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Zombie Tycoon 2 free on PS Plus this week; BioShocks, Metal Gears, God of Wars on sale
This week's free PS Plus game is Zombie Tycoon 2, launching tomorrow as a PSN download on PS3 and PS Vita. Zombie Tycoon 2 is the sequel to Frima Studios' real-time strategy game pitting two mad scientists against one another, each with an army of zombies at his beck and call, as they try to invade the town of Finkleville.In addition to the free game, the usual discount trumpeting will take place tomorrow. Spring Fever concludes with arguably its best week yet, offering up discounts themed around PlayStation All-Stars ($20 for PS Plus members) and its featured combatants. Many notable series are on sale, including entries in Metal Gear, Sly Cooper, BioShock, LittleBigPlanet, Devil May Cry, God of War, Infamous, Ratchet & Clank and Twisted Metal. The full list is available over on the PlayStation Blog.
BioShock Infinite costumes coming to various LittleBigPlanets
It just wouldn't be the release of an ultra-hyped AAA game without some adorable little Sackboy cross-promotion costumes, so obviously BioShock Infinite outfits will be heading to LittleBigPlanet 2, LittleBigPlanet Karting and LittleBigPlanet Vita tomorrow.As seen above, the pack includes Infinite's heroes Elizabeth and Booker, as well as a few of the game's less savory characters. Each costume is priced $1.99, while the party of five comes in at $5.99.
Sale spotlight: God of War series, Mass Effect 2 on EU PSN this week
For the next week, PSN users across the pond can snag a slew of God of War stuff on the cheap, with PlayStation Plus members getting an additional 10 percent off everything. Dramatic discounts have been extended to the God of War Collection, each individual God of War game sans God of War 3, and even LittleBigPlanet DLC and the trilogy soundtrack. PlayStation Plus subscribers get an additional 10 percent off on all of that.This week also marks the debut of Mass Effect 3 as a free game for PlayStation Plus members in Europe, kicking off a month of pretty great freebies. To celebrate ME3's Instant Game Collection status, Sony is also discounting downloads of Mass Effect 2 by 30 percent for everyone – as with the God of War stuff, PlayStation Plus members take an additional 10 percent off.
LittleBigPlanet Vita's street date lifted, no online until tomorrow
Originally listed for a September 25 release, copies of LittleBigPlanet Vita are popping up on retail shelves early after Sony lifted the game's street date. Speaking to Game Informer, Sony confirmed the street date is now a "launch date" and retailers can sell the game early.Sony then made an official announcement, noting the game has no online functionality until tomorrow when the servers go live. Compared to the statement given to Game Informer, the wording is more suggestive of certain retailers selling the game early outside of Sony's control. It reads:"Production on LittleBigPlanet PlayStation Vita was completed earlier than expected, and due to the excitement from our retail partners, some have decided to put it on shelves as soon as the product was received. You'll still be able to fully enjoy all the offline features of the game, but the servers will not go live until September 18th. We apologize for any confusion this may cause and will keep you posted on any further updates."While LittleBigPlanet Vita officially launches next Tuesday, it's available at certain retailers now including some GameStop outlets, as confirmed by NeoGAF users. It may well be worth the early hunt, with our review deeming the Vita entry the best LittleBigPlanet yet.
Most LittleBigPlanet costume DLC to become cross-platform, only require one purchase
Most costumes purchased for use in LittleBigPlanet and LittleBigPlanet 2 will not only be compatible with LittleBigPlanet Vita and LittleBigPlanet Karting, but users will be able to transfer the DLC for freezies, in both directions. This means that purchasing a costume once will grant the use of those threads in all four games.Not all costumes will be available cross-platform at launch, and neither Assassin's Creed costumes nor the April Fools Fragrance costume will be available on Karting, but the rest of the DLC will eventually come to all four games.Since dressing Sackboy up as a Disney princess or indie darling is very nearly as much fun as actually playing a LittleBigPlanet game, we'd imagine this news would be music to the ears of anyone whose nights are filled with costume changes, accessorizing and Ben & Jerry's. Not that we would have any personal, first-hand knowledge of that sort of thing. Nope.
Claim a LittleBigPlanet Karting beta code right here [update: beta's over!]
Are you curious about how the Play, Create, Share ethos and charming DIY aesthetic of LittleBigPlanet transfer to a kart racer? Or do you just want to drive some super cute little cars? Either way, we can help!Sony provided us with 1,000 codes that will allow any PS3 user in the US, Canada, or Mexico to enter the LittleBigPlanet Karting beta going on right now. All you have to do is click here to get yourself a code.Hurry! The beta is only open through July 31. And then hurry while you're playing, because it's a racing game after all. Get your beta code (North America only) Beta has ended
Alice in Wonderland DLC makes a very important date with LittleBigPlanet
LittleBigPlanet's sackboys lead very busy lives in an extremely large world, meaning they don't always have time to watch the latest movies as they're released in theaters. This is one explanation for the Alice in Wonderland costume pack coming to LittleBigPlanet this week, featuring accessories based on the 2010 Tim Burton film.The pack will include costumes for Alice, the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and the Red Queen, all in their full Burtonized glory. Each costume is available individually, but buying the entire pack gives players Alice in Wonderland stickers as well.
Sony confirms 'LittleBigPlanet Karting'
Sony has confirmed development of LittleBigPlanet Karting. The news comes via a tweet from Sony's PlayStation account, which states quite simply the game is in development and that the publisher hopes to share more information "soon."Reports were circulating earlier this week -- though they have since been pulled -- that the game would feature PlayStation Move support and a Move racing wheel peripheral, perhaps in the style of Nintendo's massively successful Mario Kart Wii.Whatever becomes of the final product, the existence of LittleBigPlanet Karting is an interesting development considering that Sony already has a flagship kart racer, Modnation Racers (pictured).
Report: 'LittleBigPlanet Cart Racing' to include Move racing wheel
LittleBigPlanet probably can't get cuter, but it can get cart-er -- LittleBigPlanet Cart Racing will be crashing into the PlayStation Move, complete with a Move-compatible racing wheel, Sony revealed at its Destination PlayStation event, as reported by Future Shop Gamer.LittleBigPlanet Cart Racing will support full 3D, but Sony offered no further details.
TGS Vita screen 'splosion: Escape Plan, LittleBigPlanet, Dark Quest, Legion of Hell
We don't know if you realized, but Tokyo Game Show is actually conducted entirely in stop motion, through a series of giant screencap cutouts and mulitcolored strobe lights. Really, it is. No, really. OK, fine. It isn't. We do, however, have a ton of screenshots from TGS, including the following batches of Vita games: Escape Plan, LittleBigPlanet, Dungeon Hunter Alliance (Dark Quest in Japanese) and a new title from Square Enix, Legion of Hell (make sure your speakers are turned up all the way for that website). Switch on your strobes and let the show begin below: LittleBigPlanet %Gallery-134126%
EEDAR: PSN Welcome Back program spurred download sales
According to a new report from analytics firm EEDAR, Sony's PlayStation Network Welcome Back program did more than boost user morale: it actually boosted purchases of downloadable titles. Using data gathered from IGN GamerMetrics, ownership of downloadable titles jumped from 13 percent in March, before the PSN first went down, up to 17 percent in June. The jump isn't surprising, given the free titles Sony made available. Even taking those out of the equation, though, downloadable ownership was still up to 15 percent in June. The firm also noted that interest in sequels to the free games, notably LittleBigPlanet and Dead Nation, rose significantly. Specifically, LittleBigPlanet 2 trailer views were up 69 percent on GameTrailers, while Google Insights data indicated a greatly increased number of searches for the term "Dead Nation 2." Based on the increased interest in sequels to the free titles in the Welcome Back program, EEDAR suggests a possible new model for sequel releases. Essentially, in order to drum up interest for upcoming sequels, publishers could release their respective predecessors for free for a limited time. The report acknowledges that this is a risky maneuver, though it notes that the free titles would only have to boost sales of their sequels by a small margin for the practice to be profitable.
Media Molecule taking a break from LBP to develop 'new ideas'
Having created two entries in a series that has spawned millions of levels, it seems Guildford-based developer Media Molecule is considering a vacation from LittleBigPlanet for its next project. During a talk at the Gamelab 2011 conference in Barcelona (attended by Edge), studio director Siobhan Reddy said, "We're stepping away from LittleBigPlanet to focus on some new ideas." That doesn't mean the team's leaving the franchise behind entirely. After all, they're still working on the beefy Move update for LittleBigPlanet 2. Frankly, we think that desire to move on is pretty reasonable, considering the game they created nearly counts as an infinite number of games. We've contacted the studio for more information about their Next Next Big Thing.
LittleBigPlanet (PS Vita) preview: Touched by a Sackboy
First, the bad news: Unlike ModNation Racers, the PS Vita version of LittleBigPlanet won't be able to make use of all the user content already created for its two big brother sequels on the PS3. There are two Blu-Ray discs of content to use in the LittleBigPlanet games on the PS3, and there was no way for Sony to carry all of that content over to the PS Vita. The good news, however, is that allowed the developers to really take advantage of all the Vita has to offer. "We wanted to make the game very original," the Sony representative told us while showing off the title after the E3 press event. And it certainly is -- while Sackboy moves and plays exactly like his PS3 counterpart (and in fact, all of the costumes did make the jump), the Vita's touchscreen is a literal game-changer here. In most of the other Vita games, the touchscreens are just a substitute for the traditional button controls. But in LittleBigPlanet, they give the game even more depth, tactility, and immersion.%Gallery-125609%
Let your eyeballs touch this LittleBigPlanet PlayStation Vita E3 trailer
On stage at Sony's E3 2011 press conference, LittleBigPlanet for PlayStation Vita was revealed. Sony Worldwide Studios VP Scott Rohde unveiled the newest handheld installment in the franchise, which will support touchscreen controls, tilt controls and rear touchscreen controls. He also promised an expanded toolbox for budding creators and mentioned the PlayStation Vita's duel cameras, though he didn't confirm to what extent the latter would be used. Hit the jump for the announcement trailer.
Sony's 'Welcome Back' campaign apologizes to distraught PSN users with free games, good vibes
Remember the recent PlayStation Network outage? You know the one, right? It started in late-April and lasted up through this weekend's phased restoration (and continues on for many un-phased users). Well, Sony would like to sincerely apologize for the whole thing the best way it knows how: free video games. The company today announced its "Welcome Back" program, which is letting all existing PSN and Qriocity users in North America pick two of the following games: Dead Nation, inFAMOUS, LittleBigPlanet, Super Stardust HD, and Wipeout HD + Fury. PSP users, meanwhile, can chose two from LittleBigPlanet, ModNation Racers, Pursuit Force, and Kill Liberation. You can claim the games at some point in the next 30 days, and once you've downloaded, they're yours to keep. The gesture may well prove too little, too late for many disgruntled users -- but even they'll likely have trouble staying angry at Sackboy's adorable little dirt-stained mug.
Media Molecule auctioning original LittleBigPlanet art for Japan relief
Media Molecule is doing its part for the Play for Japan campaign, auctioning off a few rare pieces of original concept art for LittleBigPlanet, along with signed copies of its sequel. There are four sketches up for grabs on the auction block, each of which show the evolution and development of the franchise's floppy, stitched protagonist, Sackboy. Each piece comes with a copy of LBP2 with an extremely limited edition cover slip signed by the entire Media Molecule team. Bidders can also try to grab a super rare, in-game crown costume piece for their Sackperson -- a prize usually only distributed as prizes for Media Molecule contests. If you'd like to get involved and grab a piece of LittleBigPlanet history in the process, check out Media Molecule's eBay page.
Plants vs. Zombots: a LittleBigPlanet 2 re-creation
Plants vs. Zombots might be the most faithful recreation of a game we've see in LittleBigPlanet 2 so far. The level, created by Foggles, replicates all the sunshine grabbing, sunflower planting and zombie shooting you'd expect from Plants vs. Zombies.
Uncharted, Killzone, Resistance, LBP ... and Little Deviants among 'NGP' games in development
Sony's bringing out its biggest guns for its new little game machine, the device currently known as "NGP." A slide revealed franchises currently in development for the newly announced handheld, including familiar names like Hot Shots Golf, LittleBigPlanet, WipEout, Killzone, Resistance, and PS3 showpiece Uncharted. Sony's Shuhei Yoshida showed off the Uncharted game, and revealed some controls new to the series: you can touch the screen (or press X) to jump, swing the NGP back and forth to swing on vines, and climb using the device's rear touch panel "as if you're climbing a vine with both hands."The new IPs sound a bit more, um, eclectic: Gravity Daze, Reality Fighters (an augmented reality title), Smart As, Broken, and the delightful-sounding Little Deviants. Update: PlayStation Blog confirms the complete list of game franchises noted at PlayStation Meeting 2011 with NGP iterations in development: Call of Duty Broken Gravity Daze Hot Shots Golf Hustle Kings Killzone LittleBigPlanet Little Deviants Reality Fighters Resistance Smart As Uncharted WipEout
Windows XP partially re-created in LittleBigPlanet 2, ups the stakes for gamer ambitiousness (video)
We've seen an CHIP-8 emulator and even a virtual CPU built inside games, but we've yet to encounter a game recreation of Windows. Thanks to a quartet of industrious LittleBigPlanet 2 beta players, though, we can now finally check that off in our copy of 100 Geeky Projects You Must Witness Before Dying. As the video above shows, major Windows functions they've emulated to date include a working start menu and mouse cursor, multiplayer support for a variety of bloatware games, and even the good ole' blue screen of death. That's pretty impressive stuff from an ambitious platforming title that won't officially ship until mid-January. Needless to say, once the full version arrives, we expect to see a working copy of Lion running stat. You heard us folks -- we're setting the bar that high.
PSN Tuesday: eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh X-Men Arcade
For those who don't have all the X-Men Arcade tracks forever burned into their brain, here's the reference for the headline. This week's PSN update is packed with downloadable superheroes. The full game of Prototype is available, along with the aforementioned X-Men Arcade and the flipping good Marvel Pinball. Also available is emo Prince from Warrior Within who, when he isn't slicing up bad guys, is constantly cutting himself as an ever-present reminder of his pain for not selling enough copies of The Sands of TIme, the result of which forced him to wear "man-scara" in the sequel. Check out the full PSN update after the break. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
