehicle types, ranging from the off-road Buggies to the lightning-fast Super Cars, and take on a full festival championship with dozens of events and medals to earn. As you rise to become the champion of every event, you will compete in wheel-to-wheel racing with eight vehicles on the track at a time, you’ll also be faced with three other game types: Drift, where you need to power slide for as many points as possible, Pursuit, where you need to move your way up the grid to first place from the back of the back as fast as possible and Hot Lap, the classic race against the clock for the fastest single-lap time.

Outside of the Festival, you can race at your own leisure in Free Play or fight for fractions of a second in the fiercely competitive world of Time Attack. And as you’d expect, MotorStorm RC on your PS3 serves up some good old fashioned split-screen multiplayer action for up to four players.

Race your way

Because of the unique way MotorStorm RC was made, picking it up on either the PS Vita or PS3 makes it available for the other platform at no extra cost. Not only does this give you great value, it means that all progress, lap times, unlocks, medals and trophies that have been achieved on one version are synchronised to the other, allowing you to take your game with you wherever you go, picking up where you left off.

Old-school racing for the connected generation

MotorStorm RC embraces the classic arcade racing styles that make the genre so iconic and brings it right up-to-date. With online leaderboards for every event, track and vehicle you can compete against your friends and the rest of the world with ease, no matter what your favorite race is.

The Pitwall is the home of your RC community, a constant supply of up-to-the-second updates of your friends’ progress. See their victories, their defeats and, most importantly, challenge them to beat your own times. The Pitwall will alert you when your friends set faster times than you, so the competition never lets up.

The ethos of MotorStorm RC’s competitive play has always been convenience and, with leaderboard challenges between friends and cross-play across both PS Vita and PS3, it’s never been easier to beat your friends, no matter what platform you’re playing on or what time of day it is.

So much more for you to discover

With a wide range of vehicles to collect and customize, a playground to explore and a Platinum Trophy to chase down, there’s plenty more for you to go out and discover in MotorStorm RC. On top of all that, for PS3 there are a few little extras: 1080p HD visuals; stereoscopic 3D; SimulView same-screen multiplayer and classic four-player split-screen multiplayer.

I hope you enjoy playing MotorStorm RC. We’ll be sure to call back here soon to share more details about March 6th and, thanks to our partners at Toyota, we’ll also have some more good news to share with you about MotorStorm RC.

Combining fast-paced first-person shooting with a Diablo-like loot system and the deep character customization system of a role-playing game, Gearbox's Borderlands was a surprisingly sophisticated modernization of Doom-era kill-everything-you-see mayhem, and one of 2009's most memorable titles. It g...

Today marks one of the biggest content releases in the history of PlayStation Home, and we’re inviting you to come in and experience all the gaming glory for yourself. From the Street Fighter x Tekken Total Game Integration Event (where you can unlock a ton of exclusive SFxTK virtual items and bonus content in the game) to the brand new Wardrobe Wars (where you can enter to win a trip to E3 2012), this week’s update is simply not to be missed. To get you started, here are the top 10 raddest, baddest, most awesomest things going on in PlayStation Home right now:

1. Street Fighter x Tekken

Square off against friends and foes alike in PlayStation Home’s exclusive Street Fighter X Tekken Total Game Integration event. For the first time in Home history, you can brawl using your avatars! Complete all 10 challenges to unlock Ryu and Kazuya costumes, which will allow you to throw fireballs and perform custom jump kick attacks. And if you pre-order Street Fighter X Tekken from Home you’ll even receive the Boost Gem Trial Pack 1 bundle, which increases your Vitality, Defense and Cross Gauge meter build-up speed in Street Fighter X Tekken! Learn more about these boosters HERE.

2. Wardrobe Wars

Play Wardrobe Wars, a brand new game hosted in the PlayStation Home Mall that pits players against one another in an ongoing fashion battle that rewards those with the sharpest look with one-of-a-kind virtual items. Dress your best and see if you can impress the rest of the community in weekly competitions for exclusive virtual item rewards. New challenges appear daily – do you have what it takes to be the winner?

3. The Wardrobe Wars/E3 Sweepstakes

That’s right – we’re taking some of the top members of the PlayStation Home community to E3 this year. All you have to do to enter is play Wardrobe Wars between today (February 22nd) and March 21st, 2012. Each week we will select one player at random and will send the winner (plus one friend) on a gamers’ ultimate adventure to E3 2012. The prize package includes everything you’ll need – roundtrip airfare, hotel, transportation to and from the event, E3 pass, and plenty of spending cash! Be sure to read the Official Rules HERE then gear up for the challenge going on now in PlayStation Home!

4. Three Brand New Quests

Head to the Activity Board this Wednesday to take the Winter Memory Quest, the RC Rally Racers Quest, and the new Tester 3 Superfan Quest and unlock special rewards!

5. Mount Olympus & Hidden Oak Retreat

Shoot over to Estates and add two new palatial digs to your collection – the Mount Olympus personal space and Hidden Oak Retreat Clubhouse. Note: In order to access the Hidden Oak Retreat clubhouse skin, you must own the original PlayStation Home clubhouse. But don’t worry: If you purchase the Hidden Oak Retreat, you will get the original PlayStation Home clubhouse for free – just visit the Estates store in the PlayStation Home Mall to pick yours up!

6. Tons of New Companions

From an array of Tiger companions to the super cute “Hot Dog”, there’s plenty of new pets for you to adopt today in PlayStation Home. Of course, no week would be complete without a deluge of new items in the PlayStation Home Mall – check out Magnus’ latest Virtual Item Showcase for a look at the hottest items coming your way today in PlayStation Home.

7. Cucumber Modular Furniture

Slice, the latest furniture range from Cucumber, is their most versatile yet, providing tables and sofas of slot-together shapes that can be combined to solve all your furnishing dilemmas. The Slice range comes in three colors that mix and match well with each other too. Align and combine, then slice it up and start again!

8. Urgent Fury

Head to the PlayStation Home Community Theater and celebrate Urgent Fury’s 7th birthday by watching the latest episode of Urgent Fury’s Urgent Frequency Television. This week the team looks at the Starhawk Beta, and the groundbreaking “Build and Battle” system. Afterwards, Lt. Leadhead and the Nuketown Hooligans deliver a piece on Battlefield 3. We’ve even thrown in an Urgent Fury reward for all attendees. HOO-YAH!

Sneak peek: Kojiro, Musashi, Ume and Matsu, powerful ancient robots of unknown origin arrive in PlayStation Home next week. Check out this teaser trailer and then pick yours up when they arrive next week!

See you in Home!

Hi Everyone -
With the official launch of PS Vita at hand, we’re augmenting last week’s PS Store launch on PS Vita with another stellar update as well as some new PS3 Full Games, world class demos and one pre-order opportunity you won’t want to miss.

To start, one of the biggest games of the year is coming straight to PSN, the same day it’s available at retail. Mass Effect 3 will be available to download on March 6th and to celebrate, we’ve partnered with EA to bring you a special pre-order on the PlayStation Store. Pre-order on the PlayStation Store now and get the M-55 Argus Assault Rifle and the Mass Effect 3 – Take Earth Back Theme.

PS Vita games are also easy to look to as the star of the show this week. Games like TALES FROM SPACE: MUTANT BLOBS ATTACK, Touch My Katamari and Plants Vs Zombies pepper the PlayStation Store with some great gaming experiences. There’s even a new PS minis triple pack from Grip Games with 3 of their best hits, playable on PS Vita. But don’t miss out on the other Vita-only experiences like the AR (Augmented Reality) games Cliff Diving, Table Soccer and Fireworks. You’ll also be excited to see the first wave of apps for Vita hit with Live Tweet, Flickr and Netflix arriving with today’s update. Starting today, you’ll be able to find all the above PS Vita experiences easily viewable from the PlayStation Store on your PS Vita and PlayStation 3. There is now a special PS Vita Games category on the PS3 PlayStation Store as well.

You’ll want to watch the PS3 Full Games category for great new additions with Mafia II and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II. But if you’re looking for something more bite-sized to download, get your hands on EA’s SSX via the demo. It’s your first hands-on with the definitive version of the game as the PS3 version will have the entire Mt. Fuji mountain as an in-game exclusive.

PlayStation Plus subscribers get a chance to snag 6 great Sega Genesis classics this week. Newer subscribers may not have had a chance to get these gems when they were available last year. Now, they’re all available free this week in PlayStation Plus. Subscribers also get access to great discounts like 50% off Hamilton’s Great Adventure.

There’s much more to uncover with today’s update so make sure you check out all the details below. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or join the discussion on the PlayStation Community forums in the Official PlayStation Store Update thread.

Here is the weekly PlayStation Store update:

PlayStation Plus

PSN Games: Sega Genesis Bundle
Altered Beast
Comix Zone
Golden Axe
Sonic 1
Sonic 2
Streets of Rage 2 Avatars and Themes: Start The Party 2 Dynamic Theme Discounts Crazy Taxi & SEGA Rally Arcade – Drive Me Crazy Bundle – 20% off (PS+ Price $9.59)
Sonic Rivals 1 – 25% off (PS+ Price $5.99)
Sonic Rivals 2 – 25% off (PS+ Price $5.99)
Sar – Search and Rescue Mini – 20% off (PS+ Price $TBD)
Hamilton’s Great Adventure – 50% off Sale Price (PS+ Price $2.50)

PS Vita Games

Augmented Reality – Cliff Diving (Free)
Take the plunge with daredevil Diver Dan and use your AR Play Cards to build a series of high diving boards wherever you are. Perform elaborate dives and try to splash down safely to help Dan earn prize money as a handsome reward!
ESRB rated E10+
File size 400 MB

Augmented Reality – Table Soccer (Free)
Use your AR Play Cards to create your own soccer stadium and enjoy this beautiful game on any flat surface. Take on friends via Ad Hoc Mode and compete in exhibition matches and table top tournaments.
ESRB rated E
File size 183 MB

Augmented Reality – Fireworks (Free)
Light up the sky with a spectacular firework display. Detonate fireworks and perform explosive combos to earn special bonuses and work your way up the Fireworks online leaderboard.
ESRB rated E
File size 273 MB

Hustle Kings ($9.99)
Hustle your way to the top of the global leader boards in this beautifully chic, yet minimalist pool setting. Control every move with intuitive front and rear touch interface and keep the game moving with quick push notifications.
ESRB rated E
File size 325 MB

Ben 10 Galactic Racing (Digital) ($29.99)
Ben 10 Galactic Racing, the first and only kart racing game based on the hit Ben 10 TV series on Cartoon Network, features Ben and his alien heroes competing in an over-the-top, galactic grand prix race in over 25 exhilarating tracks!
ESRB rated E
File size 968 MB

Shinobido 2: Revenge Of Zen (Digital) ($34.99)
Decimate your enemies under the cover of darkness. The Shinobido series is back with unprecedented stealth action. Use devastating ninja skills, grapple hook, and other tools to freely explore and carry out your missions.
ESRB rated M
File size 1.1 GB

Touch My Katamari (Digital) ($24.99)
Roll everything from tiny ants to skyscrapers in this exhilarating “Shape-changing and Ball rolling” title. Change the ball’s shape with the flip of your fingers, expand the ball on a vast space or squeeze into gaps.
ESRB rated E10+
File size 660 MB

Plants Vs Zombies ($14.99)
The zombies are coming to the PlayStation Vita system! With both touchscreen and SIXAXIS Motion Sensor support, Plants vs Zombies on the PS Vita includes 50 zombie-zapping adventure levels, 5 original game modes, 43 trophies to collect and lets players create their own zombies with Zombatar.
ESRB rated E10+
File size 74 MB

Army Corps Of Hell (Digital) ($39.99)
Army Corps of Hell brings a new level of vicious combat, dark humor and lightning-quick action to the PlayStation Vita handheld entertainment system. As the King of Hell you control an army of goblin soldiers with various classes and abilities to defeat a host of enemies in order to reclaim your throne.
ESRB rated M
File size 625 MB

Dynasty Warriors Next (Digital) ($34.99)
Experience a new type of DYNASTY WARRIORS action created from a blend of the characteristic WARRIORS style simple controls with new intuitive controls made possible through the functions of the PS Vita system.
ESRB rated T
File size 1.5 GB

TALES FROM SPACE: MUTANT BLOBS ATTACK ($7.99)
Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack is a side-scrolling puzzle-platformer about a hungry mutant Blob that escapes into the world and starts eating everything around him. Use touch and the motion sensor function combined with traditional analog stick controls to defeat and consume the pathetic humans.
ESRB rated E10+
File size 127 MB

PS Vita Add-Ons

BlazBlue: CSE – System Voice Arrange Noel Type-A, Type-B ($5.99)
This is a system voice by Kanako Kondo, the voice of Noel Vermillion. Two versions are included.
File Size 100 KB

Hustle Kings Snooker Pack ($2.99)
It’s time to make your big break with this snooker table pack for Hustle Kings, featuring new cues, balls and tournaments to test your skills. Limited Offer: Purchasing this content entitles you to both the PS3 and PS Vita versions! To use this download, you will need Hustle Kings and a PS Vita System.
File Size 42 MB

Hustle Kings Time Savers Pack ($1.49)
Can’t wait to complete Hustle Kings and unlock lots of extras? Then download this Time Savers Pack for instant access to eight avatars, a special cue, five ball sets, a bonus game pack and a set of trick shots. To use this download, you will need Hustle Kings and a PS Vita system.
File Size 100 KB

Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 Add-Ons x9 ($3.99 Each)
Limited Offer: Purchasing these add-ons entitles you to both the PS3 and PS Vita versions!
File Size 100 KB Each

ModNation Racers: Road Trip – Unlock All Code ($5.99)
Wanna save some time? Get this Unlock All Code for ModNation Racers: Road Trip and unlock all the in-game unlockables and immediately have access to all the items to customize and create with a full inventory right away.
File Size 100 KB

UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss Treasure Map Pack ($0.99)
Purchasing the Treasure Map Pack allows you to add a full set of Golden Abyss Treasure Maps to Drake’s Journal, making them instantly available in game.
File Size 100 KB

Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational Online Pass ($9.99)

Wipeout 2048 Online Pass ($9.99)
File Size 100 KB

PS Vita Apps

Live Tweet
LiveTweet is a bespoke Twitter app that allows you to find and follow users, compose Tweets, Retweet and view updates from your friends, favorite celebrities and industry experts – all via your PS Vita system.

Flickr
Upload your best photos to Flickr and start sharing them with friends worldwide. Join new groups, create personalized photostreams and tell your own story online. Flickr is home to billions of inspirational photos – why not give yours a new home, too?

Netflix
Unlimited TV episodes & movies via your PlayStation Vita system & more!

PS3 Full Games

Mafia II ($19.99)
Vito Scaletta has started to make a name for himself on the streets of Empire Bay as someone who can be trusted to get a job done. Together with his buddy Joe, he is working to prove himself to the Mafia, quickly escalating up the family ladder with crimes of larger reward, status and consequence.
ESRB rated M
File size 7.5 GB

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II ($19.99)
Betrayed by Darth Vader for the last time, Starkiller has escaped and faces a new journey to find his true identity. Unleash fury – wield dual lightsabers and new force powers to crush your enemies. Unleash truth – sequel to the award-winning story, continue the epic Star Wars saga.
ESRB rated T
File size 12.4 GB

Game Demos (free)

SSX Demo
Defy reality and own the planet by jumping into the boots of classic SSX characters Zoe and Elise and experience reality-defying gameplay through Race it, Trick it, and Survive it events. In this online enabled demo compete with your friends by uploading ghosts of your best runs to the SSX servers in Explore mode.
ESRB rated E
File size 1.3 GB

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations Demo
It’s the ninja battle of the generations! Battle through selections of the story of young ninja Naruto Uzumaki in this exciting demo version of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM Generations.
ESRB rated T
File size 441 MB

Shank 2 Demo
The ex-mob hitman is back in action with Shank 2. With the updated arsenal of weapons and combat system, Shank 2 raises the bar from its original.
ESRB rated M
File size 1.22 GB

Add-on Game Content

EyePet & Friends Add ons (x10) ($0.69 – $2.99)
File size 277 KB – 1.81 MB

Blazblue: Cse – System Voice Arrange Noel Type-A, Type-B (PS3 DLC) ($5.99)
This is a system voice by Kanako Kondo, the voice of Noel Vermillion. Two versions are included.
File size 2.62 MB

Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3 – Viewitful Strange Pack ($3.99)
Get alternate costumes for Viewtiful Joe, Tron, Phoenix Wright, Dormammu, Nova, and Doctor Strange! Beat down your opponents in style with these stylish new outfits! Limited Offer: Purchasing this content entitles you to both the PS3 and PS Vita versions!
File size 100 KB

SSX: Online Pass (Paid) ($9.99)
Purchase your Online Pass serial code to receive the in-game cash you’ve earned from competing in Global Events, and unlock exclusive items including a snowboard, gear, and a mod and unlock exclusive content, Japan’s Mt. Fuji, one of the most iconic mountains in the world featuring unique drop points and more.
File size 8.7 MB

The King Of Fighters XIII Unlock All ($6.99)
Get access to all the unlockables now in a discounted bundle pack. *These items can also be unlocked by playing the game.
File size 6 KB

Neverdead – Expansion Pack #1 ($3.99)
Expand your online experience with NeverDead – Expansion Pack #1 which includes:

• ALL-NEW PLAYABLE CHARACTER – Play as the fashionable pop-idol Nikki Summerfield in online multiplayer
• EXTENDED LEVEL AND CHALLENGES – Expand the Asylum level with 3 new gameplay types: Egg Hunt – Scour the level for collectables, Fragile Alliance – Race around the Asylum level going from one checkpoint to the next and Onslaught –Unlock the level section by section.

Hyperdimension Neptunia Mk2 add ons (Free – $0.99)
File size 100 KB Each

Dynasty Warriors 7 – Legend Stage Pack 1 ($3.99)
Play the Guandu and Yiling stages in Conquest Mode, with 3 scenarios remastered from DYNASTY WARRIORS 5 for each stage. The Guandu stage includes the Battle of Guandu – Cao Cao’s Forces, Battle of Guandu – Yuan Shao’s Forces and Chaos at Guandu scenarios.
File size 59 MB

Dynasty Warriors 7 Xtreme Legends – Legend Stage Pack 1 ($2.99)
Play the Guandu and Yiling stages in Conquest Mode, with 3 scenarios remastered from DYNASTY WARRIORS 5 for each stage. The Guandu stage includes the Battle of Guandu – Cao Cao’s Forces, Battle of Guandu – Yuan Shao’s Forces and Chaos at Guandu scenarios.
File Size 62 MB

Dynasty Warriors 7 – Xtreme Stage Pack 3 ($3.99)
The following four additional stages will become available to play in Legend Mode: Chaos at Nanjun, Siege of Yangping Gate, Dongxing Battle of Wits, Struggle for Tong Gate.
File size 453 KB

Dynasty Warriors 7 Xtreme Legends – Xtreme Stage Pack 3 ($2.99)
The following four additional stages will become available to play in Legend Mode: Chaos at Nanjun, Siege of Yangping Gate, Dongxing Battle of Wits, Struggle for Tong Gate.
File Size 126 MB

Saints Row: The Third – Gangstas In Space ($6.99)
If you own Saints Row: The Third Season Pass DO NOT purchase this content here as you will be charged again. A new movie is being shot in Steelport and you’re the star! Join with your co-star, Jenny, to fight the alien invasion for the film Gangstas In Space. With spaceships and alien weaponry, this retro-style film is sure to be a hit! Saints Row: The Third game required; sold separately.
File size 1.71 MB

Rocksmith – Blink 182 Song Pack (Bundle) ($7.99)
File size 6.57 MB

Rocksmith – All The Small Things By Blink-182 ($2.99)
File size 2.3 MB

Rocksmith – Dammit By Blink 182 ($2.99)
File size 2.24 MB

Rocksmith – What’S My Age Again? By Blink 182 ($2.99)
File size 2.03 MB

Rock Band 3
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

• “A Tout Le Monde” – Megadeth ($1.99)
• “Public Enemy No. 1″ – Megadeth ($1.99)
• “Symphony of Destruction” – Megadeth ($1.99)
• Megadeath Pack 01 ($5.49) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game album: Megadeath Pack 01. This pack includes “A Tout le Monde,” “Public Enemy No. 1,” and “Symphony of Destruction” by Megadeth.

File size: 24 – 32 MB (singles), 81 MB (track pack)

Rock Band Network v2.0

• “Lethean Tears” – Solution .45 ($0.99)
• “My Frailty” – After the Burial ($1.99)
• “Still Alive” – Jonathan Coulton ft. Sara Quin ($1.99)
• “The Epic, Part 3.7″ – Bankai ($0.99)
• “V is for Vampire” – Powerman 5000 ($1.99)

File size: 21 – 51 MB (singles)

Updates

NBA 2K12 Legends Showcase (Sale) (PS3) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Darksiders Game (Ps3 Full Game) (Sale) (Now $9.99, original price $19.99)
De Blob: 2 (Ps3 Full Game) Sale (PS3) (now $14.99, original price $19.99)
Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team (Sale) (PS3) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Hamilton’S Great Adventure (Sale) (PS3) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Crazy Taxi (Sale) (PS3) (now $7.99, original price $9.99)
Marvel Super Hero Squad Digital – Sale (PSP) (now $9.99, original price $29.99)
Mx Vs Atv Untamed Umd Legacy – Sale (PSP) (now $9.99, original price $19.99)
Mx Vs. Atv Reflex Digital -Sale (PSP) (now $9.99, original price $29.99)
Spongebob Squarepants: Yellow Avenger Umd Legacy – Sale (PSP) (now $9.99, original price $19.99)
WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2010 Digital – Sale (PS3) (now $9.99, original price $39.99)
5-In-1 Arcade Hits – Minis (Price Change) (PS3) (now $1.99, original price $3.99)
Blimp: The Flying Adventures – Minis (Price Change) (PS3) (now $1.49, original price $4.99)
Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars (Sale) (PSP) (now $4.99, original price $15.99)
Crush (Sale) (PSP) (now $4.99, original price $15.99)
Sonic Rivals 1 & 2 Bundle (Sale) (PSP) (now $12.99, original price $29.99)
Worms: Battle Islands (Sale) (PS3) (now $8.49, original price $24.99)
UFC Undisputed 2010 Digital – Sale (PSP) (now $9.99, original price $39.99)
Homefront Complete Pack Bundle (sale) (PS3) (now $23.99, original price $34.99)

Qore

Qore Episode 45:February, 2012

Avatars

MLB 11 The Show Avatars (x9) ($0.49 each)

Asura’s Wrath Asura Avatars (x10) ($0.49 each)

Game Videos (free)

The Tester Season 3 Episode 3

PlayStation Vita Launch Video

PlayStation Vita Cross Platform Play

UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception Flashback Map Pack #2 Trailer

UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception Flashback Map Pack #1 Trailer

UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception Fort Co-Op Adventure Trailer

The Darkness II – Launch Trailer

Darksiders 2 – Death Lives Trailer

Hitman: Absolution – Ica File Diana Burnwood Trailer

Kindgdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Combat Trailer

Kindgdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Story Trailer

Mass Effect 3 Reinstated – FemShep Trailer

Mass Effect 3 Special Forces Trailer

Mass Effect 3 VO Cast Trailer

PS3 Themes

Fast Five Dynamic Theme ($2.99)

Dynamic Azmodeus Dark Angel Aldonia ($2.99)

Dynamic Blue Dream Theme 2 ($2.99)

Brisk Wars Darth Maul Theme (Free)

Brisk Wars Yoda Theme (Free)

SSX Theme 1 (Free)

PS2 Classic

Full Spectrum Warrior Ten Hammers ($9.99)

Bundles

Costume Quest Pack Bundle ($9.99)

Apples To Apples Complete Pack Bundle ($9.99)

Voltron: Defender Of The Universe Complete Pack Bundle ($9.99)

Sega Genesis Bundle ($19.99)

Stacking Complete Pack ($12.99)

Red Faction: Armageddon Franchise Compilation Bundle Sale ($57.49)

Red Faction: Armageddon Complete Pack Bundle Sale ($39.99)

Red Faction: Guerrilla Complete Pack Bundle Sale ($31.49)

You Don’t Know Jack: Jack Pack Content Sale ($9.99)

Drive Me Crazy Racing Bundle Sale ($11.99)

Music

ModNation Racers: Road Trip Official Soundtrack ($9.99

PlayStation Store for PSP

PSP minis (also available from PS3 Storefront)

Hungry Giraffe – Minis ($3.49)
A 20 foot tall, 1200kg giraffe needs a ton of food each day just to survive. But, oh no! All the tastiest leaves have been eaten, while up in the sky endless streams of snacks, fruit and junk food hover just out of reach! Can you propel our long-necked, half-starved critter on his twisty-turny upward journey?
File size 21 MB

Touchdown Fever – Minis ($2.99)
Choose from a variety of formations & plays in this classic American Football game made by SNK in 1987.
File size 39 MB

Game Videos (free)

The Tester Season 3 Episode 3

PSP Bundles

Grip Games Triple Pack ($2.99)

Australian PS3 Battlefield 3 players are up in arms with many reporting the multiplayer has been crippled by severe lag for the last three weeks...

Late last week, I was fortunate to chat with Sony Computer Entertainment America's CEO and President Jack Tretton. While he did talk to me a bit about Sony's next possible console -- that a PlayStation 4 reveal in 2012 would "distract" him -- our conversation otherwise (and not surprisingly) revolved almost entirely around the PlayStation Vita, which launches for all western gamers this week...

Warning: This story may contain nuts, does contain spoilers...

Every Tuesday, Sony drops a bunch of new stuff onto the PlayStation Network. Those with a PlayStataion 3, Vita or PSP can download these goodies, which include PSN games, movies, themes and more. While the Official PlayStation Blog outlines these updates in full each week, we thought we'd help truncate the good news into something more digestible...

Today, publisher Atlus announced plans to bring Persona 4 Arena to the United States. Previously titled Persona 4: The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena, this 2D fighter was teased last week by Atlus. Persona 4 Arena features characters from both Persona 3 and Persona 4 -- popular Japanese role-playing games with an eccentric sense of style and even wilder narrative themes...

If you're tired of killing aliens, zombies and/or Russian terrorists, then Binary Domain just might be for you. In SEGA's futuristic squad shooter you won't actually fire a shot at a single living thing, just waves upon waves of mechanical maniacs hell-bent on instigating the extinction of you and y...

Last week’s Twisted Metal inspired episode of The Tester 3 really pushed our gamers as the two teams scrambled to build a replica of Sweet Tooth’s ice cream truck under the intense scrutiny of David Jaffe. If you missed it, catch the full episode right here!

Week 3 tests their ability to overcome obstacles and stay focused in a challenge inspired by UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss for PS Vita. Golden Abyss’ creative director John Garvin visits from Sony Bend Studio to evaluate each team’s performance in the most demanding challenge of the season thus far. And this week, the winning team gets to spend some quality time with Nathan Drake himself, Nolan North. But the fun and games abruptly end during this week’s intense elimination.

Speaking of PS Vita, beginning with today’s PlayStation Store publish, The Tester 3 will be available to watch on PS Vita’s beautiful 5” OLED screen. You can catch up on the first two episodes on PS Vita as well.

Check out this week’s preview of episode 3 below, and download in HD and SD from the PlayStation Store when today’s update is published.

We’re also set to launch our third Twitter giveaway for The Tester 3! This takes place next Monday, February 27. Follow @PlayStation to participate. Congratulations to @kancer for winning this week’s prize package!

For next week, the prize package is themed around the UNCHARTED series:

• The Tester 3 t-shirt
• 1 month PlayStation Plus voucher
• “UNCHARTED: Drake’s Journal” autographed by Nolan North
• UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception Collector’s Edition
• UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception Soundtrack
• UNCHARTED Notebook

As a reminder, please allow fans the chance to enjoy the show by NOT posting any spoilers in the comments below, or in the PlayStation forums.

It’s been one week since our Mass Effect 3 demo became available and everyone at BioWare is incredibly pleased with the response. If you haven’t already checked out our single-player and multiplayer demos (the latter is completely spoiler free and a bit addicting!), I suggest you try them to see what all the fuss is about. Our development team worked hard to ensure that Mass Effect 3 is available at the same time for PS3 as it is for other platforms, a development milestone we’re happy to celebrate with the PlayStation community!

Today, I want to let you know about an exclusive offer for anyone who pre-orders Mass Effect 3 via the PlayStation Network. When the PlayStation Store updates later this afternoon, you’ll be able to pre-order to download a digital copy of the game (available 3/6 in the US) and receive the M55 Argus rifle to complement your in-game experience.

The Argus is a high-powered rifle and an excellent close-range weapon. Its bursts of fire ensure ammunition conservation during lengthy conflicts. Law-enforcement agencies across the Mass Effect galaxy are adopting the Argus as their standard rifle, as much for its intimidation factor as its suppression power.

Along with that in-game bonus weapon, Sony Computer Entertainment America and BioWare would like to offer you a special Mass Effect 3 PS3 theme—only available for digital pre-orders. Once the game has launched, these offers will no longer be available, so if you haven’t done so already, secure your copy of Mass Effect 3 later today when the PlayStation Store updates and prepare for the Reaper invasion!

Let us know what you think of our pre-order offer and the Mass Effect 3 demo on Twitter!

Hello again, PlayStation.Blog fans! I know it’s been over a year since we last spoke, and I am sorry about that. I’ve just been really busy and haven’t had time to write, and I swear I have not been cheating on you with the Xbox blog or anything.

Anyway, now that the awkwardness is out of the way and we’re friends again, I am here to tell you that I have another exciting announcement for you! Plants Vs Zombies is coming to your brand-spankin’ new PS Vita today! Yay! If you have never played our action-puzzler — that pits a horde of horticultural heroes against a mob of fetid, undead, brain-eating zombies – there is no better time than now. The PS Vita version is darn near the most perfect version of Plants Vs Zombies yet, taking advantage of the handheld console’s touchscreen and internal motion sensors. And if you have played it before, well, why not play it again? Think of it as training for the real zombie apocalypse, which, not to be too much of a bummer here, could be coming any day now. Why be one of the unfortunate ones who end up in some undead guy’s brain sandwich? Do the responsible thing and prepare now with our game! Your loved ones will thank you later.

If you want to know what you’re actually getting in this version, which I guess is a reasonable enough question, I can tell you that the PS Vita version includes all of these positively wonderful features:

• The complete, classic 50-level adventure game
• The Zen Garden
• 20 mini-games
• 18 puzzle games
• 10 survival games
• 43 Trophies, including one Platinum trophy
• The Zombatar zombie-creation tool
• Online leaderboards

All for a paltry $14.99! That’s less than you’d pay at the movie theater for the latest rom-com movie and a bag of popcorn, and you’ll feel less bad afterward! Or, heck, if you must see the new rom-com movie, you can bring the PS Vita with you and then boot up Plants Vs Zombies once you realize the mistake you made! Either way, it seems like you should get the game, if you ask me.

So download Plants Vs Zombies from the PlayStation Network today! Do it for humanity! And the plants! And for those of us at PopCap who have kids going to college! Don’t make us beg! Because we will if we have to! Enjoy the game! Bye!

Young Justice -- a cartoon series following the exploits of teenage DC Comics superheroes such as Superboy, Robin and Kid Flash -- has been burning up Cartoon Network for a while, and now, it's getting a video game. Young Justice: Legacy will be available in "early 2013" for the PlayStation 3, Xbox ...

We’re happy to announce (remind) everyone that the Starhawk Multiplayer Beta is open to ALL COMERS today, Tuesday, February 21st only on the PlayStation Network! You don’t have to “like” us on Facebook, you don’t have to “accept a special offer” and you don’t have to sign up for any service (that is, except for the PlayStation Network free service)! Everyone is welcome to join! Just check the PlayStation Store and prepare yourself for a good time!

In the coming weeks we’ll be upgrading the Beta a ton. You can expect a new map, new vehicles, new weapons, 32-player max matches and more. Remember, this is still a beta, not a demo. We are actively finding and fixing problems — and we need your feedback!

The Starhawk Beta will not last forever. When we’re done testing it will go “bye-bye”… and so I wrote a poem to illustrate my point…

The Starhawk Serenade
If you don’t try Starhawk you’ll be sad,
While your friends are having fun you’ll be mad,
It’s such an easy download,
Your head may explode!
There’s so much d&*#*! fun to be had!

You will be sad if you miss out! Don’t be sad. Live a little!

For you new players, here are a bunch of handy tips…

You can post your bug feedback by logging into the Starhawk Beta forums using your PSN ID. Also, check the fan-made Starhawk wiki for info, and check the Lightbox Beta news for regular updates.

We realize that a lot of new players will be jumping in. Here are some tips to help you along.

General Starhawk Beta Tips

• Kill to build, build to kill. Kill enemies to get more Rift Energy to build more stuff to kill more enemies.
• Shoot glowing Rift barrels to collect more Rift Energy.
• Do not repeatedly build the same structures. Things like Garages or Launch Pads allow you to create new vehicles without building a new structure.
• If you stay in the vicinity of your base area and Rift Extractor you will auto-magically collect Rift energy.
• Each structure does something specific. Discover its purpose!
• Most all the structures have a glowing yellow panel. If you go up to one, you will be prompted to either create a new vehicle or remove the building. Removing repeated buildings is a great way to ease the strain on your structure cap.
• Use mics for the best experience….and sometimes to learn a few new words. :)
• Pick your Skill wisely. You can also change them during a match during respawn. Remember that you need enough XP points and the listed prerequisite for a Skill to unlock.

Top 10 Starhawk Beta Tips from Real Beta Players!

1. Wall Spam, What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothing! If you place a ton of walls they will suck up structure cap space – and the enemy will fly over them anyway! Use them intelligently. Look to create choke points and use them efficiently. It’s very tempting to build them as they are relatively cheap and they scratch the “build a base” itch. Stand firm! Avoid spamming the battlefield with unwanted clutter! – From H-BOMM
2. Take My Knife, Please! When you’re knifing an enemy try to jump and knife at the same time. You can also get higher (stand on a rock, etc).
3. Sniper Time! If you aim the LR-3 Railgun for a long period of time the laser will show and your location will be revealed. Use it quick to avoid detection. – From Matt-Moore
4. Chose Your Friends Wisely! Working as a team is absolutely critical to have a shot at winning. Teamwork is key. – From Outast_Graves
5. Mic Up! Use your mic. Encourage your friends to use their mics and work together for optimal fun. — From Sharp Dagger
6. For The Love Of God, RUN! Hold R2 to run. Do it always. Never walk. Always run. Run, run, run. – From TuckTay
7. Enemy Mine! The mines are magnetic…you can stick them to your Hawk or Razorback. Get close enough to enemy Hawks or Razorbacks and they will “jump” onto them and explode. –From Seven11
8. To Build Or Not To Build. If you need a Razorback or a Mech, look around your base first. Don’t build another structure if they are there already. Run up to the yellow panel and build the vehicle. – From SmokScr
9. Sell You Down The River. You can sell and remove most buildings by using the yellow control panel. Just run up to it, choose to “remove” and down it comes — From Ikeler
10. Bite The Hand That Feeds. If you EVER see a player with the handles LBI (insert name here) or SONY (insert name here) kill, kill, kill…. – From RobbieK

Controller Layouts

Here are the Starhawk Beta controller layouts for your viewing pleasure…

Beta Maps

For those new players out there a couple of top-down maps to help you get your bearings on the action….

Scourge

Space

This morning 2K Games announced that Spec Ops: The Line comes to stores in North America on June 26th and internationally on June 29th...