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Some Vita games already available through PS3 in US
You'll have to search for them, but you can download five PlayStation Vita games through the PS3's PlayStation Store. The selection of early, hidden releases includes Uncharted: Golden Abyss (which is not discounted at all at $49.99), Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational for $35.99, Wipeout 2048 for $35.99, ModNation Racers Road Trip for $26.99, and the PSN-only Super Stardust Delta for $9.99.Sure, you probably don't have a Vita yet, but don't let that stop you from building up a library. Then, when the system does arrive (or if you have one right now!) you can use the Content Manager Assistant to transfer the games to that huge memory card you'd better buy.
PSA: PlayStation Network goes down (again) from 9AM ET, but it's for maintenance (again)
There's presumably still some kinks left to be resolved, as Sony's PSN is once more scheduled to snooze from 9AM EST through 3AM. Longer than last month's efforts, it'll affect the PlayStation Store, Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited services on PlayStation Home. However, you will be able to continue online gaming if you sign in ahead of the downtime. Frustrated gamers can seek the full explanation at the source below.
PS Vita's interface, background downloading, and Getting Started video
The PlayStation Vita's interface shows a strong iPhone influence, from its touch-only navigation to its stylized unlock screen. In the above video, I provide a quick overview of the UI and touch interface the new handheld system uses, including its multitasking capabilities and "LiveArea" loading screens. I also lie, a bit -- after recording the video, I discovered the obvious fact that you can rearrange your icons, simply by holding a finger on the screen for a few seconds. Just slightly longer than I did in the video. Again, just like an iPhone. From there, you can move or delete items, or change the color of the background. Apologies for the error in the video. After the break, in another video, I use a quick jaunt to the PlayStation Store to demonstrate the background downloading features. I didn't go too in-depth into the PS Store because it's basically lists of Japanese text at this point. Finally, you can see the unskippable introductory video that greets every new Vita user upon starting up the system for the first time.
Limbo, PixelJunk Shooter 2 top best-selling PSN indie lists for 2011
The PlayStation Blog has posted PSN's top-selling indie games of 2011, with Limbo and PixelJunk Shooter 2 topping the third-party self-published and Sony-published lists, respectively. Big Sandwich Games' Hoard flies above the list of indies sponsored by Sony's Pub Fund. Asked if the lists are skewed by free PlayStation Plus or "Welcome Back" content, a Sony representative told Joystiq, "The list includes all paid downloads, including Plus, but excludes free Plus content." Head on over to the PlayStation Blog for the lists of the best-selling PSN indies of the year.
2011 Holiday Buyers Guide: PlayStation Network
Did you ravenously unwrap a gift this holiday season, only to discover a redeemable PSN card within? Don't despair -- that card can actually be turned into video games! We've got a bunch of suggestions on which 2011 video games you should transmogrify your e-money into after the jump. Whether you're using a PS3 or PSP, we've got you covered.
Bloodrayne: Betrayal gets a temporary price cut on PSN
Couldn't bother to shell out $14.99 for WayForward's delightful, 2D action-platformer Bloodrayne: Betrayal? What if we knocked three bucks clean off that price? Well, not us, so much as Sony, who is doing just that for one week on the PlayStation Store.
Sony brings the Holodeck to life, throws in giant sea monsters for free (video)
The Holodeck is real and there's no Lt. Barclay to make things awkward. Using a combination of a Steadicam, multiple EyeToy cameras, PlayStation Move controllers, projection mapping, motion tracking, spandex-clad actors and giant rubber sea monster tentacles, Sony Europe, Studio Output and Marshmallow Laser Feast shot three web videos to highlight the immersiveness of movies rented or purchased from the PlayStation Store. Impressively, the shots rely exclusively on visual tricks, with zero editing or postproduction work. Is this the future? See for yourself after the break and relive the joy of the Holodeck without having to interrupt Worf from one of his weird workout routines.
PlayStation Store available for the one PlayStation Certified tablet
Sony's PlayStation Suite cross-platform initiative continues its gradual, piecemeal rollout, with the arrival of the PlayStation Store for PlayStation Certified devices -- a category that, as of this moment, includes the Sony Tablet S and nothing else. Eventually, it'll include the Sony Tablet P, other Android devices, and the PlayStation Vita (which will, of course, have access to the normal PlayStation Store as well). And before you get your hopes up about seeing what kind of new cross-platform experiences PlayStation Suite can provide, it's just PSOne Classics right now. Tablet S owners have a selection of ten PSOne games, for $5.99 each, including Cool Boarders, Hot Shots Golf 2, and, oh hey, Jumping Flash!
PlayStation Store hits the Tablet S today, lets gamers relive the glory of the mid-'90s
Remember how badly you wanted a PlayStation phone, only to find out that "experience" was headed to a multitude of devices across the Android spectrum? Well, it looks like Sony's finally making good on that retro-gaming promise. Starting today, the company's one stop shop for its classic games of yesteryear goes live in nine countries -- although, you'll have to be a Tablet S owner to partake of the PlayStation Certified nostalgia. Helping Sony usher its fanbase back into the quaintness of 32-bit graphics are ten titles familiar to PSOne fans: Cool Boarders, Destruction Derby, Hot Shots Golf 2, Jet Moto 1 & 2, Jumping Flash!, MediEvil, Motor Toon Grand Prix, Rally Cross and Wild Arms. So, if you happen to be packing the electronic giant's non-foldable slate, get your thumbs primed for a capacitive walk down memory lane. No word on when those other certified devices will get to mine the company's gaming archives, but there's always the Vita for that.
Gran Turismo 5 DLC delayed to October 25
When it comes to release dates pertaining to the Gran Turismo series, fans know better than to expect developer Polyphony Digital to actually meet those deadlines. It should come as no surprise, then, that Gran Turismo 5's first big DLC release, originally intended to launch on October 18, will now be drifting to October 25 in North America. As previously explained, the DLC can either be purchased in one big $11.99 bundle, or piecemeal as tracks, cars, racing gear, and paint jobs. Sony apologized for the delay but didn't provide a reason for it. Instead, the company will include a "special bonus" with the DLC on October 25, so you've got that going for you.
Vita downloads limited to 20MB over 3G at launch
ASCII magazine spoke to an unnamed Sony Computer Entertainment representative about some concerns about the PlayStation Vita. One of those concerns involved downloads over the Vita's optional 3G connection. The good news: you can still download things from the PlayStation Store when using the 3G connection in Vitas that support it. The bad news is that, at launch at least, 3G file downloading is limited to 20MB or under. You'll therefore be downloading Minis or (real talk) system updates, but not full retail games while you're away from wi-fi. The representative specified that this was the case at launch, and the limits could change in the future. The rep also addressed the odd proprietary memory card. As of now, there are currently no plans to use the format in any other devices. It sounds like Sony's not trying to push a new media format like it did the Blu-Ray -- this is really about making you buy one more memory card.
PS3's 'Video Unlimited Preview' app streamlines movie browsing
An extremely specialized app is available on PS3 today, only to PlayStation Plus users. "Video Unlimited - Preview" is a new interface for browsing the video content available on the PlayStation Store. You can now browse through genres or various other groupings -- some shown in the video include lists of movies by actor, studio, series, and even setting. The new app also allows searching of these various categories. It certainly looks much easier than browsing the PS Store for movies. We don't have long to wonder why Sony would restrict use of an app that makes it easier for people to buy things to Plus members, as it'll be open to all on October 11.
Sony Video Unlimited-preview brings Gracenote metadata to SEN
Despite one of its execs pegging this spring's lengthy PSN outage as a "great experience" the folks at Sony have been pounding the pavement to drum up consumer morale. Back at IFA, the outfit unveiled its new all-in-one Sony Entertainment Network, and its already giving the VOD wing, Video Unlimited, a facelift. Starting today, PS3 owners holding a PlayStation Plus subscription can download the creatively titled "Video Unlimited-preview" app from the PlayStation Store. According to Sony, the new user interface is all about giving the people what they want, and in this case that means a streamlined UI, with big bright graphics and understated, glowing blue text. It also means Gracenote integration, opening up the possibility of endless rabbit-holes of related content searches. We had a few minutes with the new setup, and found ourselves searching content related to Danny McBride's Your Highness under categories like "Bumbling Buffoons" and "Mythical Beasts," although we could just as easily have called up titles featuring the film's director or any of its stars. If that's not enough of a departure from the conventional video on demand arrangement, the new UI also features "tumbler search technology," which abandons regular keyboard-style input for PS3 controls -- click the right button to select a letter as you scroll vertically through the alphabet. This "patented technology" also autocompletes your query and similarly takes advantage of Gracenote's database, allowing you to search by title, actor, director or tag. The new UI is specific to the company's video service and is currently only available via the PS3, but we're told it will roll out to the entire network and supported devices sometime in the future. All PlayStation Network users will be able to download the preview app starting October 11th, check out a video preview embedded after the break. %Gallery-134935%
European PSN releases for August 24
There's a number of high-profile releases in today's PS3 European content update, including Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online and a demo for Warhammer 40K: Space Marine. Sadly, the PSP has almost nothing new this week -- an issue Sony hopes to correct by drowning us all in dozens of discounts on PSP downloadables. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
PSN Tuesday: Medal of Honor Frontline, Driver multiplayer demo
The latest PSN update is a few hours tardy, but it's not completely without its charms. Fans of old, old games can grab Medal of Honor Frontline for $15, and Breath of Fire IV from the PSOne Classics storefront for $6. If you prefer something a tad less ancient, there's also a multiplayer demo for Driver: San Francisco in the mix. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
PlayStation Vita getting social networking apps, 'winning' hashtag making a comeback next year
Wondering how you'll be able to most efficiently brag to far away friends about your new PlayStation Vita? Sony's got the answer in the form of newly announced apps for its next generation portable. Vita Facebook, Foursquare, Twitter and Skype apps will be landing in the PlayStation Store in Japan before the end of the year. The US and Europe will get their shot at the free apps in early 2012.Update: It is unclear whether the apps will be available when Vita launches. The above dates are actually for the device itself.
Euro PSN down for maintenance tomorrow
The European PlayStation Blog reports that the region's PSN will be down this Thursday, August 11, for maintenance. The service is slated to be down from 4:05pm through 2:00am BST Friday morning. PSN account management and registration will be offline during the maintenance, as will the PlayStation Store. The blog advises those who wish to play online to sign into PSN before the maintenance begins. We suggest you use the downtime to reflect upon firmware 3.7.
PS3 firmware 3.7 brings auto cloud saves and Trophy sync (for PS Plus members)
An upcoming PS3 firmware update will enable automatic syncing of Trophies to a player's online profile. Before everyone gets too excited, know that the feature is reserved exclusively to PlayStation Plus members. Another PlayStation Plus bonus: automatic online game saves will now be enabled. Upon first playing a game, players will be asked whether or not to enable automatic online saves for that specific title (otherwise, they can enable it from the XMB later). In the category of "everyone else," the update will add a new recommendation feature that will allow users to recommend specific PlayStation Store content to friends. A new "TV/Video Services" section will also be added to the XMB. The new category will house online video services like Hulu and Netflix. Videos purchased from the PlayStation Store, however, will still be found in the same "Video" section of the XMB. A handful of updates are also being added to allow for expanded capabilities when watching 3D Blu-ray movies as well. Firmware 3.7 is scheduled to launch "soon," so stay tuned.
Comix Zone coming early and free to PlayStation Plussers next week
The next set of bonuses coming to PlayStation Plus subscribers should tickle fans of old-school beat-em'-ups, as well as fans of egregious misspellings. The latest Sega title to serve as an incentive for the premium program is Comix Zone, the 1995 Genesis brawler that was notable for its clever comic-panel backdrop, as well as its inclusion of "Sketch Turner," the worst-named character in the history of written language. The game will be free for Plus members (and only Plus members) starting August 9, alongside a free DLC pack for Crash Commando and a trial for Far Cry 2. Based on the timing of the past Sega PSN releases, we'd wager Comix Zone will be available for the hoi polloi about one month later.
WWE All-Stars DLC adds some 'Southern Charisma'
You may be enjoying WWE All-Stars, but your copy of the game doesn't have all the stars. This week, you can address that shortfall by downloading the new DLC, "Southern Charisma Pack." For 240 Microsoft Points or $2.99 on PSN, you can add Big Boss Man, Michael "PS" Hayes, and "World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry to the game, all complete with the game's outsized style. That's ... more stars, even if it doesn't quite hit the goal of "all." Maybe we're being too strict about this.
