PS2 in 2008: A year in review

2008 will probably be the last year we'll see anything remarkable happen on the PS2 ever again. As the year concludes, we're taking these last few days to look back and reflect upon the titles that have come out for this veteran console -- a system which has outlived its contemporaries long after they've retired. While 2007 was easily the "Year of the J-RPG," 2008, however, is a bit more difficult to define.

As 2008 marked PS3's second full year out on the market, the PS2 was unfortunately overshadowed and came out with a dwindling amount of new games and even fewer new IP. If there ever was a theme associated with this year, it would be "the final push" as this year was all about remakes, rereleases and some last minute revivals in an attempt to keep the system still going. So what titles are those exactly? After the break we showcase eight PS2 titles which stood out of the crowd this year. It's a rather diverse group but one whose impact won't be felt again in the upcoming year. It's time for the PS2 to stand down and pass the torch.


February - Twisted Metal: Head On - Extra Twisted Edition
Eat Sleep Play | Sony Computer Entertainment

In mid-2007, David Jaffe formed Eat Sleep Play. The fruits of which came to in early 2008 in the form of Twisted Metal: Head-On - Extra Twisted Edition, an expanded and improved version of Incognito's original PSP title that came out three years prior. For Twisted Metal fans who didn't have the pleasure of owning a PSP, the wait for another TM title on PS2 meant six years.

This release is Eat Sleep Play's debut title and is currently the only game under their belt. It also looks like it will be the last PS2 Twisted Metal the studio (or anyone else for that matter) will be doing. The game itself contains a clue pertaining to ESP's next project and it was revealed that it would be Twisted Metal for PS3 (just, whatever you do, don't ask Jaffe about it).

While these developers have moved on to current gen development, they weren't the only ones -- many others were also doing the same. It wasn't TM:HO's intention but it sort of set the pace for the overall mood for the year. The signs were showing as early as February that 2008 would see more and more titles like this one with emphasis on rehashing before the eventual end.




February - Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power
Koei

Before Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors, Koei's gaming empire began with Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Nobunaga's Ambition. For fans of ROTTK games, there has been a steady stream of games released in North America; however, for those of us looking for the Japanese equivalent of Koei's historical sim series, we haven't seen one since 1993. As you can imagine, the coming of Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power in 2008 -- 15 years after the last North American release and the eleventh title in the series -- was a real surprise treat from Koei to the fans.

However, this new Nobunaga's Ambition is radically different from its early predecessors and therefore may have been alien to those looking for a nostalgic trip. Gone are the turn-based strategies of the past, and in are the real-time battles. For many fans, this release seemed more like Kessen than Nobunaga's Ambition. Despite this, the deprivation of a new NA was probably enough to spur interest, and its new style drew in a new generation of gamers. Being a niche game released on a last gen system didn't give the series much of a boost in popular appeal, but it did successfully give PS2 owners a fresh reason to hook up their systems and try something relatively new.

While Rise to Power might not have been successful in terms of today's multi-million blockbusters, it sure did start something special for those few who could appreciate its intricacies. In fact, early next year in January, expect to see another NA title on PS2, Nobunaga's Ambition: Iron Triangle. It won't be a system seller, but it'll put smiles on some faces.



March - Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection
Konami

The Metal Gear Solid series was good to the PS2. It gave birth to the much anticipated sequel Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and the widely acclaimed prequel, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. While the series has made the shift to the current gen PS3 in the form of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, that era of glamour on the PS2 was not entirely done and over with -- Konami wasn't yet ready to let that happen.

In early 2008, Konami released Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection. It was a collection of all three previously released games (including the PSOne original) at an incredible budget price. It was a well-timed release, just three months before MGS4 was about to hit. For series fans, the release might not mean much seeing as there is good chance they had all three titles already; however, it gave new fans -- those caught in the media maelstrom build-up to MGS4 -- easy access to play catch-up in time for the final chapter.

Surprisingly, there are many gamers who were not interested in the series before -- not until MGS4 started catching their eye. Without the Essential Collection in place, many of those looking to jump in at #4, would have been left clueless and confused. In a nutshell, this collection was not only an important celebration of past greatness on the PS2, but also partial reason for the success of the biggest exclusive title on the succeeding format.




April - Persona 3: FES
Atlus

2007 was the year of the J-RPG; it saw so many notable RPGs come out all year. But what about 2008? We'll have to get more specific and call it the "Year of Persona." For you see, there haven't been much noteworthy PS2 RPGs out this year ... unless it had the word "persona" in the title. One of those games was the rerelease and expansion of last year's P3, Persona 3: FES.

The expansion added new missions and a reworked version of the original Persona 3. Not only that, but it also incorporated an entirely new 30-hour experience in the side title dubbed The Answer. It was a big wish come true for Persona fans as they finally got the entire experience they've been waiting for since last year.

It's a bit sad, however, to see a rerelease -- especially one that comes so soon -- as one of this year's strongest titles. It just goes to show that the PS2 is really on its way out, and though, we don't see it "dying" with all the negative overtones associated, we see it quietly conceding its throne to the PS3.

Move on to the final four titles

PS Fanboy Best of 2008: Day 2

Nominations for our various Game of the Year categories continue today. Check out the galleries below to see our nominations for best story, best action adventure, most difficult trophies, best strategy game and (gulp!) biggest disappointment. Don't forget to vote on your favorite and get your voice heard -- all of our categories will have a reader's choice award this year. Winners will be declared on December 29th.
Best StoryBest Action AdventureBest StrategyBiggest DisappointmentMost Difficult Trophies Stay tuned! The last categories will be revealed tomorrow, including PS3 and PSP Game of the Year. To see yesterday's nominations, click here.

“What was your PlayStation highlight of 2008?”

Find out what a selection of games industry figures nominated as their PlayStation highlights of 2008.

"The highlight of 2008 for me has been watching PLAYSTATION 3 grow. 2008 has been the first full year in PS3's lifecycle in Europe and the improvements and rapid growth that we have experienced have been phenomenal. This year has seen a fantastic software line-up, which we call our landing lights, key titles from both our first party studios as well as our third party partners. We started the year with the launch of GT5: Prologue, then we had GTA IV, closely followed by Metal Gear Solid. Since then we have released Motorstorm Pacific Rift, Resistance 2 and of course LittleBigPlanet. All these titles and many more, alongside new services and hardware, such as Home and PlayTV has seen PS3 really take hold of the European market and move from strength to strength. This year has shown what PS3 is capable of, but knowing what we still have to come, I can assure you that it only gets better."
David Reeves, President, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe

"2008 turned out to be a great year for PlayStation.  PS3 has seen release of many excellent exclusives, and the release of LittleBigPlanet will be remembered by gamers in the future as the beginning of an era of user generated content. PS3 has also been given a lot of great network platform upgrades, including in-game XMB support, Trophies, and PlayStation Home Open Beta.

“On PSP, we've released the new PSP-3000 with cutting-edge new LCD technology for ultra vibrant colours and microphone support out of the box. We've also seen the release of great exclusives such as God of War: Chains of Olympus, Buzz!: Master Quiz and Secret Agent Clank."
Shuhei Yoshida, President, SCEE Worldwide Studios

"Metal Gear Solid 4! I'm a massive fan of the series and it was the main reason for me getting a PLAYSTATION 3. It was such an epic game and was a fantastic finale for the series overall. You really get a sense that you've been on a journey with Snake and the guys. I'm praying that Kojima-san will change his mind and decide to do one more Metal Gear game."
Ron Festejo, Creative Director, SCE London Studio

"Obviously Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe was a big game for us, so for this year that's my number one title. It's a great game. Also this year what's been interesting is the advancement made by PLAYSTATION 3 - we've seen a lot of good titles come out on PS3."
Ron Ashianti, Art Director, Midway

"Playing the finished boxed version of MotorStorm Pacific Rift. It's hard when you're working on a game for nearly two years to be objective about it, but I probably finished up on that title in late September, and I didn't touch it again until a couple of weeks after it was released in November. Seeing it with fresh eyes after that time, and seeing it with the intros, background videos, and full soundtrack in place, all the final tweaks, it really blew me away. I don't think I've ever felt prouder of anything I've worked on, and I don't think there's been a game that's had more play on my PS3 at home than this. I just adore the game. Simple as that really."
Jed Ashforth, Game Director, Download Content, Evolution Studios

"It has to be the launch of WipEout HD because of what it stands for today: an incredibly high quality game running at 1080p, retailing at an amazingly low price. It really raises the bar for everyone on PSN, and is a game you just have to own."
Phil Gaskell, Senior Producer, PlayStation Network

“LittleBigPlanet because of its fantastic, appealing tone and presentation; it’s a fun game that gives children a chance to be creative.”
Jason Wilson, Creative Director, Concept Team, SCE Cambridge Studio

"If I was going to pick a personal favourite, it's got to be LittleBigPlanet. That's something we've had running here at the studio, many of us participated in the beta trials. It's such a crazy, creative game. We've been contributing feedback to Media Molecule about it. We all love it here."
Hermen Hulst, Managing Director, Guerrilla Games

"My 2008 highlight has to be seeing my non-gamer wife in hysterics within minutes of us sitting down to play LittleBigPlanet together. It’s just the most charming, social, fun filled game I’ve played in a long time."
Jonathan Alpine, Lead Designer, EyePet, SCE London Studio

"Grand Theft Auto 4: such scope, ambition and sheer quality deserves the critical and commercial success it has had. Niko Bellic is one of the most accomplished character designs our medium has ever seen, and the supporting cast were brilliant too. Being much tighter than previous versions was a welcome refocus."
Matt Southern, Game Director, Evolution Studios

"Without a doubt it's got to be LittleBigPlanet. It's such a fresh game experience, the integration of online modes is seamless and the user generated content creation is instantly accessible.  It really delivered all that it had promised and should be a PS3 classic."
Mark Lintott, Technical Manager on EyePet, SCE London Studio

"Call of Duty: World at War is my highlight of 2008, I'm really pleased they decided to revisit the Second World War."
Phil McDonnell, Head of Console Division, Konami

"This year I've really enjoyed playing Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and Grand Theft Auto 4, one of my favourite games."
Simon Woodroffe, Creative Director, Midway

"I’ve spent over a year working hard on MotorStorm Pacific Rift and so I’ve really not had a chance to play anything else...which is OK as I love action racing games and so it has been a blast to make. The real highlight for me though, was just sitting on my sofa playing split screen head to head with my mates and realising just how much fun the game I helped create has turned out. The downside is that I’ve had a couple of online races and I’ve been battered and can’t get on the high score leaderboards!"
Paul Hollywood, Creative Director, Evolution

"LittleBigPlanet – an industry landmark and genre-defining product that innovates on so many levels. It will be a reference standard for many community features and business model innovations in future games."
Phil Harrison, President, Infogrames

"The highlight of my year was Metal Gear Solid 4. Everyone will agree that the gameplay, art and storytelling brought out what really makes Metal Gear Solid special, for better or for worse. The gameplay was the best in the series and my fanboy inside was both happy and sad to see it end. On PSN, I was giddy over Bionic Commando: Reamed. Beautiful, fun, and old-school."
Tim Ernst, Producer, Alpha Protocol, Sega

"The release of WipEout HD on PlayStation Network, bringing the original PlayStation flagship title up to date with 1080p graphics, 60hz frame rate and excellent game modes that matched up to my nostalgic memories of the title."
Simon O'Brien, Art Director, Evolution Studios

"The thing that I've really enjoyed over the last year is the number of brand new franchises that have appeared. This year I've spent a lot of time playing Dead Space, Guitar Hero and LittleBigPlanet and they're all filled to the brim with imagination and innovation. I've also been really impressed at how established franchises are benefiting from appearing on PS3. Games such as FIFA, Ratchet & Clank and especially GTA have just been tremendous, so as a gamer I think 2008 has been hugely enjoyable.

"As the lead designer of SingStar, I've really enjoyed being able to see the SingStar community in the videos that they've uploaded to My SingStar Online. It's been amazing to see how creative people have been with just a short section of video and it's also very heart-warming to see families playing together with people of all ages."
Kevin Mason, Principal Designer, SingStar, SCE London Studio

“LittleBigPlanet without a doubt. In my eyes the first console defining game we've seen yet. Not only is it incredibly creative, immersive and visually stunning, but my wife even likes it as well!”
Tom Jones, Lead Artist, Killzone 2, SCE Cambridge Studio

"The best PlayStation moment for me in 2008 was playing Metal Gear Solid 4 and seeing the amazing wrap-up to that series. While I have no doubt that we haven’t seen the last of Metal Gear, the conclusion of this particular arc couldn’t have been more satisfying."
Gavin Carter, Lead Producer, Fallout 3, Bethesda Game Studios

Three minutes of Demon's Souls

Demon's Souls was a surprise PS3 game revealed at Tokyo Game Show. From Software, the makers of the Armored Core series is working on this brand new action game. This trailer is three minutes long, and gives us a good idea for the game's mood. However, we want to see more gameplay footage. We're not getting too hyped over this game, so we'd like to see more footage.

[Thanks, Christian H.!]

PlayStation Network experiencing Trophy issues

Congrats! You unlocked a Trophy! Time to sync it up with ... Oh, wait. Looks like there's a bug in the PlayStation Network right now, preventing users from syncing their Trophy data with the servers. You won't be able to compare Trophies with friends, with a frustrating error message (80022D27) popping up at every attempt.

Considering the large number of complaints on the PlayStation Forums, it looks as though this is a widespread Network-wide outage. There's no word yet on what's causing this problem or when it'll be fixed. Stay tuned.

[Thanks, Tariq!]

PlayStation 2 games of the year 2008

A look at some of the best titles released on PS2 in 2008.

WALL-E
Released: July 2008

One of the most popular movies of the year inspired one of the best PS2 games, telling the story of the little robot that everyone forgot to turn off. Not only does it capture the look and charm of the movie and its adorable protagonist, each stage features a different style of gameplay, keeping the fun flowing from start to finish.

LEGO Batman: The Videogame
Released: October 2008

Following the success of LEGO Star Wars and LEGO Indiana Jones, the Caped Crusader received the construction block treatment in 2008. A horde of familiar super villains has escaped from Arkham Asylum, leaving Batman and Robin to clean up Gotham City. This game is excellent in co-operative mode, where two friends can control any combination of hero and villain.

Guitar Hero World Tour
Released: November 2008

The Guitar Hero phenomenon got bigger in 2008, as the new instruments included with Guitar Hero World Tour allowed aspiring drummers, bass players and singers to get in on the action. The result is one of the best social games available; it's a wonderful feeling to have a group of friends all in synch and rocking out to one of the many tracks included on the DVD.

SingStar Singalong with Disney
Released: November 2008

Anyone with a voice can play SingStar and everyone will want to with this game, thanks to the universal appeal of Disney movies and their iconic music. SingStar Singalong with Disney features 20 songs from such classics as The Lion King, Cinderella and The Jungle Book, along with videos featuring all of your favourite characters.

EyeToy Play: Hero
Released: November 2008

One of the most original games released in 2008, EyeToy Play: Hero makes innovative use of the EyeToy USB Camera to put you in the shoes of a medieval hero trying to defeat a mischievous warlord. Included with the game is a green toy sword which, thanks to some clever technology, appears on screen when held on front of the EyeToy USB Camera. Any movement you make is detected, putting you directly into the game as you swing and slash your way through varied environments. The bright, colourful graphics make for a title that young children will love and adults will be amazed by.

These are just five of the great PS2 games released in 2008, also worth checking out are: EyeToy Play: PomPom Party, Buzz! Junior: Ace Racers, Yakuza 2, SingStar Boybands vs Girlbands, Dancing Stage SuperNOVA 2, Alone in the Dark, Luxor: Pharaoh's Challenge and Sega Superstars Tennis.

PSP games of the year 2008

Take a look at some of the best games on PSP in 2008.

Patapon
Released: February 2008

The year began to the sound of drums as the innovative Patapon beat its way onto PSP. Using simple rhythms, tapped out on drums, you command a whole civilisation in a quest to reach World's End. Patapon is simple, addictive fun, wrapped in an iconic art style with a beat that will have you singing - Pata, Pata, Pata, Pon - before long.

God of War: Chains of Olympus
Released: March 2008

One of the most anticipated titles of 2008, Kratos' debut on PSP did not disappoint. Keeping the rhythm action-like style, intuitive actions and responsive attacks of its PlayStation 2 predecessors the Spartan anti-hero was once again tested by the Olympian Gods in this portable prequel to his story.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
Released: June 2008

Another fan favourite, Crisis Core was eagerly awaited by Final Fantasy RPG followers. A prequel to the events of arguably the greatest title in this epic series, Crisis Core takes you back to Midgar, seven years before the events of Final Fantasy VII, putting you in the role of the ill-fated Zach.

Space Invaders Extreme
Released: July 2008

A new classic in the making. Space Invaders Extreme manages to pull off the impossible and improve on the original game concept. The addictive formula is unchanged and built upon with a wider range of enemies and power-ups that enhance your experience.

LocoRoco 2
Released: November 2008

Colourful, playful and mischievous, the LocoRoco are back in this second outing on PSP. Packed with more levels and more features than the original, the LocoRoco must find musical notes and sing to save their tilting world from the Moja, who are crooning a bad song that drains the life out of everything.

These are just five of the great games released on PSP in 2008, others include: Buzz!: Brain Bender, echochrome, FIFA Soccer 09, Football Manager Handheld 2009, LEGO Batman The Videogame, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress, Secret Agent Clank and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

Home items selling like hotcakes

We're not sure why, but it seems that quite a few of you out there are buying Home pay-for content. In an interview with Silicon Alley Insider, Susan Panico (Senior Director of the PlayStation Network) says that content in the social networking service is selling tremendously. In fact, in the first four days of the open beta Home produced more money for Sony than the video download service did in its first week.

We're disheartened to hear that one of the biggest sellers is the ridiculously priced Santa outfit. So if you went ahead and bought a 5 Santa suit: congratulations. You've just told Sony that it's okay to charge 79p for a pair of virtual gloves.

Panico says it's "a classic 80/20 model, where 20 percent of your customers create 80 percent of your income." Makes sense to us. There's already a very vocal pro-Home community. We'll be happy to join in next month when some of that promised content starts to drop.

[Thanks Nav]

Asian PSN update for the week of 12/22 - 12/28

Massive update for Asia this week. Lots of new content, including all that awesome LittleBigPlanet DLC that's been the talk of the town these past weeks. There's also a WipEout HD demo out on the Japanese store right now. So if you haven't played it yet, now would be a good time to check it out for free. Oh, and did we mention there's a bunch of new PSOne titles, too? See the full update for this week after the break.

You can catch the weekly Asian PS Store update every Sunday, while you can still enjoy EU and NA updates every Thursday. For PSP-related content, please check PSP Fanboy.

Japan

Playable Content12/24 -WipEout HD demo - free12/24 - Bokujou Monogatari Harvest Moon for Girls (PSOne classic) - 60012/24 - Bokujou Monogatari Harvest Moon (PSOne classic) - 60012/24 - Brigandine: Grand Edition (PSOne classic) - 60012/24 - Front Mission 2 (PSOne classic) - 60012/24 - Kagero: Deception 2 (PSOne classic) - 60012/24 - Resident Evil 3: Last Escape (PSOne classic) - 600
Add-ons
12/25 - BioShock "Challenge Room" add-on - 1,00012/25 - FarCry 2 "Fortunes Pack" - 1,00012/25 - LittleBigPlanet - Metal Gear Solid Raiden Costume - 20012/25 - LittleBigPlanet - Metal Gear Solid Solid Snake Costume - 20012/25 -LittleBigPlanet - Metal Gear Solid Meryl Costume - 20012/25 -LittleBigPlanet - Metal Gear Solid Screaming Mantis Costume - 20012/25 -LittleBigPlanet - Metal Gear Solid Character Pack - 60012/25 -LittleBigPlanet - Metal Gear Solid Level Pack - 800Video
12/24 - Resident Evil 5 TGS 2008 movie12/25 - Fallout 3 "Digest movie 2"12/25 - The Last Guy Famitsu Wave DVD video12/25 - The Last Guy shop info video
Themes& Wallpapers
12/22 - LocoRoco 2 official wallpaper 01 - free (also available for PSP)
12/22 - LocoRoco 2 official wallpaper 02 - free (also available for PSP)12/22 - LocoRoco 2 official wallpaper 03 - free (also available for PSP)
12/22 - LocoRoco 2 official wallpaper 04 - free (also available for PSP)12/24 - Agarest Senki 2009 calendar - 1,00012/24 - Cross Edge 2009 calendar - 1,00012/25 - Cross Edge custom theme 09 "Morrigan" - 200
12/25 - Cross Edge custom theme 10 "Lilith" - 20012/24 - Disgaea 3 2009 calendar - 1,00012/24 - Mainichi Issho 2009 calendar - 1,00012/24 - Siren: New Translation 2009 calendar - 1,00012/24 - The Eye of Judgement 2009 calendar - 1,000
Hong Kong/Singapore

Playable ContentNoneAdd-ons
12/24 - LittleBigPlanet - Metal Gear Solid Raiden Costume - HK$15/SG$2.9912/24 - LittleBigPlanet - Metal Gear Solid Solid Snake Costume - HK$15/SG$2.9912/24 -LittleBigPlanet - Metal Gear Solid Meryl Costume - HK$15/SG$2.9912/24 -LittleBigPlanet - Metal Gear Solid Screaming Mantis Costume - HK$15/SG$2.9912/24 -LittleBigPlanet - Metal Gear Solid Character Pack - HK$47/SG$8.4912/24 -LittleBigPlanet - Metal Gear Solid Level Pack - HK$47/SG$8.4912/25 - FarCry 2 "Fortunes Pack" -HK$/SG$14.9912/26 - PAIN Ao no Kutsu character (English ver.) - HK$8/SG$1.4912/26 - Disgaea 3 add-on character "Kurtis" - HK$14/SG$2.4912/26 - Disgaea 3 add-on character "Prinny Kurtis" - HK$14/SG$2.4912/26 - Disgaea 3 add-on character "Mid-Boss" - HK$14/SG$2.4912/26 - Disgaea 3 add-on system "Survival Attack" - HK$34/SG$6.19Video
12/22 - HiTV BoBo Program - Episode 4 - free (Hong Kong only)12/25 - Prince of Persia Dev Diary 112/25 - Prince of Persia Dev Diary 212/25 - Prince of Persia Dev Diary 312/25 - Sldner-X: Himmelsstrmer trailer
Themes& Wallpapers
12/25 - Cross Edge custom theme 09 "Morrigan" - HK$15/SG$2.99 12/25 - Cross Edge custom theme 10 "Lilith" - HK$15/SG$2.9912/25 - Sldner-X: Himmelsstrmer wallpaper 01- free
12/25 - Sldner-X: Himmelsstrmer wallpaper 02 -free
Please be advised that owners of non-Asian/non-Japanese version games should not buy add-on content from the Japanese or Hong Kong/Singaporean stores. Content such as videos, themes, wallpapers, demos and full games can be enjoyed by everyone with a proper account. To purchase content off these stores, you may buy PlayStation Network prepaid cards here for both Hong Kong and Japan.

Ring in the New Year

Celebrate the dawn of 2009 and throw a New Year's Eve party with PlayStation.

21:00
While you're waiting for guests to arrive, browse the evening's television schedule with PlayTV and set recordings for anything you want to watch the following day. If games are more your thing, start downloading the latest titles from PlayStation Store and they'll be waiting for you in the morning. That way, you can spend New Year's Day relaxing on the sofa with a stack of entertainment to work through.

22:00
If there are children at the party (or adults with hidden cheerleading aspirations) then EyeToy Play: PomPom Party on PlayStation 2 will keep them occupied. It includes real pompoms that can be used to recreate the on-screen dance routines while the EyeToy USB Camera detects your movements. It's as much fun to watch as it is to play and always results in hilarious photos.

23:00
Bid farewell to 2008 by recalling its major events in Buzz!: Quiz TV. Thanks to the MyBuzz! community, there are lots of user generated quizzes on all the major events of the last 12 months, from the Beijing Olympics to the best PSP releases. It's a great way to get everyone together before the big countdown...

00:00
With some preparation, you could build a stylish countdown to 2009 in LittleBigPlanet. Start by creating a replica of London's Big Ben, complete with a mechanical hand that reaches 12 and triggers a series of fireworks and reveals a banner wishing your guests a Happy New Year. For the icing on the cake, connect a row of magnetic switches to a sequence of piano sound effects. Then, with a little patience and some musical talent, you can tweak them to play Auld Lang Syne at the stroke of midnight. Publish the level earlier that day and the LBP community can join in the celebration.

01:00
It's time for everyone to pull on their dancing shoes and step up to the mic for some serious SingStar, and nothing could be more appropriate than Happy New Year, one of many party classics on SingStar ABBA for PS3. SingStar Vol 3 owners can party like it's 1979 with the Smashing Pumpkins song of the same name, or you can check out the SingStore and download everyone's favourites. If any of your guests puts in a performance to remember, be sure to upload it to My SingStar Online or singstargame.com for the world to enjoy.

02:00
Rock long into the night with Guitar Hero: World Tour on PS3 and PS2; you never know who might have a rock star hidden inside until you let them loose on the guitar, bass, drums or microphone. A dose of heavy metal is just what you need if you're struggling to stay awake by this stage.

03:00
As the party dies down and your thoughts turn to sleep and that diary that you're definitely going to keep up, why not make Buzz!: Brain Bender a New Year's resolution? Play a few challenges each morning on the way to work or school to see your memory and your powers of observation, calculation and analysis improve. The games are all great fun, so at least you'll be setting yourself a promise for 2009 that you can enjoy keeping.

Whatever your plans, enjoy your New Year's Eve party and have a terrific 2009!

PSN games of the year 2008

PlayStation Network has had great year with a huge number of great games to download - so why not have a look at some of the highlights of 2008?

Pain
Released: March 2008

One of the most outlandish games to be released this year, Pain is a riotous comedy slapstick bonanza, which is sure to leave you in stitches and your on-screen character with a fair few bumps. Launch your chosen victim from a giant rubber band into a number of different environments and try to cause as much mayhem as possible to rack up your score. Best of all, Pain's cartoon fun can be increased with a number of downloadble extras, from new locations to celebrity characters such as actor David Hasselhoff.

Siren: Blood Curse
Released: July 2008

Chilling urban horror is the tone of Siren: Blood Curse, a game of stealth and survival which pits your wits against the terrifying likes of the living dead and other monsters as you aim to stay alive in Hanuda, the Vanished Village. Available to download in 12 continuous episodes, Siren: Blood Curse has you playing as multiple characters so you can experience the terror from each of their perspectives as the storyline progresses.

Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty
Released: August 2008

The latest adventure of the space faring duo landed on PSN with a brilliant blend of puzzle solving, platforming and pulse pounding action. Mixing sci-fi swashbuckling adventure with a sly sense of humour, Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty will keep you sailing for hours.

WipEout HD
Released: September 2008

The ultimate ride of your life. WipEout HD is fast sci-fi racing presented in High Definition and Dolby 5.1 surround sound audio, complimented by a contemporary soundtrack to get your head nodding as you weave through a blistering array of courses. With up to eight players able to compete online, the race is only over when you say it is - and you'll never want it to end.

PlayStation Network gets exclusive DLC for WWE Smackdown vs. Raw

Who doesn't like the word "exclusive"? While this may not be the biggest news ever, WWE fans will certainly appreciate knowing PlayStation Network will be home to a few exclusive costumes when DLC is made available in January. The first Roster Pack will be available for $4.99 and will include the following:
Evan Bourne - playable Superstar Ted DiBiase - playable Superstar Charlie Haas - playable Superstar Chris Jericho - alternate attire Kelly Kelly - holiday costume (EXCLUSIVELY ON PS3) Maria Santa - holiday costume (EXCLUSIVELY ON PS3) Masked Kane - alternate attire (EXCLUSIVELY ON PS3) MVP - alternate attire (EXCLUSIVELY ON PS3) Edge - alternate attire (EXCLUSIVELY ON PS3) [Via PlayStation.Blog]

Hybrid DVD/Blu-ray disc released in Japan

Don't you wish your favorite Blu-ray movie could work at grandma's place? But drats, for some reason she just doesn't have a Blu-ray player. Thankfully, you own a hybrid DVD/Blu-ray disc, so you'll be able to watch your Blu-ray movie on a standard DVD player. It won't be in HD, but SD movie better than no movie, right?

This tech isn't far off. In fact, it's available now. Infinity Storage Media has released the first hybrid disc, which allows just that. By using a clever dual-layer process, DVD drives will be able to read a DVD layer, while Blu-ray drives will be able to read a Blu-ray layer. The image above shows the process in a rather simple way.

We're not sure how far this technology will reach, or if it will be adopted by other companies. For now, this is a strictly Japan-only product. We can see tons of studios capitalizing on the HD transition by releasing their movies on a hybrid disc like this.

[Via digg]

MLB The Show returns in March 2009

Another year, another year of sports games. MLB The Show returns to PS3 next year with a slew of new features. MLB 09 The Show will look even better than last year, thanks to added detail. Stadium crowds will be more interactive and varied than ever, and you'll see transitional lighting on the field as the day turns to dusk. An expanded Road to the Show and Franchise mode can also be enjoyed.

09 will also add online season leagues, training/practice drills, and a new ability to store replays onto the hard drive. The most important addition of all, however, are the mascots. Each team's mascot will be represented in the game.

Check out the first screenshots of MLB 09 for the PS3 here.

Gallery: MLB 09: The Show

American PSN releases for December 23rd

The waiting's finally over. Today's biggest release is easily the LittleBigPlanet Metal Gear Solid downloadable content, but there's plenty of other stuff to take a look at today. Not least of which is Lumines Supernova. There's also a load of the normal music-based DLC, plus some unexpected content for Disgaea 3. As if that wasn't enough, the PS1 classic RPG Suikoden also finds its way onto the Store today. What an awesome holiday gift. Here's the full release list:

Playable ContentJeopardy price drop (now $9.99)Lumines Supernova ($14.99)Lord of the Rings: Conquest demoSuikoden PS1 game ($5.99)Add-on Content
Buzz! Quiz TV "National Geographic: Undersea" quiz pack ($7.99)High Velocity Bowling "patches pack one" (free)High Velocity Bowling "Gutter Bird Ball" ball (free)LittleBigPlanet DLC (listed after the break)PAIN "Ao No Kutsu" character ($0.99)Disgaea 3 "Adell" character ($1.99)Disgaea 3 "Nekomata" character ($0.99)Disgaea 3 "Rozalin" character ($1.99)Disgaea 3 "Disgaea 2 character pack" ($4.99 -- comes with Disgaea 2 main char theme)Lumines Supernova "holiday pack" (free)Shaun White Snowboarding "glamour pack" ($4.99)Guitar Hero World Tour DLC (listed after the break)Rock Band DLC (listed after the break)Karaoke Revolution DLC (listed after the break)
VideosPulse 12/23 editionThemes and Wallpapers
Disgaea 3 "Main Character" theme ($0.99)
The Dark Knight: Batman theme ($1.99)The Dark Knight: Harvey Dent theme ($1.99)The Dark Knight: Joker theme ($1.99)Resident Evil: Degeneration theme (free)University of Virginia theme ($1.99)School Girls theme ($1.49)Digital Blast theme ($1.49)Bikina Photo Shoot theme (Your self respect)Alpine Winters theme ($1.49)2x Savage Moon wallpapersLittleBigPlanet DLC(as if you don't already know ...)
Solid Snake costume ($1.99)Meryl Silverburgh costume ($1.99)Screaming Mantis costume ($1.99)Raiden costume ($1.99)Metal Gear Solid costume pack ($5.99)Metal Gear Solid level pack ($5.99)Rock Band DLC

Foo Fighters Pack 1 ($5.49)
"DOA" - Foo Fighters ($1.99) "This is a Call" - Foo Fighters ($1.99)"Times Like These" - Foo Fighters ($1.99) Rockin' the Holidays 2008 Pack ($2.99) "Blue Christmas" - The Pretenders ($0.99)"Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You" - Billy Squier($0.99)"Hanukkah Blessings" - Barenaked Ladies ($0.99)

Karaoke Revolution DLC
In the Air Tonight ($1.49)Time Of The Season ($1.49)Too Little Too Late ($1.49)
Guitar Hero World Tour DLC
"Because of You" by Nickelback ($1.99)"Light It Up" by Rev Theory ($1.99)"Use Me" by Hinder ($1.99)Hard Rock Track Pack ($5.49)
Reggae Rock Track Pack (free)

PS3 costs 53% less to make now than at launch

It's well known that Sony's latest console is a powerful, expensive piece of tech. When Sony launched the PS3, it lost over $200 on every unit sold -- in spite of its $600 price point. However, over time Sony has been able to reduce the costs of manufacturing the system, by removing PS2 compatibility and switching over to a more efficient 65-nanometer chips.

iSuppli, the company which broke down the PS3 at launch, estimated the cost of making a PS3 was more than $840. Now, they say the PS3 costs 53% less to make -- at around $445, for a system which sells at $400. Sony is still losing money on each system sold, but in a much less extraordinary way.

Not only are the individual components cheaper to make, there are simply less things inside a modern PS3. According to iSuppli, the number of parts inside a PS3 has fallen from 4,048 to only 2,820. Since launch, Sony has reworked the innards of the PS3 to include combined chips. The falling price of components also helps Sony a lot: the Cell processor cost $89 at launch, but now only costs $46 to make.

Sony should be able to break even with the PS3 starting in 2009, which makes us wonder if they'll start adopting a more aggressive price strategy late next year. We hope so -- they need a way to make themselves attractive to customers, without breaking the bank.

[Via PlayStation Forums]

Killzone 2 cover revealed, unsurprising

The cover of Killzone 2 has just been revealed on the PlayStation.Blog ... and well, it's hard to write about. It's what you'd expect it to look. Helghast eyes stare ominously at you, with the "Only On PlayStation" banner proudly displayed at the top.

It may not be surprising, but that's a good thing, right? (Do you want the Killzone 2 cover to have bunnies instead?) Now, we're waiting for info on the please-make-it-happen Limited Edition.

[Thanks, TRIX_BOL!]

Behind the scenes: 8.3 Minutes

Go behind the scenes of Klaus Thymann's short film 8.3 Minutes with Shoot! in this exclusive interview and making of video.

Photographer Klaus Thymann work has been featured in ID, Dazed & Confused, The Face, and GQ. He has done visual campaigns for Coca-Cola, Levi's, Adidas, BMW, and Nike, and co-founded the art and design-based Black Box magazine.

His short film, 8.3 Minutes, uses elements from Mayan culture and modern technology to explore the divide between science and mysticism. Thymann's work asks just what differentiates our beliefs in the spiritual world from the facts that we cannot ignore. It's a work that builds tension upon itself piece by piece, until all is revealed in a dramatic, surprising conclusion.

Given the PlayStation stimulus word Connect, Klaus created a thought provoking piece focusing on elements of Mayan myth - with help from Thomas Vinterberg as Executive Producer.

Download the short film, 8.3 Minutes, and get these videos directly on your PLAYSTATION 3 or PSP by signing into PlayStation Store.

To access PlayStation Store you will need a PlayStation Network account.

For more information about Klaus Thymann's work you can visit thymann.com.

Worldwide PS3 releases for the week of December 21st

Merry Christmas, Japan! While the Western world grows fat on its own laziness (not to mention a massive amount of Christmas food) Japanese game stores remain open to sell five new great PS3 games. What's that strange smell, you ask? That's our pure, unadulterated jealousy. We really want to play White Knight Chronicles. Here's the release list:

US Games
No new releases

EU Games

No new releases

Asian Games
Alone In The DarkBioshockFar Cry 2Sid Meier's Civilization RevolutionWhite Knight Chronicles In case you're wondering, your PS3 is region free. So, yes, you can import White Knight Chronicles if you so wish. We're not sure if it's the sort of game that will get downloadable content, but if it does you'll have to get it from the Japanese PSN Store. Tempting though, isn't it?

Voice chat returns on PlayStation Home

PlayStation Home has been patched (yet again!), this time restoring voice chat. Update 1.05, available now, adds voice chat to personal spaces and clubhouses. This means you foul-mouthed pirates can chat with each other in the privacy of your own virtual-homes. However, expect public spaces to be as quiet as Sunday mass.

[Thanks, heavenssniper!]

The Dreaming

A film by Anthony Green available now as part of Shoot! on PlayStation Store.

The Dreaming is a thought-provoking film that tells the tale of a Native American, a dying man and a young boy - who find their lives connected by strange dreams and the untamed wilderness.

Working with the PlayStation stimulus word Challenge, Anthony opted to use the spectacular Canadian lakes as his setting - with help from Jerry Bruckheimer as Executive Producer.

Download this exclusive film, as well as interviews and a behind the scenes video by signing into PlayStation Store on your PLAYSTATION 3 or PSP.

To access PlayStation Store you will need a PlayStation Network account.

Chatting with Anthony

Shoot! director, Anthony Green, talks about his short film The Dreaming and getting started in film.

Given the PlayStation stimulus word Challenge, Anthony opted to use the spectacular Canadian lakes as his setting - with help from Jerry Bruckheimer as Executive Producer.

Why did you want to become a director?

I've always been interested in media, whether in publishing, music or television. For me I think the way that film manages to bring together so many different elements, types of media, I just kind of see it in a way as being the ultimate art form, because it is such a hybrid of all these things. I like to think that I'm a pretty good collaborator and collaboration is certainly for me essential to the process. That is where it kind of began.

How did you get into directing?

In high school I just kind of started wherever I could, in social sciences classes or whatever, I would retro fit it into the class, if I had to do a presentation I would make a film. So it interested me then. At the same time I was editing the school newspapers and stuff; like I said I was interested in media, but then this idea of how film can transcend all these different mediums really excited me.

I set a goal for myself, that at the end of high school I would go to university, I set a goal for myself that I wanted to be at NYU. It has a good reputation as one of the better film schools in the United States. So I put together a short film that was based on a script I had written in drama class, and the rest is history.

I went to NYU, got there a week before 9/11 and that was my orientation to New York. It was a very interesting time in the city and as an artist as well. From there I guess, at that point, is where my present day filmmaker's voice began to emerge.

What are your major influences?

I think I'm more inspired by life than other films. That is not to say that there are not filmmakers I really admire and love, and their work inspires me. I don't necessarily see something in my work that I've taken from them. I'm sure I have taken from others but I don't think it happens consciously; I think it is more that I'm taking from life and perhaps I draw from the  language nuisances that other directors use. I guess. I don't know; it is a hard question.

What is your short film The Dreaming about?

Of all the shorts I've done this is definitely the most difficult one to pitch. It is not as straightforward as the ones in the past where a relatively linear narrative takes us from A to B to C. The reason for this is it deals more with metaphor. It deals more with intangible emotions that I try to extrapolate without necessarily hitting the proverbial head of the nail. So in this case it is difficult to pitch what the story is about, but the idea behind the picture is that it comes down to the importance of dreams and passing on knowledge from generation to generation. How we might know more when we're born than we generally conceive of and, perhaps as a course of action by society and culture in life, we stray away from that knowledge but in the end we might return to it. So it is sort of a cycle of knowledge.

The story takes place primarily north of Toronto in a provincial park called Algonquin Park, where I've spent a lot of time. There are 3,000 preserved lakes in a very remote setting and that context will serve for this metaphor, the knowledge in this case, the knowledge the story will allude to, is our interaction with the environment and the way that has changed. The film looks to show the evolution of our dealings with the environment and how knowledge in our dreams plays into that.

So there is a strong message in this work?

My films have always had a message and I just finished my graduate program in Media and Communications; in my studies my research was mostly on the idea of social change through motion picture and as a catalyst to social movement.

My shorts have always done that; as I was saying my shorts used to go A to B to C, literally or not, I think they demanded less of the audience and in this case I don't want to underestimate the audience. I want to let them take an active role and interact with it afterwards; I want them to take away from the film something that they need to process and actively look for.

Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to get into film making?

It is a really cool time for filming; I am so happy to be in this generation where a handy cam is relatively inexpensive and home editing solutions are quiet easy to come by. I still remember the first time I put one image next to another and added sounds, and that one plus one plus one didn't equal three, it equalled five. As soon as I saw that synergy, I was so excited and that was done at home on a desktop PC. That has never been available before. For young film makers I would say the tools are out there and are accessible, and I would just start playing with them.

What is the most valuable thing you've learned as a director?

I would say for me, I always need to get a lot out of the people that surround me to make a successful picture and I've always found the best way of doing that is ensuring that every second they realise how much you appreciate what they're doing for you.

Download The Dreaming, as well as interviews and a behind the scenes video by signing into PlayStation Store on your PLAYSTATION 3 or PSP.

Asian PSN update for the week of 12/15 - 12/21

This past week's updates in Asia were rather satisfying. It's all about the games as Lumines Supernova,Crash Commandoand a slew of others graced the digital store. See what else is in stock after the break.

You can catch the weekly Asian PS Store update every Sunday, while you can still enjoy EU and NA updates every Thursday. For PSP-related content, please check PSP Fanboy.


Japan

Playable Content
12/18 - Brain Challenge full game - 90012/18 - Catan full game - 1,20012/18 - Everybody's Putter Golf with TORO full game - 60012/18 - Lumines Supernova full game - 1,50012/18 - Metal Gear Online demo (Japanese version) - freeAdd-ons
12/18 - Linger in Shadows soundtrack (three songs) - free12/18 - Lumines Supernova Winter Holiday Pack (Japanese/English) - free12/18 - Need for Speed: Undercover add-on content (x16) - range: 160-1,00012/19 - LittleBigPlanet "Festive Goodies Pack" - 300
12/19 - LittleBigPlanet Santa costume pieces - freeVideo
12/19 - Disgaea 3 additional scenario promo video
Themes& Wallpapers
12/18 - Cross Edge custom theme 07 - Syureria - 20012/18 - Cross Edge custom theme 08 - Felicia - 20012/15 - LocoRoco 2 "Rocking Horse" wallpaper - free (also available for PSP)
12/15 - LocoRoco 2 "Purple Blob" wallpaper - free (also available for PSP)
Hong Kong/Singapore

Playable Content12/18 - Lumines Supernova full game (Japanese/English) - HK$110/SG$20.9912/18 - Everybody's Putter Golf with TORO full game - HK$45/SG$8.9912/18 - Metal Gear Online demo (Japanese version) - free12/19 - Dead Space "Dismemberment" demo - free12/19 - Crash Commando full game - HK$76/SG$14.99Add-ons
12/16 - LittleBigPlanet "Festive Goodies Pack" - HK$22/SG$4.2912/18 - LittleBigPlanet Santa costume pieces - free12/18 - Lumines Supernova Winter Holiday Pack (Japanese/English) - freeVideo
12/16 - HiTV BoBo Program - Episode 1 - free (Hong Kong only)12/18 - HiTV BoBo Program - Episode 2 - free (Hong Kong only)12/19 - HiTV BoBo Program - Episode 3 - free (Hong Kong only)Themes& Wallpapers12/19 - PixelJunk Monsters custom theme - free12/19 - PixelJunk Eden custom theme - free12/18 - Cross Edge custom theme 07 - Syureria - HK$15/SG$2.9912/18 - Cross Edge custom theme 08 - Felicia - HK$15/SG$2.99
12/18 - LocoRoco 2 "Lime Tree" wallpaper - free (also available for PSP)
12/18 - LocoRoco 2 "Loco Flower" wallpaper - free (also available for PSP) Please be advised that owners of non-Asian/non-Japanese version games should not buy add-on content from the Japanese or Hong Kong/Singaporean stores. Content such as videos, themes, wallpapers, demos and full games can be enjoyed by everyone with a proper account. To purchase content off these stores, you may buy PlayStation Network prepaid cards here for both Hong Kong and Japan.

PS Fanboy Best of 2008: Day 1

Welcome to the second annual PS Fanboy year-end awards. We've changed the format a bit this year: this time you can vote in every single category. Yep! Reader's Choice is back, and better than ever. We're also spending a little less time on the awards this year, so as not to clutter the front page too much. (See? We listen to your feedback!) All the nominees will be presented over the week. Make sure you tune in every day and vote for your favorites! Winners will be declared on December 29th.
Best GraphicsBest MultiplayerBest Downloadable GameBest ShooterBest RacingBest FightingBest DLC Stay tuned! More categories will be revealed tomorrow!

Stroll down memory lane

Head to the history of PlayStation interactive feature for everything you ever wanted to know about the world of PlayStation.

PlayStation has been entertaining Europe since 1994 with cutting-edge games and multimedia features. At historyofplaystation.com, you can relive 15 years of gaming memories with descriptions of each year, videos of classic titles and downloadable wallpapers.

There's a wealth of fascinating trivia on the site, including behind the scenes information on iconic games and some PlayStation systems and peripherals that you may not have heard of.

Head to historyofplaystation.com now to start your journey.

The Festive Picture Quiz 2008

Test your knowledge of PlayStation games with this fun picture quiz.

From the Escher-like archways of Ico to the sinister stare of Helghast eyes on Killzone, PlayStation games have provided stunning box art over the years.

Test your gaming memory with this picture quiz. Twenty-four classic front covers have been strategically cropped to veil their identity; simply enter the name of the game in the text box below each image and either press enter on your keyboard or click the button to the right of the text box to see if you are correct.

You can click on the Save progress button at the bottom of the page to store your answers should you wish to return to them at a later date, and you can visit the PlayStation forums to get help.

Click here for The Festive Picture Quiz 2008

Have fun!

SOCOM Confrontation 1.30 patch ready to go live ... in January

SOCOM fans looking forward to playing Confrontation over the holiday break won't be able to enjoy patch 1.30. Those expecting all the features of 1.30 will be disappointed to hear that the patch won't be available to download until the new year. "Unfortunately, due to the Holidays the update will not be approved by SCE Format QA until early next year. Our QA staff will be here, testing the game over vacation, but the SCE QA teams which must approve the update before release will not."

As of now, it appears the patch will be available during the week of January 5th or January 12th. While it's disappointing to have to wait so long, SOCOM fans have proven to be some of the most patient gamers out there.

[Thanks, Devin93!]

Confirmed: Cross Edge coming in March 09

Speaking to RPGamer, an NIS America representative confirmed the rumors that the ensemble RPG Cross Edge will be headed for the US. That's great news for traditional JRPG fans everywhere -- the Compile Heart title features characters from the companies Capcom, Namco-Bandai, Gust, Idea Factory and Nippon Ichi. Mark your calendar, kids -- the game will be released in March 2009. To learn more, check out our coverage of the PS3 exclusive here.
[Thanks, Marcus N.!]

Voice Chat resumes in PlayStation Home

Update 1.05 is available for download, restoring the Voice Chat function within personal spaces and clubhouses.

PlayStation Home update 1.05 is available from December 22, 2008. After downloading it, users will be able to use the voice chat within their personal space and clubhouses to communicate with friends online.

You can download the update by selecting the PlayStation Home icon under PlayStation Network on the PLAYSTATION 3 Home Menu (XMB). Users who are online with PlayStation Home will need to log off and click on the PlayStation Home icon.

Can you capture the spirit of PlayStation?

Show us what PlayStation means to you and you could win one of a range of amazing prizes.

In January 2009, PlayStation is launching a pan-European photography competition in which you can be the star.

Snap photos of you, your friends and your family using PlayStation products and upload these to a dedicated website where the community will vote for their favourites, giving you a chance of winning a range of amazing prizes.

The overall winner, which will be chosen by an independent judge, will bag a cash prize of £1,000 as well as a state of the art Sony DSLR camera, followed by 10 runners-up prizes of £100 each, and finally 100 third place prizes of one PlayStation game each.

Photos can be submitted in a range of categories, including PlayStation Parties, Endless Play, Caught in the Moment, True Love and Unexpected Places.

So get snapping over the festive season and come back in January for details on how and where to upload your photos.

Under Siege coming exclusively to PS3

Seed Studios was supposed to reveal a PS3 exclusive game at Leipzig Games Convention earlier this year. It didn't happen. However, their official site now reveals the name of their upcoming game: Under Siege. We have no idea what this game is about, or what it'll even look like. All we know is that it'll be on the PS3, and only on the PS3. You can take a look at the official site, but don't expect to find out much more. When we get our hands on any new information, you'll be sure to find out.

[Thanks, Patriotbball5460!]

Whoops! No Red Bull Air Race this year

You may have noticed that the Home launch hasn't exactly gone smoothly. With the Home teams worldwide working on fixes for the numerous server and login issues the content release schedule has been pushed back, as people are now taking their Christmas breaks. What this boils down to is this: Don't expect to see the Red Bull Air Race this year.

TedTheDog has stated on the European PlayStation forums that it definitely won't appear in 2008. Though "it really ought to be worth the wait, its really quite impressive and a lot of fun." We've played it and, while it's kind of neat, it's not quite as awesome as it's maybe getting hyped up to be. Still, content is content, and even TedTheDog admits that Home is currently "a little bare."

He goes on to say that "we've got some problems to solve, but they'll be solved and we can then move on to running it as the service we all want." In other words, please remain patient for just a little longer. Well, we've waited this long, what's a few more weeks?

PlayStation Home opens its doors

Home, the 3D social gaming community service on PLAYSTATION 3, moves into its open beta stage.

From December 11, 2008, PLAYSTATION 3 owners can download PlayStation Home free of charge. The ground-breaking service allows users to interact, communicate and share gaming experiences through their personal avatars.

"PlayStation Home is truly a promising network community service on the PlayStation platform, made possible with a combination of the power of PS3 and the PlayStation Network that covers many countries around the globe," said Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment.

All you need to download Home is a PlayStation Network account and access to PlayStation Store. Providing you have the latest system software update installed, the Home icon will appear under PlayStation Network on the PS3 Home Menu (XMB).

Initially, you can chat in Home Square and head over to the Bowling Alley to bowl with friends, enjoy a few racks of pool and play on the arcade cabinets. In the Home Theatre, you can watch trailers for the latest games and movies, lifestyle programming from Hexus TV and gaming content from Eurogamer. Look out for the latest trailer of upcoming superhero blockbuster, Watchmen, and an exclusive video greeting from its director, Zack Snyder. Approaching the film's release, themed virtual merchandise such as t-shirts and character figurines will be made available and members of the cast and crew will be stopping by for exclusive Q & A sessions.

More themed areas are on the way, including spaces for Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Warhawk, MotorStorm, SOCOM and Far Cry 2, and several third parties are on board to produce new content in the near future. You will soon be able to customise your avatars and apartments with the latest virtual clothing from Diesel and stylish furniture designed by Ligne Roset. And look out for the Red Bull Island, where you can jump into the cockpit of a Red Bull Air Race plane and compete against other Home users.

"PlayStation Home is unique compared to anything else in the gaming world and, by partnering with both global and regional gaming and non-gaming brands, we are able to offer exciting and entertaining content that will enhance the PlayStation experience," said Daniel Hill, Home Service Manager, SCEE.

Unlock PlayStation Home and interact with the PlayStation community in a more sociable way than ever before.

PLAYSTATION 3 owners, welcome to your new Home.

MGS4 LittleBigPlanet content detailed, coming before Christmas

Stop reading and watch the video after the break. Don't worry, we'll wait. Done that? Good, now that you're sufficiently excited about the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4 LittleBigPlanet DLC packs we can give you a few more details, courtesy of the PlayStation Blog. There's a lot to cover, so pay attention.

First, the character packs, which you've already seen. They're $1.99 each or $5.99 for all four (essentially giving you Raiden for free). Remember how we were saying we wished the "level pack" actually included a level of two so we could collect all the goodies as we progressed? It looks like we got our wish -- and then some. The level pack contains six new levels and a lot of booty. Not to mention the Trophies which were revealed yesterday.

Inside the level pack you'll also find a new costume (Gurlukovich soldier), 72 stickers, 12 materials, 10 decorations and 18 objects. Not only that but there's four new music tracks (one background and 3 interactive), a new sound object, a new "plasma ball danger element," a new "laser sight gadget" and a functioning searchlight. Oh, we almost forgot about The Paintinator and the new switch that comes with it. All this can be yours on December 23rd and it'll cost you $5.99.

Okay, we've run out of space, so go visit the PS Blog for more info.

English Demon's Souls hits PS3 February 2009

The Japanese version of Demon's Souls is scheduled for release in early February of next year, but it looks it won't be the only one making it out that month. Siliconera suggests that the Asian version will also ship in February and most interestingly will be entirely in English. The site recently went hands-on with a new build at the Asia Game Show in Hong Kong and have discovered that the demo was, in fact, completely in English.

Now, it is possible that the final release in Asia may not be in that language; however, that is really moot. It's most important to note that there is some form of English language version and it is currently in the works. At the moment, there haven't been any mention from either SCEA or SCEE in regards to North American and European releases for Demon's Souls.

Behind the scenes: Prison Food

Go behind the scenes of Uwe Flade's short film Prison Food with Shoot! in this exclusive interview and making of video.

Uwe Flade was born in Munich in 1971, but now lives and works in Berlin where he is best known for working on music videos for artists including Depeche Mode, Franz Ferdinand, In Extremo, Nickelback and Rammstein.

His film, Prison Food, is a tale of entrapment, tension and the power of the human imagination. With only a ball and the human mind to comfort them, Flade's characters envision a better life for themselves, free from their repetitive, helpless state.

Given the PlayStation stimulus word Share, Uwe created Prison Food - a tale of two downhearted convicts and their efforts to create an imaginary world within the confines of their prison cell - with help from Marc Rothemund as Executive Producer.

Download the short film, Prison Food, and get these videos directly on your PLAYSTATION 3 or PSP by signing into PlayStation Store.

To access PlayStation Store you will need a PlayStation Network account.

For more information about Uwe Flade's work you can visit uweflade.de.

Backwards compatibility for SingStar

You can now play your PlayStation 2 SingStar games in SingStar for PLAYSTATION 3.

From SingStar Party to SingStar Singalong with Disney, there are many great SingStar titles available for PlayStation 2, and you can now enjoy them all on your PLAYSTATION 3.

Next time you insert a SingStar PS3 Blu-ray Disc and are signed into PlayStation Network, a software update will download automatically. From then, you will be able to press the Select button on your Wireless Controller in-game and switch the discs, letting you enjoy all the great tracks in your SingStar PS2 collection.

It means even greater choice of songs to get down to at your next SingStar party.

LittleBigPlanet 1.07 patch adds store, better search functionality

What is this, October? We thought we were done with LittleBigPlanet news after the game's release, but it seems the game just won't stop growing. While this patch news is nothing compared to the reveal of the upcoming Metal Gear Solid pack, it's still pretty snazzy. LittleBigPlanet is now at version 1.07 and the patch is pretty hefty (a whopping 67MB).

The update adds a new section to the LittleBigPlanet section of the game: the LittleBigStore. Here you can see all the costumes and packs that are currently for sale and purchase them. Bought a costume and don't want to search through your Popit menu for it? Simply select it in the in-game store and you'll automagically put it on. Pretty handy. Selecting a pack will "award" you with the items, just like at the end of a tutorial level, so you can see exactly what it contains.

The second big addition in version 1.07 is a revamp of the level search screen. You can now view the highest rated levels, the most hearted levels, the newest levels and the busiest levels. You can also search for levels via a text string, or via tags. Hopefully this will make finding awesome levels a lot easier.

Metal Gear Integral podcast resumes in January

Those that have played Metal Gear Solid 4 probably stumbled upon the "Integral" podcast through the in-game iPod. The included podcast mentioned future episodes, but no updates have been delivered yet. Well, looks like that's going to change, as the first new episode of the podcast will be available to download on January 8th, 2009. The episode will feature Ken Imaizumi, Aki Saito, Sean Eyestone talking about all things Metal Gear-related. Perhaps they'll talk about LittleBigPlanet -- or the newly announced iPhone game. Expect episodes to be released every two weeks afterwards.

The podcast is available exclusively within Metal Gear Solid 4. So, when January comes around, pop in the Blu-ray disc and give the Integral podcast a listen.

[Thanks, SnoopYTimes!]

Stretch your mind with Noby Noby Boy

The creator of the Katamari Damacy series has come up with something that will stretch the boundaries of your imagination once again.

If you thought the wonderfully originally and quirky puzzle action title Katamari Damacy was fun, get ready for a totally fresh experience from the imagination of its creator, Keita Takahashi - the intriguing and colourful, Noby Noby Boy.

Taking place in a variety of surreal worlds, you control the main character, BOY, who interacts with a mixture of objects and other creatures with his stretchy body. His partner in this bizarre adventure is GIRL. As your success within the game continues to make BOY stretch, GIRL will also grow, starting from Earth and expanding out to the planets in the Solar System.

Like Katamari Damacy, Noby Noby Boy may sound a little strange - so look forward to experiencing it with your own hands and discovering the unique creativity and vision that comes with a Takahashi-san title.

Noby Noby Boy will be available to download on PlayStation Network, early 2009.

8.3 Minutes

A film by Klaus Thymann available now as part of Shoot! on PlayStation Store.

It takes 8.3 Minutes for the Sun's rays to reach the Earth, a fact that Professor Chamer - a reclusive expert on solar energy - knows all too well. Shot in High Definition and starring Colin Salmon, this short film takes a close look at the burning divide between modern science and ancient superstition.

Working with the PlayStation stimulus word Connect, Klaus chose to set his story in a secluded underground bunker and focus on elements of Mayan myth - with help from Thomas Vinterberg as Executive Producer.

Download this exclusive film, as well as interviews and a behind the scenes video by signing into PlayStation Store on your PLAYSTATION 3 or PSP.

To access PlayStation Store you will need a PlayStation Network account.

Mirror's Edge demo now includes Time Trial Mode

No matter how you spin it, Mirror's Edge has been a flop. In an effort to boost sales, EA and DICE has announced that the Time Trial Mode in the demo that was previously exclusive to those who pre-ordered from Gamestop has been unlocked to the general public. All you have to do is head to the main menu, select "Race", then pick "Play Time Trial". When prompted, just enter any 16-digit code in order to unlock the mode.

Tme Trial Mode "challenges players to find the fastest routes throughout the city." You can even upload your best times to the scoreboards and compare it against your friends. We doubt any of this will cause a sudden spike in Mirror's Edge sales, but hey, it's free!

[Via press release]

Rumor: Free Radical Design closes shop

It's being reported by various UK based news sites that Free Radical, developer of the TimeSplitters series and Haze, has closed its doors for good. No one has received confirmation from the developer either way, as they don't seem to be answering their phones, but judging from anecdotal evidence, it's not looking good. Forum-goers over at Eurogamer are saying that the locks on the doors have been changed and Develop's sources are saying "something" happened at the developer this morning.

Develop is posturing that the closure, if true, is probably a result of Haze being a commercial and critical flop. Not only that, but the word is that their Lucasarts collaberation (Star Wars BattleFront 3) is reported to have been cancelled and they were having trouble finding a publisher for TimeSplitters 4. Sadly, it seems that game will now never see the light of day. We'll update this story as soon as we get confirmation either way but, as we say, it's not looking good. It's a sad day and we feel for anyone who has lost their job -- especially this close to Christmas.

[UPDATE] We've received confirmation that Free Radical has, indeed, closed its doors. This is no longer a rumor. GameIndustry.biz is reporting that Star Wars Battlefront 3 has been passed on to PSP Battlefront developer Rebellion.

Accessory gift guide

Expand your entertainment options with these great companions for PLAYSTATION 3 and PSP.

As well as cutting-edge games and a wide range of content such as video, music and photos, these official accessories let you do so much more with your PS3 or PSP.

For fans of Buzz!, the greatest quiz show on PlayStation, pick up a set of Wireless Buzz! Buzzers. Think you can outsmart the opposition? Then feel freedom, as you stake your claim for top dog status in the family pecking order with no pesky wires to obstruct your path to glory.

Bring harmony to the living room with PlayTV for PLAYSTATION 3. Hook this little box of wonder up to your PS3 and free your TV; watch, pause and record free-to-air digital channels. You can even record your favourite program using PlayTV while playing a game to make sure you don't miss out on any holiday viewing treats. What's more, with Remote Play, connect a PSP to a PS3 through PlayTV and enjoy TV on the go.

For the explorer in your life, why not give the gift of Go!Explore this festive season? Developed for PSP in collaboration with market leaders Tele Atlas and NavNGo, Go!Explore incorporates a GPS Receiver attachment for PSP and a software UMD featuring your chosen maps. A Car Mount and Car Adaptor can also be picked up for four-wheeled adventurers.

With additional map packs available at PlayStation Store and city maps brought to life with landmarks rendered in 3D, use Go!Explore to discover the world.

Go!Messenger and Skype are both services that turn PSP into a handy communication device whenever there is a Wireless Internet connection around. Turn on the style with the In-ear Headset with Remote Control, staying in touch has never looked so good on PSP.

Holiday survival guide

Survive the holiday season with a little help from PlayStation.

Want to know how to get through the holidays, PlayStation style? Then here it is: five must-have accessories and games that will get you through the holiday season with ease and a whole lot of fun.

PlayTV

It’s going to be a busy time with loads of great programmes on the TV to watch and PlayTV is the ultimate tool for storing all those great films and shows. PlayTV lets you record, watch and program terrestrial television through your PLAYSTATION 3. What’s more, PlayTV can record in the background while you’re busy fighting off hordes of Chimera in Resistance 2 or speeding through the island in MotorStorm: Pacific Rift.

Connect PlayTV to your TV aerial and your PS3 via the USB cable provided and for instant access to TV and radio channels; it’s that simple. You can also pause and rewind live TV as well as connect to PlayTV with your PSP via Remote Play, allowing you to watch live TV on your PSP wherever you find a Wireless connection.

SingStar

Looking for the ultimate party night peripheral? With so many SingStar games to choose from, the smash hit series is the best for kickstarting the festivities. Whether you want to grab hold of the microphone and belt out classics such as Waterloo and Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! in SingStar ABBA or rock out with tracks from Blink 182 or Twisted Sister on SingStar Vol.1, there are songs for every kind of music lover.

And with the addition of PLAYSTATION Eye, you can capture all your favorite performances and share them with the rest of the world through My SingStar Online. Plus, with hundreds of additional tracks available for download on the SingStore, there’s no shortage of festive crackers for all your friends and family.

EyeCreate

During the break there is no doubt you’re going to have loads of great pictures of the family having fun together and you can use EyeCreate to turn them into something really special. Working in tandem with your PLAYSTATION Eye, you can use EyeCreate to take photos or create videos.

It’s really easy to use and you can even add a whole selection of special effects to each video or photo when creating your very own holiday season storyboard. With an advanced multimedia editing suite, you can tweak your photos or videos to your heart’s content, crafting your very own festive film. EyeCreate comes packaged with the PLAYSTATION Eye or can be easily downloaded from the PlayStation Store.

Buzz!

Get your thinking caps on with Buzz! With a wealth of Buzz! Games available on PLAYSTATION 3, PlayStation 2 and PSP there is something for everyone this holiday season be it Buzz: Quiz TV on PS3 or Buzz: The Hollywood Quiz on PlayStation 2.

With Buzz: Quiz TV you get over 5000 all new questions that span five different areas of topic. You can also team up with your family this holiday season to play against friends, relatives or players from the other side of the world all from the comfort of your very own sofa.

So go on, then, tale the Buzz! challenge

Rumor: Square Enix's next MMO unveiling at E3 2009

It has been a very long time since we last hear anything of note regarding Square Enix's next MMO project and successor to Final Fantasy XI; however, the pages of EGM (via Final Fantasy-XIII.net) tells us that this silence will be over in due time. EGM's scuttlebutt suggests that the long-awaited MMO will be unveiled at next year's E3 in June.

It seems like a rather timely choice. It also seems to scream 'it's about time' as the aging FFXI is considerably outdated after having a nearly seven-year run. But, don't expect this new game to be a typical "updated" FFXI clone though. Producer Hiromichi Tanaka told EGM that "the next generation MMO that we're working on is going to be different from Final Fantasy XI. And even though we have the same staff working on the project, we're not going to make something that'll be exactly like FFXI."

SingStar backwards compatability patch arrives December 16th

Sony has announced (via ThreeSpeech) that the SingStarPS3 backwards compatability patch is on its way very soon. Tomorrow, in fact. The patch, which will allow you to switch between PS3 and PS2 SingStar discs without quitting the game. It's a feature that's been highly anticipated and which was announced at the Leipzig Game Convention this year.

The patch will arrive on December 16th at 10am GTM (EST +5) and will be automatically downloaded when you start up the game. Not only will this remove those awkward atmospheric lulls during parties, but it should add My SingStar Online functionality to the entire SingStar back catalog.

Get some sun with PlayStation

With the temperature plummeting and the nights drawing in, here are some PlayStation games to warm away your winter blues.

MotorStorm Pacific Rift

Set on an idyllic Pacific island, the second MotorStorm festival is the perfect destination if you like thrills mixed in with your golden beaches. As beautiful as the environment looks, its palm trees, active volcanoes and crystalline streams are there for one reason - to smash, scorch and drown any driver plucky enough to race across it.

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

Danger in paradise is also a theme of Nathan Drake's PlayStation debut, as the plucky adventurer searches for the lost treasure of El Dorado. As you take in the lush, verdant jungle, punctuated by the crumbling remains of ancient civilisations, be careful not to spend too long gazing up at the canopy; an army of ruthless mercenaries is searching for the same treasure and will stop at nothing to get there first. This is a game for anyone with a sense of adventure.

PlayStation Home

After all that peril, it's good to head home, relax on your balcony overlooking the harbour and hang out with friends, and you can do just that in your Home apartment. What's more, the innovative 3D social online gaming service on PS3 allows you to play online with other PlayStation fans, making it the ideal destination for all socialites out there.

LocoRoco 2

No matter how gloomy it is outside, you can always carry a pocketful of sunshine in the form of LocoRoco 2 for PSP. With its bright colours, adorable characters and simple, addictive gameplay, it's sure to bring a smile to the face of anyone, young or old. Join the LocoRoco and the Mui Mui if you're young at heart.

Midnight Club Los Angeles

The sun is always shining in the City of Angels, and the best way to see it is through a windscreen at 200 mph. The latest instalment in the Midnight Club series transports you to LA and gives you a huge stable of cars and motorbikes to explore it with and plenty of local petrol heads to race against. This is the destination for anyone who loves sun, sand and speed.

Far Cry 2

If you've ever been on holiday and forgotten your malaria tablets, then let Far Cry 2 be your cautionary tale. Set in a war-torn African state, your character must deal with the effects of the disease as well as the gangs of mercenaries baying for him. When you're not involved in a gunfight or searching for medication, you can drive across the arid plains and check out the wildlife, so this is perfect for any safari enthusiasts.

SingStar Summer Party

Whatever the time of year, you can have a summer party with SingStar with this collection of feel-good tracks on PlayStation 2. Imagine yourself relaxing on an inflatable lilo, singing Wham's Club Tropicana, or running through a field in 1995 with Good Enough by Dodgy. Pick this up and sing your own summer.

PSN brings some festive fun

PlayStation Network has a distinctly festive spirit to it in this update, with some seasonal costumes and extras for LittleBigPlanet's Sackboy, along with a Crash Commando trailer and more for you to download.

A planet sized costume update for Sackboy

What better way to celebrate the festive season in LittleBigPlanet than by downloading the LittleBigPlanet Festive Goodies pack and Santa Boots & Coat? The Pack is a level kit which includes a Christmas tree costume for Sackboy, stickers featuring Santa and Rudolph, wrapping paper material and a festive sleigh - while the Santa Boots and Coat Costume pack dresses Sackboy as jolly ol' Santa.

Fancy something even punchier? Then how about some of the most recognised fighters in videogames - Ryu, Chun Li, Guile and Zangief, from the Street Fighter series? Whether your preference is the big yellow hair of Guile or the massive beard of Russian wrestler Zangief, these downloads are perfect to give Sackboy a Street Fighter makeover.

Season's greetings from Pain and High Velocity Bowling

PSN has even more festive goodies to enjoy, through Pain and High Velocity Bowling. Pain already has the seasonal joys of characters Santa and Cookie to download and fire off into the various environments, and now you can also download a new patch which adds a reindeer costume for the game's main character, Ed. The patch includes additional replay editor functionality, which allows you to upload your favourite moments to the PS3 Home Menu and YouTube.

In High Velocity Bowling, the characters of Beatrice and Carl get a little festive love too. Beatrice's Holiday Spirit costume gives a reindeer slant to her clothes, while Carl's Season's Greetings costume puts the bowler in a Santa costume for your enjoyment.

Crash, Commando style

Blow stuff up. Shoot everything. Rub your hands with glee as your friends are reduced to buckets of comedy gore... welcome to the world of Crash Commando, where the guns are big, the explosions bigger and a bunch of carefree, trigger-happy commandos slug it out in a frenzied tongue in cheek battle in an innovative blend of retro arcade gameplay, ludicrously powerful weapons and a wicked sense of humour.

Download this trailer and witness the ultimate multiplayer frag-fest in action. Combining the thrill of frenzied online combat with classic side-scrolling platform gameplay, Crash Commando is easy to play, instantly addictive and hilariously entertaining.

Don't cool your Jets quite yet

Enter the futuristic world of hoverbike racing in Jet Rider 2, the original PS one classic that sees you fight for pole position on 20 high speed courses across land and water, pursued by a field of ferocious opponents. Think you can handle the pace? Download Jet Rider 2 and find out if you can truly go flat-out in a futuristic race for glory.

There's no End to this War

Tom Clancy's EndWar Escalation Expansion Pack features four exclusive missions on all new battlefields playable in skirmish mode, and three exclusive unit upgrades for you to utilise. The new missions include the siege of a firebase in Kursk (Ukraine), the assault on a Devon beach (England), the raid on Rota naval base (Spain) and the conquest of Dorsey Knob (USA, West Virginia). Expand your EndWar experience.

A Princely sum of downloads

Ubisoft's epic action adventure, Prince of Persia, has arrived on PLAYSTATION 3, and to welcome the athletic hero several videos are now available for you to see how a true prince should behave. Download two full trailers or check out the developer's diary and get a look into the process of how Prince of Persia was created.

See the World in Flames through new crosshairs

In this free downloadable pack for action adventure, Mercenaries 2: World in Flames, you can experience new single player missions, play as new characters and compare how they rank in mission specific leaderboards. The new missions include: Arms Race, Death Race, Mercs2 Blitz, and Urban Rampage. Buckle up - it's time to collect what you're due...

Festive LittleBigPlanet construction pack coming this week

The PlayStation Blog is calling the upcoming LittleBigPlanet DLC for this week a "level pack," which is a bit of a misnomer considering it doesn't actually contain any levels. Instead, this festive add-on pack will add construction materials to use in your own level development. This pack will be Christmas themed and will set you back $2.99, but be quick -- it'll only be around until the 8th of January.

For your $2.99 you get the following: Two new costumes (Christmas Tree headpiece and Gift Wrapped Sackboy), one new material (Wrapping Paper), two new items (a festive sleigh and a festive light), six new decorations (including a candy cane and a festive baubel) and, finally, "a ton" of new festive stickers. Not bad value for money, but we'd have loved if the pack had lived up to its name and included a level or two, which you'd need to traverse in order to pick up all these goodies.

Nevermind, we're thankful for what we get and, since LittleBigPlanet's release, we've been getting a lot. The PlayStation Blog article is keen to state that there are more packs on their way. No doubt we'll be grabbing each and every one of them as they appear.

PS3 Gold Box event on Amazon this Thursday

Looks like these bargain-tastic holiday deals will keep coming, most likely due to the depressing state of the economy. For those of you who still have a little cash to burn, Amazon has announced that on Thursday, December 18th, their Gold Box deals will feature PlayStation 3 titles and Blu-ray disks. One deal will be made available all day (or until supplies run out), while Lighting Deals will begin at 6AM PST/9AM PST -- each of them will run for several hours before being replaced by another. Check back here on Thursday, as we'll keep you guys updated as to which items will be offered and at what price.

[Via Joystiq -- thank to everyone who sent this in!]

"Smooth driving is fast driving"

Ahead of the 24-hour endurance race in Dubai, GT Academy winner Lars Schlömer speaks to eu.playstation.com.

How are you feeling about the prospect of racing for 24 hours in Dubai?

It's going to be a tough race and I have much to work on before January. I need to improve my fitness in order to race for longer periods and I need more time in the Nissan 350Z GT4. Everything is going to be new for me in Dubai: my first international race, a new style of racing and a new car.

How has your life changed since you won the GT Academy?

I couldn't believe it when I won. I have wanted to race for real for a long time and the final at Silverstone was the best day of my life. Many things have changed, I now spend a lot of time travelling to the UK for race weekends; I had only been on a plane twice before and now I fly every week. I am learning new things all the time.

Which piece of advice has been most memorable?

Smooth driving is fast driving.

Have there been any low points where you felt out of your depth?

This is too much fun. I used to drive a cab, now I am a racing driver - there are no low points.

Do you worry about the danger?

Life is dangerous! The team is there to make things as safe as possible.

How much do you feel you have improved?

As I lined up for my first race I was incredibly nervous; everything was new to me and I realised how little I knew about racing. Now, I'm driving all the time and getting training from the best, so I must be better by now.

Between you and Lucas Ordóñez, which is the best driver?

We are both trying hard!

Exclusive Mirror's Edge content coming your way

Think you've explored everything Mirror's Edge as to offer? Think again. Time Trial maps are coming to Faith's city, with an exclusive PlayStation Network map also in the offering. Get ready to run...

Want to extend your Mirror's Edge experience? Well Electronic Arts and Digital Illusions CE have given you the perfect chance to get more from the innovative first person adventure with new downloadable content for you to play. Eight Time Trial maps will be available from January 2009, with an extra, ninth map exclusive and free to PlayStation Network players.

The maps will boast a different art style from the main game, with more colourful and eye-catching formations rather than taking place in the city of Mirror's Edge. Take a look at the video and prepare yourself to feel the rush of Mirror's Edge.

Sony Europe says Home will be 'a system seller'

The early response to the PlayStation Home beta hasn't been too encouraging, with a full 25% of our readers thinking the service is "a waste of my (and Sony's) time." However, a large majority of our readers agree that there is potential for Home to become something much greater than what it is now.

Home's European service manager Dan Hill seems to agree. Speaking with CVG, Hill states that "if you buy a PS3 and you grow with us, as Home evolves, you are going to become part of something very special, something unlike you can experience anywhere else." He adds that "no-one else is doing anything of this scale or ambition."

"Today, we are at the beginning of a long journey - now is the time to start its evolution." There's a long way to go before we see the fruits of Sony's labor, and we're cautiously optimistic that they can deliver. "In time I would say that Home will definitely become a reason to purchase [PS3]."

[Via Joystiq]

Unsurprisingly low Valkyria Chronicles sales

What happens when you release a cel-shaded Japanese SRPG into the crowded November holiday lineup? Your game gets largely ignored. Sega's PS3-exclusive innovative tactics game didn't exactly light the sales charts on fire, with only 33k units sold in November, according to the NPD Group. November marked the release of heavy-hitting games like Call of Duty: World at War, Resistance 2 and Mortal Kombat vs. DC. It's thoroughly unsurprising that a game like Valkyria Chronicles didn't perform better in such a competitive market. That's a shame, considering how much we loved the game.

Of course, you could make it right. Right now. But chances are, you'll be waiting for the inevitable price drop on this retail flop. C'mon PS3 fanboys! Tell your friends about Valkyria. And while you're at it, tell them about LittleBigPlanet as well -- both of these games could use some better sales.

A very merry LittleBigPlanet holiday

Don’t leave Sackboy out in the cold this holiday season - give LittleBigPlanet's popular mascot the perfect gift with these festive themed downloadable extras from PlayStation Network.

LittleBigPlanet is truly your game. With the ability to customise the creative platformer which allows you to dress up Sackboy the way you want, make levels in your image and share them online, it's a title that you can leave your unique stamp on. With the festive season in full flow, what better way to get into the mood than by adding a little holiday cheer to LittleBigPlanet - and with a number of downloadable extras available on PlayStation Network, it's easy to get started.

These fun extras are only available for a limited time only, so make sure you get them while you can...

LittleBigPlanet Festive Goodies Level Kit

This Level Kit gives you everything you need to create levels with a festive feel in LittleBigPlanet. Bulging with Yuletide cheer, the treats in this pack include a trendy Christmas tree costume for Sackboy, stickers featuring Santa and Rudolph, wrapping paper material and a festive sleigh. Download this special Level Kit for a wonderful collection of festive goodies and get the holidays truly wrapped up.

LittleBigPlanet Santa Boots and Coat Costume

Download this free Santa Boots and Coat Costume pack for Sackboy and you can dress him up as the merriest gift giver around - the perfect way to explore your festive levels created with the Festive Goodies Level Kit. 

LittleBigPlanet Santa Hat and Beard Costume

Complimenting the Santa Boots and Coat, this free Costume pack gives Sackboy the complete Santa style, down to his white beard and red hat. How can you resist this merry dose of festive cheer?

 

If all of that is not enough, there are also a vast number of festive styled user created levels already on show in LittleBigPlanet's online community for you to enjoy. You can find these by going online and selecting Cool Levels on your Pod Computer, then going to the Search menu and manually inputting the name of the level (or the username of its creator) you're trying to find. Have fun in the world of LittleBigPlanet.

Xmas Home by Ocist

Explore a lovely festive looking and decorative house, complete with kitchen, bedroom, living room, television sets, and even a colourful tree which plays home to lots of well wrapped presents.

Oh Christmas tree by andrewnotmatt

Well designed stars, angels and candy canes are the features of this entertaining level, as well as a guest appearance by Father Christmas himself... albeit stuck in some clouds, the poor soul.

Merry Christmas! Noel by Kimidori-apple

An appropriately looking frosty background and welcoming Santa are sure to give you a festive glow, here - although the true star of the level is the jet powered reindeer. Hop in and take a ride.

Joyeux Noel (Merry Jakhirs-mas) Jakhris by Jakhris

Save Santa and go on a sub quest adventure in a cold cave where a polar bear lurks... although this snowy beast is more than he seems. Tackle this excellent level full of cable cars, ice slides, reindeer and sleds, and find out why. It's also great for two players, so grab a friend and enjoy.

Sackboy le pere noel by Rolerbal

A brisk level which has some nice prize bubbles and decorations which make great use of the PLAYSTATION Eye camera.

Buon Natale! by I__ALE__I

Take a trip around Santa's house at night time, which has a large batch of wrapped presents and an even larger number of helper elves waiting to greet you.

Weihnachten 2008/Xmas 2008 by Riesi4

A large and inventive level which packs in so many features you can't help but be entertained. Moving platforms take the shape of angels, you can zip along a Santa looking skyline, run across rooftops and travel down a chimney, avoid falling icicle traps and even ride off Rudolph the red nosed reindeer's sleigh.

Feliz Navidad (Merry Christmas) by JUCAVILIN 22

Take Sackboy on a journey that lets him light up several Christmas trees in a snowy setting full of snowmen.

God jul/merry christmas by European_Gamer

Play this nicely built level which was made for an official PlayStation Scandinavian forum competition, where you're tasked with finding your aunt and uncle to invite them to the local Christmas party. There are score bubbles that fall like snow from the sky, electrified ice platforms, a house full of illustrated artwork and lots of objects as gifts when you finally get to the party.

Santa's Sleigh by Foolishly

Hop into Santa's sleigh and go full speed ahead in this quick level which has an amusingly fun conclusion - check it out and find out for yourself.