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Rumor: William Shatner next celeb to be in PAIN
First David Hasselhoff, now William Shatner?If VG247's supposed PlayStation Network calendar is to be believed, Star Trek star and Priceline.com spokesperson William Shatner will be the next celebrity offered for download in PAIN. SCEE hasn't confirmed the validity of this information, only saying "the PSN roadmap is for internal purposes" and "it's all subject to change." VG247 notes the Shatner addon will be available on March 19th.[Via Joystiq]
Report: William Shatner smashing into PAIN
Whether commanding starships or green aliens into bed, there's no mistaking William Shatner, even if he is a greasy smear on the side of a building. The man who invented the Corbomite Maneuver will soon put his body in players' hands in PAIN, reports videogaming247.While still unconfirmed, Shatner's ragdoll alter ego would join The Hoff as the latest celebrity to be broken by the -- true fact! -- most popular PSN title ever. James T. Kirk is scheduled to smash into Sony Europe's PSN on March 19th, though a Sony representative tells us the release schedule "is for internal purposes only" and "subject to change." Khaaaan you believe it?
PAIN glitch fixed, world now has solid ground
During the holiday break, we discovered a terrible bug in PAIN that rendered new purchases of the Abusement Park expansion completely unplayable. Looks like the bug has been identified and squashed. Scott Goryl from SCEA updated us saying the glitch is fixed. Those that experienced the bug will want to go back to the PlayStation Store and re-download the expansion pack.With SCEA back in the full swing of things, we're hoping it won't be long until we see other eagerly awaited patches: SOCOM Confrontation's 1.3 patch, LittleBigPlanet save data fix, and Penny Arcade Adventures Ep. 2 save data fix.
New PAIN downloaders experiencing not-so-amusing glitch
There are many people that are new to PAIN and its various expansion packs. The "Abusement Park" add-on is corrupted for anyone that downloads it right now. Many are blaming the recent 2.53 patch, which adds a free character and YouTube support to the game. "If you did not have the Abusement park addon downloaded from PSN prior to the update the level is destroyed and unusable, Items fall through the landscape the background image is blank white and the level is unusable."Direct-feed video of the glitch shows how the game is rendered unplayable ... because nothing gets rendered! Unfortunately, this glitch doesn't appear to be affecting a small group of people. A quick look at this thread shows a lynch mob asking for Idol Minds' head. Once again, this being the holiday season, it seems unlikely that affected individuals will get a patch in the immediate future.[Thanks, ThatBozGuy!]
Top 10 downloaded PSN games of 2008
PlayStation.com's Pulse program has revealed* PSN's "overall" most downloaded games of 2008. Now, before cursing the heavens that PAIN is at the top of the list, PS3 Fanboy is quick to point out that the game was free with the Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 bundle earlier this year.The list is still packed with surprises, especially with the performance of High Velocity Bowling and Aquatopia. It's good to see that PixelJunk Monsters did well, but where's Eden? WipEout HD's absence is also noticeable. We'd definitely like to see Pulse do this as a monthly feature.*Copied list after the break for our mobile users who may not be able to read the image.
PAIN is the most downloaded game on PSN in 2008
The latest episode of Pulse reveals the top PSN game downloads of 2008. At the top of the list is Idol Minds' PAIN. This isn't too surprising, considering it was included for free with the Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 bundle earlier this year. However, we're surprised to see how well High Velocity Bowling has done. Other surprises include Aquatopia and High Stakes Poker.Do you think the top 10 list is missing any games? We certainly think so. Where's WipEout HD? Although it's a PSP remake, we think it's an incredible value.Here's the list, for those of you unable to see the image above: Pain High Velocity Bowling Super Stardust HD PixelJunk Monsters Flow Warhawk Aquatopia Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection High Stakes Poker Edition Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty
LittleBigPlanet and PAIN getting free Xmas-themed costumes
'Tis the season to be jolly ... and get free costumes. This week's free LittleBigPlanet costume is themed for the holidays. Everyone, meet Santa Sackboy. He'll be available for download on the PlayStation Store -- in two parts. But that's not the only free costume you'll be finding this holiday season.PAIN players will discover a new character unlocked in the next game patch: Reindeer Ed (see him after the break). The next PAIN update will not only add a free character, but it will offer YouTube integration as well (something the game always needed!). No date on the PAIN patch, but we doubt it'll take too long.
PAIN expansion coming this Thursday ... really
Looks like the cause of the PAIN expansion pack delay has been resolved. If you looked carefully, you would've seen that there was a PSN Trophy involving a Street Fighter character. (Street Rider - Use any Street Fighter® character to travel 2 miles while grabbing a vehicle) Looks like licensing took longer than expected, and that feature has been removed from the upcoming Hollywood Studio expansion.Travis from the PAIN blog explains that the expansion pack will be available in tomorrow's PSN update: "Everything is going well and we will get our approval form Format at the end of the day. Unless something blows up (which is highly unlikely) we WILL ship on Thursday @ 15:00 GMT." Considering this is PAIN, we wouldn't be surprised to have something blow up.
Hassel the Hoff later, PAIN expansion delayed
This shouldn't come as a surprise to the PAIN community. The next expansion pack, Hollywood Studio, has been delayed. The pack, which includes everyone's almost-favorite Baywatch star David Hasselhoff, was originally scheduled to release this Thursday. "We were trying to get all the content/ legal issues squared away so that we could release and we held out even until yesterday. Unfortunately, we couldn't clear all our issues in time to deploy worldwide on Thursday," PAIN's Travis Williams explains on the official blog.The team is trying to make sure the delay is less than two weeks. To make up for the delay, the team is promising a special Christmas surprise which they will make free -- a rarity in the PAIN world.To get a sneak peak at what could be the cause of the delay, look at PAIN's updated Trophy list.
PS Nation Podcast 085 - Thrilla
Are you ready for some PAIN? PS Nation talks to yet another PSN developer: the guys at Idol Minds, who are bringing you the Hasselhoff-approved comedy game. Check it out.[iTunes] Subscribe to the PS Nation Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3) [RSS] Add the PS Nation Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator [MP3] Download the MP3 directlyNew episodes will be available for subscribers every Saturday. Episodes will be available to stream and download on PS3 Fanboy every Sunday at 12:00AM. Visit the VGEvo.com forums to chat with other podcast fans.
NanoVibronix cleared to market ultrasonic painkiller PainShield MD
NanoVibronix's PainShield MD reminds us (a little bit) of DARPA's wound-healing ultrasound wrap, but its purpose is to stop pain, not bleeding. The pocket-sized device emits ultrasonic waves through a disposable patch that can easily be slapped onto the patient's skin. The fundamental tech isn't new, but NanoVibronix is hoping doctors and patients will pick PainShield up because it's portable and convenient; the patch means medical personnel don't have to hold or operate anything during treatment. It's just been cleared by the FDA, so it should reach the market soon-ish.
Hurt David Hasselhoff in Pain expansion
The Hoff's life -- and bones -- are in your hands. Or at least, they will be when the expansion to Sony's PSN title, Pain, smashes into the broad side of a movie billboard next month. According to People, David Hasselhoff will be one of the characters waiting to be beaten to a pulp when Movie Studio, Pain's new movie-themed environment, is released on November 6. For someone who admits that he doesn't play games much, Hasselhoff is taking the idea of having his virtual body broken again and again in good humor, telling People that the idea of hurting himself "was just hysterical to me." The lothario also plans to inflict his own unique style of pain on players, lending his rendition of Culture Club's "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" to the title as an in-game track. We're honestly not sure who's getting the better end of this deal.
David Hasselhoff to star in PAIN expansion pack
We're not kidding folks. David Hasselhoff (of Baywatch, Knight Rider fame) will be a playable character in the upcoming PAIN expansion, PEOPLE.com discovered. "The idea of 'hurting The Hoff' or 'hassling The Hoff' was just hysterical to me," Hasselhoff, 56, tells PEOPLE. "I don't know why, I think it was from growing up watching the Three Stooges and the idea of hurting yourself was funny to me."Not only will you be able to throw Hasselhoff around, you'll be able to listen to his cover of the classic song "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" Seriously.PAIN Movie Studio will be available in November. Watch a brand new video trailer at PEOPLE.com.[Thanks, Jason B.!]
PAIN Movie Studio coming November
Looks like the PAIN train is going strong. Just a few months after the release of the Amusement Park expansion pack, the team at Idol Minds is offering yet another level for the downloadable title. Movie Studio, scheduled for November, will add a brand new area to crash through and will offer a slew of additional modes, characters and Trophies. Some things that are promised in the next update: More than one launcher location (There are three that you can dynamically switch to) Single Player Fun with Explosives New Cratetastic Mode Unlockable FREE Character (Buzz, from the Buzz! games) HORSE Mode Bowling Mode (With all new distractions) For more details on the next update, check out the PS.blog.
LittleBigPlanet's Sackboy (will be) in PAIN
Word just crashed through the window, bounced off the couch, and flew into the wood chipper (don't ask) that LittleBigPlanet "mascot," Sackboy, will be offered as a downloadable character for Sony's PSN title, PAIN. According to 1UP, the latest issue of Game Informer contains the news, but, sadly, little other info ... like, y'know, when this will actually happen. As much as it would pain us to hurt the darling fabric fellow, we hope that the eventual answer to the query we've submitted to SCEA will be "very soon."[Game Informer via 1UP]
Getting sick of Sackboy? Throw him around in PAIN soon
Even before PAIN first came out there were mentions of bringing other Sony characters into the game, but we didn't expect the first one to be poor naive Sackboy. If Game Informer (via 1UP) is to believed, however, we'll be flinging him out of a giant slingshot "at some point in the future." That's pretty much all the info that's available on the subject. Could this be the first downloadable character for PAIN that's worth the money? Or would you rather Sackboy was a little more choosey about the games he visits? We've been conditioned to think that he's no bigger than a plush toy, so seeing him all human-sized is going to be a little weird.
PAIN gets Trophy patch today; Amusement Park expansion in Store
Update: Headline has been changed, and article altered to emphasize which content is free and which is not. The patch is free, but Amusement Park (an expansion pack) is not. Sorry for any confusion.The long-awaited PAIN Trophy patch is now available to download. Simply load up the game and you will be prompted to download the 325MB patch. Don't forget, PAIN's Trophies have been retooled, to make them a bit easier than originally intended.There is one free addition to the feature roster, however. Each week a new mini-level will be made available. Each of these "PAINlabs" will be an experimental concept that Idol Minds are playing with and are releasing for you, the players, to test out. An interesting idea -- and best of all? It's free.The patch coincides with the release of the Amusement Park expansion pack, which adds a bunch of content to the game -- but only if you pay for it. Three new characters are also available to purchase.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Pain DLC delayed a week, trophies toned down
Like a hot nurse kissing a mime, there's something good and something bad in today's update from the always-busy developers behind the PS3's bone-breaking simulator, Pain. First, the bad news: the downloadable "Uncle Jimmy's Fun Park" level, originally planned for release tomorrow, has been delayed, and is currently targeted for release on the ominous date of Sept. 11.Why was it delayed? Well that's the good news: the development team has been spending its time scaling back the difficulty of the somewhat ridiculous trophies it announced last month. Seems testers didn't have too much fun grinding their way through the "one billion points" trophy, among others. The new trophy list, which is copied below the break, is also set to be downloadable on Sept. 11
PAIN Amusement Park delayed, Trophies retooled to be easier
Trophy and PAIN addicts are going to have to wait a little bit longer. The Amusement Park expansion, originally due tomorrow, has been delayed to some time later this month. The reason behind the delay? Well, one part comes from the developers changing Trophy requirements. When the original Trophy list was unveiled, many complained that they were too challenging, and could only be accomplished by those that played the game constantly. "They began to resemble the tedious level grinds in MMOs and not the spoils for being good," the PAIN blog admits. "So we thought rather than making people play PAIN for the trophies, it might be a better idea to let people play PAIN because it's REALLY FUN and let the earned trophies come from that experience."The revised Trophy list is available, after the cut.[Thanks, James C.!]
SCEA: 160GB PlayStation 3, Uncharted, Pain, DualShock 3 for $500
Never one to be outdone by its European counterpart, Sony Computer Entertainment America just announced its very own 160GB PlayStation 3 bundle. Offering more than just €70 worth of downloadable game content, SCEA's bundle includes the recently unveiled 160GB PlayStation 3, Naughty Dog's excellent Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, a PSN voucher for PAIN (expires March 30, 2009), and a DualShock 3 controller, for the price of $499.99.Picking our way through the system's specs, it looks like the 160GB PS3 offers only 2 USB ports and no flash card readers, leading us to believe its functionally identical to the 40GB (now 80GB) low-end model. To put it another way: it appears the 160GB model will not have backwards compatibility for PS2 games. As for availability, the press release vaguely states "November." We'll try to get something definitive on the backwards compatibility situation.
