All eyes on GT Academy winners

Schlömer and Ordóñez prepare for a thrilling climax to their racing adventure: the TOYO Tires 24h of Dubai endurance race.

When German taxi driver Lars Schlmer and Spanish student Lucas Ordez bought their copies of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, they were unaware of the incredible journey that lay before them.

Ten months on, they line up alongside legends of motoring and compete as racing drivers in the TOYO Tires 24h of Dubai endurance race, all thanks to GT Academy. The pan-European search for undiscovered talent began on PlayStation Network, with 25,000 PLAYSTATION 3 owners competing to set the fastest lap around the Eiger Norwand course. The quickest in each country, as decided by National Final events across Europe, were invited to Silverstone in England to prove their skills behind the wheel of a real Nissan GT-R, and when the final chequered flag fell, Schlmer and Ordez claimed their places on the Nissan PlayStation Race Team.

Driving alongside them on the team is British Formula One legend Johnny Herbert, who has a wealth of experience in endurance racing, having won the famous Le Mans 24 Hours in 1991. Completing the team are Alex Buncombe, a driver with considerable experience in the Nissan 350Z GT4 race car that the team will be using, and GT Academy head of driving, Rob Barff.

In its fourth year, the TOYO Tires 24h of Dubai is growing in esteem among the racing community and, as a result, the Nissan PlayStation Race Team will have a strong international line-up of competitors to deal with, not to mention the gruelling distance and searing Persian Gulf heat. Competitors include German touring car stalwarts Roland Asch and Kurt Thiim in the Besaplast Racing Team's Porsche 997 and Chinese GP2 driver Ho Pin Tung, who will take his seat in the Mosler MT900 GT3 run by Gravity Racing of Luxembourg.

In preparation, Schlmer and Ordez have been competing in events across the UK, earning their racing licenses and getting to grips with a range of Nissan racing cars. "It's going to be a tough race and I have much to work on before January," Schlmer told eu.playstation.com. "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."

It has been quite a year for the two drivers in-training; their racing dreams have been taken from the virtual world of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue and made real by GT Academy. However they fare in Dubai, nobody can deny that they have made magnificent progress in just 10 months, and with the guidance of Johnny Herbert and the support of the Nissan PlayStation team, they have every chance of leaving a lasting impression on the racing community.

For more information on GT Academy and live coverage of the TOYO Tires 24h of Dubai from January 9, 2009, head to granturismoworld.com.

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The PlayStation Picture Quiz
Lucas Ordóñez shines in Dubai
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PlayStation Prize Draw winners announced

Find out who were the lucky winners in the latest round of PlayStation Prize Draws which took place in December 2008.

All PLAYSTATION 3, PSP and PlayStation 2 owners that have registered their system are entered into the PlayStation Prize Draws, which takes place at regular three month intervals.

The latest draws were made in December 2008; read on to find out who were the big winners.

PLAYSTATION 3 Prize Draw

1st Prize (40-inch HD Ready television):

Benoit Hamann (France)

PSP Prize Draw

1st Prize (PLAYSTATION 3 system):

Tobias Feldmann (Germany)

PlayStation 2 Prize Draw

1st Prize (PSP system):

Alberto Avila (Spain)

To join the fun, and be in with a chance of winning some great prizes, register your system now.

Note:

No purchase route also availableWinners will be contacted to confirm postal address before prizes are sent outActual prizes may differ from the models shownView full terms and conditions at eu.playstation.com



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Win VIP tickets to the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final

To celebrate the launch of the FIFA 09 PSP-3000 bundle, you and a friend could be at the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final in Rome.

Imagine the sun setting over the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, listening to your favourite music as expectant football supporters gather for the most important match in European club football.

As kick-off looms, you check the latest team news online and chat with friends back home to remind them of how jealous they are. You and your best friend finish a game of FIFA 09 just in time to enter the stadium and bask in one of the most auspicious sporting events on the globe.

PSP-3000 launches with a special FIFA 09 bundle in October 2008, and to celebrate, we're giving away two tickets to the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final in Rome, including flights, transfers, two nights of accommodation and entry to the PlayStation corporate hospitality area at the Stadio Olimpico.

PSP-3000 has a brighter screen and a built-in microphone; ideal for playing games, watching movies and keeping in touch with friends using Skype and Go!Messenger. It's the perfect travel companion, so make sure you have yours with you if you're lucky enough to win this fantastic trip to one of Europe's most beautiful cities.

Head to pspfootballvip.com and enter your details to be in with a chance of winning.

Buona fortuna!

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The PlayStation Picture Quiz

The PlayStation Picture Quiz

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 PlayStation Picture Quiz

Have fun!

Lucas Ordóñez shines in Dubai

The GT Academy winner produced a flawless drive amidst trying circumstances in the TOYO Tires 24h of Dubai endurance race.

British racing legend Johnny Herbert described the TOYO Tires 24h of Dubai endurance race as “a weekend of disappointments and great achievements” for the Nissan PlayStation racing team, in which he drove alongside GT Academy winner Lucas Ordóñez. “Lucas did brilliantly, producing a mistake-free drive under big pressure. He has achieved everything we had hoped from him and proved that it is possible to make the transition from virtual racing to the real thing.”

As Lucas’s confidence grew and his lap times improved, it was difficult to believe that just four months ago, the only racing cars he was driving were in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue on PLAYSTATION 3. Many people at the event were surprised at how comfortable he has made the transition from virtual to reality, but not Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi.

“It is a dream come true for me to see my game develop a real racing driver,” he said. “I have been hoping for it to happen for ten years.”

“Lucas’s performance has been excellent, but I would expect that from a driver trained using Gran Turismo. I haven’t had much time to watch him drive but he is very calm and never seems to worry. I always believed that someone good at GT could drive as fast as a professional; in fact, I think that they could even go faster.”

Lucas, who had the honour of guiding the Nissan 350Z GT4 racing car over the finish line, beamed as his teammates and family crowded around him. However, earlier that weekend, the team had more than its fair share of setbacks. Firstly, they had to make the difficult decision of withdrawing the second GT Academy winner, Lars Schlömer, from the race for safety reasons. He missed crucial practise sessions due to illness and it was decided that he had not enough experience, particularly of driving at night, to take on a gruelling endurance event.

In a statement to the assembled media, Darren Cox, Interactive Marketing Manager of Nissan Europe said: “The Nissan PlayStation team have assessed the situation prior to Dubai and have made the decision that Lars is not quite ready to join the team on the track for the final race.”

Then, when the race was underway, a series of mechanical faults saw the car spending too long in the pits, undermining the fantastic driving of Lucas, Johnny Herbert, Rob Barff and Alex Buncombe. The first setback occurred when a piece of debris jumped up from the track and damaged the power steering system, causing fluid to leak onto the exhaust, resulting in a dense plume of smoke.

Then, Lucas got behind the wheel for the first of his four 90 minute sessions of driving. He got off to a flying start but was hampered by a puncture on lap 36. Every time the Nissan PlayStation team caught up with their rivals, another freak incident would condemn them to the pits. As night fell, they were involved in a collision with another car, damaging the rear suspension and costing five laps.

The second 12 hours went far more smoothly and as the searing Persian Gulf heat dropped, so did lap times as the drivers settled into a rhythm. Gradually, they climbed the leaderboard but the distance between them and the eventual winners was too great, so the Nissan PlayStation team had to settle for 45th place overall and ninth in their class.

It's a kinda magic in Bayonetta

Bayonetta is ready to cast her magic on you with an exhilarating action title which takes a trip into gothic fantasy. Expect an exotic show of swords and sorcery...

Style - it's something Bayonetta is full of, even with a mere glance over its colourful visuals. Developed by Platinum Games alongside Sega, this is a flashy action adventure which is directed by Hideki Kamiya, creator of the Devil May Cry series. Which means you're in for a ride which involves lots of gung-ho blasting, outrageous acrobatics and a fantasy setting full of angels, demons and other otherworldly beings.

Bayonetta 101

The game's title is the name of its lead heroine, Bayonetta - a sassy witch who slays monsters in a huge variety of ways thanks to handguns, guns in her shoes, swords, and magic. While not much of the game's story has been revealed yet, it promises plenty of spectral beasts to try these weapons on.

That's not the only surprise hiding in Bayonetta's catsuit. In fact, her clothing itself is the surprise, in more ways than one. Rather than being made out of a more typical material such as leather, her uniform is actually created from her rather long hair. In turn, her flowing locks can be used for special attacks.

These spectacular assaults range from powerful fists, to transforming Bayonetta into a giant demon capable of biting the larger mini-bosses you'll encounter in half. Throw in an array of slow motion bullet time sequences, combination moves that can mercilessly juggle your opponents in the air before they touch the ground, the ability to conjure even more incredible ways of dispatching foes (such as creating a makeshift guillotine to put them in) and finishing moves and you have an outlandish combat system which is bound to leave you agape.

Where there's a witch, there's a way

While there are platform sections to traverse, Sega's game has a strong focus on its memorable action sequences that aim to empower and impress you given the sheer visual and conceptual extravagance of it all. To compliment that, the set pieces and gothic environments are equally lavish.

One such set piece sees Bayonetta faces off against a dizzying numbers of angelic styled enemies while standing on top of a broken clock tower falling through the Earth's atmosphere. As you battle, the setting changes from space into an ominous sky, while bits of the disintegrating structure force you into daring leaps from piece to falling piece. All this while avoiding silver dragons which have joined the angels' offensive.

It's fast and energetic, designed to make sure you never take your eyes off its blistering arcade style action - and there's plenty more to come. Expect Bayonetta to be am exciting name on your lips as it casts a spell of adult fantasy action and gunplay on PLAYSTATION 3 - and you - soon.

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Have a godly rock out with PSN

PlayStation Network has turned to God of War for your entertainment - as well as boasting sneak previews of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and Resistance: Retribution, downloadable content for Rock Band, Guitar Hero and more.

A godly trailer in Uncharted territory

God of War III and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves have been unveiled with two new trailers which will leave you breathless from their action adventure exploits.

In God of War III, cursed Spartan warrior Kratos returns to wreak his vengeance on the deceitful gods of Olympus and the entire Ancient Greek world. Armed with his deadly Blades of Chaos, Kratos must face mythology's darkest creatures and solve intricate puzzles on his merciless quest to destroy Olympus and the mighty Zeus himself.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves sees fortune hunter Nathan Drake re-enter the treacherous world of thieves and mercenary treasure seekers he had sought to leave behind. When a mysterious artefact propels Drake on an expedition to find the legendary Himalayan valley of Shambhala, he finds himself embroiled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a fugitive war criminal who is after more than just the fabled riches of the lost city.

Download these trailers and get a sneak preview of two massive titles exclusive to PLAYSTATION 3.

Resist Retribution

Take the fate of mankind into your own hands in Resistance: Retribution and join the fight to free a conquered Europe from the gruesome Chimera. Featuring intense online skirmishes, brutal weapons, incredible enemies and amazing new ways to fight for humanity's freedom, download this trailer for the PSP title and witness a terrifying look at the mission ahead...

On the Precipice of Darkness

The first instalment in the adventure game series based on the web comic Penny Arcade, Precipice of Darkness: Episode One lets you join Gabe and Tycho in the alternate 1920s universe of New Arcadia, where you'll combat savage enemies, solve mysteries and meet bizarre new characters in this adult adventure full of laughs.

FEAR this demo

Download a demo of F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin and play some of the highlights from the spooky horror based action shooter which sees a routine mission turn into a fight for survival when an explosion of unknown origin decimates the city and unleashes the wrath of Alma Wade, whose terrifying power threatens to surge out of control. Take up the role of Sgt. Michael Becket and see if you can avert total disaster from this supernatural menace.

Keeping track of Guitar Hero

Want a few more tracks to add to musical rhythm action game Guitar Hero? Well download the Aussie Track Pack, pick up your axe and start grinding to the likes of Tomorrow by Silverchair, Dimension by Wolfmother, and Outtathaway by The Vines. You can also download these as singles.

Hard Rock caf

Music title Rock Band allows some of your favourite tracks to be downloaded to it, which you can then interact with using master guitar, bass, drums and vocal microphone peripherals. Now it's the turn of Steve Miller Band to take the spotlight, with the Steve Miller Band Pack 01, which includes tracks Space Cowboy, Take The Money And Run, and The Joker.

Not enough Rock? Well there's also the new tracks of I Stand Alone by Godsmack, Feed The Tree by Belly, War Zone by Rob Zombie and Tomorrow by Silverchair to download.

Family man

Download this trailer of the eagerly awaited Mafia II and witness a mere glimpse of the sort of 1940s and 1950s based activities you'll be getting up to as Vito Scaletta in his rise through the Mafia ranks. Shoot-outs, high speed pursuits and more await you in Mafia II - don't miss out.

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Behind the scenes: The Dreaming

Behind the scenes: The Dreaming

Go behind the scenes of Anthony Green's short film The Dreaming with Shoot! in this exclusive interview and making of video.

Anthony Green is a young Canadian director interested in exploring global issues and contemporary morality through the medium of film. He currently lives in London, where as a recipient of the Graduate Merit Award, he is completing a postgraduate degree in Media and Communications at the London School of Economics.

Aged 21, he wrote and directed Pigeon, his first short film to attract international acclaim. The film recounts the true story of Susi Penzias and her attempt to flee Nazi-occupied France in 1941. Besides playing at over two dozen film festivals and winning numerous awards, Pigeon is employed as a model in Ken Dancynger and Pat Cooper's book Writing the Short Film, and used in classrooms worldwide as a tool for educating students about the Holocaust.

In 2005 Anthony earned a BFA with honours from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. His thesis film, Screening, explores the sensitive topic of racial profiling, capturing the anti-Islamic sentiment of post-9/11 America. Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2006, it has gone on to play at festivals worldwide, winning over 20 prestigious awards.

Between his degrees, Anthony spent two years documenting the Rolling Stones' Bigger Bang tour. Through 120 cities, in 40 countries, Anthony and his partner recorded the on-stage and behind-the-scenes life of the legendary rock band. The resulting 70-minute documentary, entitled Salt of the Earth, packaged with three live concerts, has already become one of the best-selling music DVDs of all time.

Given the PlayStation stimulus word Challenge, Anthony created The Dreaming - an evocative piece that uses the spectacular Canadian lakes as a setting - with help from Jerry Bruckheimer as Executive Producer.

Download the short film, The Dreaming, 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.

Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings trailer unleashed

LucasArts has just released the very first trailer for the upcoming Indiana Jones game, The Staff of Kings. This all-CG trailer says proudly mentions the Wii, but don't be fooled. The PlayStation logos are there because this game's also coming to PSP. We don't see any hint at gameplay in this trailer, but it's good to see that this project is alive and well.

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"We want to create great moments"

F.E.A.R. gave players a new slant on the shooter genre with its horror tropes offering frights as well as fights. Now its sequel is here. Think there's nothing to fear from Project Origin? Think again...

When F.E.A.R.: First Encounter Assault Recon hit PLAYSTATION 3, its potent blend of shooting action and horror elements made for some great gameplay that also lived up to the title's acronym. Stunning shocks and stylish shooting. So it's no surprise to see the sequel take aim at the same aspects, albeit ramped up to make sure your journey is even more sweaty palmed than before.

Who you gonna call?

Supernatural suspense and Hollywood action are the hallmarks of F.E.A.R.2: Project Origin, with a storyline that dovetails into the first game. Exploring the city which became a disaster site during the explosive climax of F.E.A.R., this time you witness the final half hour of these events from the eyes of a Special Forces agent looking to arrest the people behind the terrible experiments which led to these events in the first place.

Loaning an air of uncertainty and spiritual menace to all this is Alma, the rather spooky girl who was experimented on in the pursuit of creating psychic super soldiers. Alma's terrifying mental abilities which threaten everything around her are the crux for Project Origin's spine-tingling tone, coupling a range of other nasty supernatural dangers lurking in the shadows.

What it means in gameplay terms is that you pick up a weapon, take on a variety of enemies of both technological and the more creepy variety, and occasionally get scared out of your wits by some freakish goings on.

Plenty to F.E.A.R.

As you would expect for a game with a more spine-chillingly sinister ambience, there's much more to Project Origin than meets the eye - and not just in a story sense, either. Artificial Intelligence has been bumped up for your foes in the field, making the blistering firefights more intense and unpredictable.

"The idea of the player crafting the combat experience is a big thing for us," says Dave Matthews, Primary Art Lead at developer Monolith, when explaining how the AI adapts to your own actions. "In trying to evolve the intelligence of the enemies, we've made them much more aware of how they interact with the environment, as well as how the environment has opportunities for combat advantages. And we want to give that same opportunity straight back to the player. So anything the AI is capable of, we made sure the player can do the same thing."

Which means both you and your foes are able to tip over objects and use them for cover, destroy the environment and change tactics on the fly. Enemies will try and take shots at potentially explosive objects around you when you're hiding, throw grenades at you if you're behind cover and attempt to find a blind spot to attack you from. They'll even drop their weapons and try to extinguish themselves if you set them alight, pulling out a concealed or abandoned gun to extract revenge if they survive.  

Nice suit

On top of the weapons, there is also the Elite Powered Armour (EPA) suit to use through the varied environments. As a mechanical suit, you'll initially come across the EPA as an enemy based craft, which will rip away your hiding cover with a hail of bullets and make a nuisance of itself. Once captured, you can hop in and cause some mayhem yourself.

And don't worry too much about this technological wonder if it gets damaged - it will eject you into the combat space while it clams up to repair itself. "Now you're out in the exact same space in the exact same situation... but without the suit and a different set of weapons," Matthews explains.

Which is exactly the point - this will give you a new set of problems seeing as the environment will hardly be safe if you've taken that much damage in the first place, something Matthews is keen to stress as part of the evolving nature of the game experience in Project Origin.

Cue eerie music...

Even the tricky essential balance between all this high impact action and horror is in hand. "The horror aspect is just as important as the action aspect," says Matthews. "In F.E.A.R. we took a lot of our cues from Japanese horror. In that genre they show you some horror out of context, so you get this slow burn of information, which is unsettling as you're never quite exactly sure what's wrong. And then there's this moment of clarity where everything gets turned on its side and the grandeur of the scheme becomes apparent.

"These are the philosophies we've also taken for the combat space. In the first F.E.A.R. everything was tight and claustrophobic and it was able to create a certain mood. What we realised after we released that was it eventually became a little too much and too numbing. So we started to play with the combat space and that became a great opportunity for us and changed the basics, so now we have some tense moments which are wound down, to lull you into a false sense of security for the player.

"We use that combat mechanic along with the exploration to start to create those moments that become inconsistent, and get that moment where you think something's not quite right. And right when you expect the situation is going to happen... we're going to hit you just before that! We want those high impact moments inside of Project Origin."

Control your F.E.A.R.

With its strong blend of styles and genres, there's a lot to look forward to in F.E.A.R.2: Project Origin. And Matthews is keen that regardless of how much blasting and scares are squeezed in, the end result is an engaging experience. "We want to create these great moments," he says. "These epic, dramatic scenes, so you really feel like you have a significant role in what you're doing in the game."

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"Every bullet has a dramatic impact"

Killzone 2 is set to change the way you think about first person shooters. eu.playstation.com took a trip to Amsterdam to get a first hand look at this seminal title and the team behind it, Guerrilla Games.

There's something a little strange about Guerrilla Games' offices. Not in a bad way - it's more from the idea that with a little adjustment the historical 17th  century building (later a converted bank) would be a fantastic, if slightly old fashioned first person shooter level. The stark colour walls are at home with the intentionally bleak hues of numerous posters from the Killzone series, while the winding metal staircase is great grenade and sniper fodder.

Throw in its ominously locked doors, the notable mixture of various shaped rooms ideal for tense firefights, a picturesque garden courtyard, a security post and life-sized Helghast models intimidating visitors at various points, and it's hard not to see an eerie coincidence.

In other words, it's the perfect stage for one of 2009's most exciting titles...

Helghan via Amsterdam

As first person shooters go, Killzone 2 subscribes to the genre's staples - war-torn, action packed and unmistakably adult in its presentation as well as narrative content. Ironically, such a game can only be created in a serene and organised environment, which may seem a bit unusual given Guerrilla Games' Amsterdam home required a number of massive diesel powered generators to keep operations running and had the neighbours wondering what was happening in the building thanks to Killzone 2's rather convincing war sounds.

Housing around 130 staff members, Guerrilla's base may indeed feel like the halls of a FPS from years gone by, yet that's had little influence on Killzone 2 which sports a much more up to date feel. Taking place on the hostile planet Helghan, tight corridors are complimented with vast, open spaces, boasting multiple light sources and large complex environments which are rich and constantly moving with detail, whether that's from your buddies, the fearsome Helghast, the aggressive weather, or even finer details like insects and individual drops of water. Stunning only begins to describe it.

And it's obvious Guerrilla is proud. There's an excitable buzz in the air. That clear feeling of having something special on their hands - as well as the relief from coming to the end of a four year development period - is only equalled by a cautious sense of anticipation. The team is eager to get people playing and prove their opus is not just a very pretty face, albeit with scary glowing red eyes.

A rare performance of Helghast ballet

Despite long days and nights overseeing the game, Guerrilla's Managing Director Herman Hulst has more than enough enthusiasm when he kicks off his presentation. From the impressive 2005 teaser trailer to the game's current build, Hulst shows the progress and vast scale of Killzone 2 - open and chaotic warfare, a hugely comprehensive multiplayer mode and startlingly beautiful presentation - before narrowing down the principles of what makes this FPS so special.

"Firing your weapon has got to be satisfying," says Hulst. "Every bullet has a dramatic impact on the world around you." To demonstrate to this, a video plays showing the sheer level of destructibility offered by the game. Walls crumble, mortar flies, things fall apart. Using the environment as cover against gunfire isn't just a case of hiding behind something solid and waiting, unless you like the sound of your cover literally being blown.

The level of your forceful actions doesn't just apply to environments. "We've created something we call a Response System for the characters - it dynamically uses motion captured animation and physics impulses, so the possible responses are truly limitless," explains Hulst as he starts another clip playfully dubbed as Helghast ballet. The red-eyed fiends dance and stumble in a bullet laden montage with the operatic and suitably tranquil Flower Duet playing in the background as they're uniquely pushed in all directions from the deadly barrage. It's as impressive as it is bizarrely beautiful.

There's no "I" in war

Guerrilla's sense of humour is further evident on a tour into the Artificial Intelligence studio, where the behaviour patterns of the Helghast and your comrades-in-arms is created. Among the sketches and artwork there's an odd whiteboard caked with stickers and drawings of various children's cartoon characters. "Normally we have a pretty random collection of things on there," laughs Rob Heald, Designer. "We decided to play on the safe side and present a lighter mood - something to balance out the darkness of Killzone 2's world!"

The contrast between the hostile planetary setting of the game and the development team's enjoyment of their work makes for an entertaining atmosphere as Heald explains the depths of the AI system. "[With some other games] when the player turns up on the scene, everything is focused on the player, which obviously gives you an intense experience, but there's a battle going on around you in the world and you're not automatically the centre of it. We don't just automatically tell enemies where the player is."

Artificial Intelligence awareness also extends to the number of buddies fighting alongside you, who change tactics depending on the weapons they're using and the way you play. They use mounted guns if you're not, help you out if you're under pressure and occasionally offer vocal feedback, from encouragement to warnings if you're about to be blindsided. "Initially one of the problems we had was stopping your buddies from steaming ahead - it's not quite so much fun if you wait a bit, go around the corner and see they've done all the work for you," says Heald.

There's a sense of personality injected into all of these characters as well. "We have a set of sequences that we play when the player dies, so an enemy will sometimes come up to you and brandish his fists, or a buddy will say 'don't give up on me!', that sort of thing just before the game restarts," explains Heald.

"However, the rest of the game continues while that's happening, so we had this Helghast kill our player and had his arms up victorious, then a buddy came up and blew his head off with a shotgun! [laughs] Which didn't help the fact the player had died already, but that sort of stuff happens a lot with a dynamic environment. We're really pleased with the way it's turned out."

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Yes! Direct-feed Uncharted 2 screenshots

Click for high resolution image.
Tired of looking for magazine scans? Here you go: direct feed screenshots of Nathan Drake's upcoming PS3-exclusive adventure: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.

Go! Go! Go!

Update: Some of you have noted that we linked to these screenshots earlier. However, now we're actually able to have them on our site. ;D

Gallery: Uncharted 2

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Assassin's Creed 2 officially confirmed, with us by March 2010

Ubisoft's third quarter earnings report has finally officially confirmed that the sequel to 2007's best selling assassinate-em-up, Assassin's Creed, will be available before the end of March 2010. While technically impressive, Assassin's Creed was a bit lacking in the gameplay department, we felt. A great proof-of-concept, but without enough fresh content to keep from getting stale after a while. Something we're hoping to see improved in the sequel. Ready for another year of seeing Jade Raymond wherever you turn?

The report also mentions that there will be seven franchise titles being released during the fiscal year starting this April, including Splinter Cell Conviction (which we can assume is still 360 exclusive), Ghost Recon and, as we've already mentioned, Assassin's Creed 2. There will also be three new IPs, including I Am Alive. No other games in these categories were mentioned, so no doubt Ubisoft has a few more surprises up its sleeve.

“What are you looking forward to most on PlayStation in 2009?”

Games industry figures reveal what they’re looking forward to most in the coming year.

"The most important thing for us as a company in the very short term is for us to start making money. This is a pledge that was made last March and is something that we are still very much on target to achieve. Once we have achieved this, I think it will be a very exciting time for PlayStation. Once we have alleviated that specific pressure, we can move forward at a rate of knots. 2009 promises to be a very exciting year for PS3, with blockbuster titles such as Heavy Rain and Killzone 2 coming out, whilst we have the music and video download service becoming available towards the end of the year. PSP will continue to prosper and sell in incredible numbers, with some great games coming out, which will take full advantage of the new enhanced screen. We have built our reputation over the years on great entertainment, and innovation and 2009 will be a prime example of PlayStation at its very best."
David Reeves, President, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe

"2009 will be the year of big, exclusive PS3 titles. Just to name a few, the year will start with the much anticipated launch of Killzone 2, followed by a fresh, new take on the superhero/anti-hero open sandbox genre inFamous, a mind-bending thriller Heavy Rain, a massive 256 player simultaneous online shooter MAG, an augmented reality, virtual pet in your room experience EyePet, and some more big titles that we have not even announced yet. On PSP, we have new titles and innovations that will connect and expand the PlayStation experiences."
Shuhei Yoshida, President, SCEE Worldwide Studios

"What I'm really looking forward to most is probably Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion - a massive game for me. I've been a Tekken fan since the very first one, so I desperately want to get my hands on that."
Simon Woodroffe, Creative Director, Midway

“Resident Evil 5, hopefully a continuation of a fantastic horror franchise. Resi 4 really set the benchmark for a third person shooter as well as a dark adult survival horror that avoided the clunky mechanics of that genre.”
Jason Wilson, Creative Director, Concept Team, SCE Cambridge Studio

"After a couple of years developing it, it's got to be Killzone 2 coming out on PS3 [laughs]."
Hermen Hulst, Managing Director, Guerrilla Games

"I'm most looking forward to seeing what developers do with destructible environments in 2009. That to me is really, really exciting."

Noah R. Heller, Senior Producer, Call Of Duty: World At War

"PlayStation Network being bolstered by some of the innovative new titles that I've seen in the works for online release, as well as some of the under wraps stuff for Blu-ray of course."
Simon O'Brien, Art Director, Evolution Studios

“Whatever the PixelJunk team (Q-Games) do next. I love their style.”
Steven Tattersall, Principal Programmer, PlayTV, SCE Cambridge

"I haven't seen too much of the games of 2009, but Killzone 2 looks to be shaping up well."
Phil McDonnell, Head of Console Division, Konami

"There are two titles that I'm getting all sweaty-palmed about. The first is Tim Schafer's Brutal Legend - I adore Schafer's games. He's made six games and they've all been absolutely genius. I've got no reason to believe that Brutal Legend isn't going to continue that solid gold run of quality. The second is Nobi Nobi Boy, Keita Takahashi's follow-up to Katamari Damacy and its sequels. Katamari hit all the right notes for me, I think it's an amazing, brilliant piece of game design, one of the best I've ever played. So clever, so much fun, and a concept you can take in so many directions. And the scale in the first game - from rolling up rice cakes and thumb tacks at the start, to ending up rolling up entire continents at the end, was just breathtaking. Whatever Nobi Nobi Boy turns out to be, I have no doubt it'll be fresh, original, and new, and those are the three rarest qualities in commercially designed games. "
Jed Ashforth, Game Director, Download Content, Evolution Studios

"Large scale MMOs coming to PLAYSTATION 3 – with innovative business and service models."
Phil Harrison, President, Infogrames

"I am ever hopeful that Final Fantasy XIII will be released in 2009. Hopefully it can match the incredible quality of FFXII on PlayStation 2."
Damian Hosen, Head of Design, SCE London Studio

"Home: if it lives up to expectations it could be a defining moment in the industry."
Sean Brennan, Managing Director, Bethesda Softworks Europe

"I'm really hoping that 2009 carries on where 2008 left off, with new franchises and high quality sequels for existing series. I'm incredibly excited about Resident Evil 5 as it looks like it's shaping up to be even better than Resi 4, which is my favourite game of all time. I'm also really excited to get my hands on Killzone 2 and, towards the end of the year, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. There are a few games that I'm keeping my eye on with keen interest, namely Ghostbusters, Aliens: Colonial Marines and Heavy Rain. If those games fulfil their potential, 2009 will be a brilliant year for PS3 owners."
Kevin Mason, Principal Designer, SingStar, SCE London Studio

"What I've seen of Resident Evil 5, so far, has got me salivating. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the Resident Evil team tackle the challenges that they've had from other developers that have released competing titles in a genre that they made popular. I'm hoping that they reclaim the top spot in the survival horror genre."
Ron Festejo, Creative Director, SCE London Studio

"Of course I can't wait for the consumer reactions to EyePet. The team have really been working hard and the results are really impressive. Killzone 2 is looking really nice too; I can't wait to see how well they've implemented it. In 2008 I loved the increase in downloads for titles, as it helped developers maintain the life of their games; I hope that we will see even more download content coming in 2009."
Mark Lintott, Technical Manager on EyePet, SCE London Studio

"I'm really looking forward to seeing what Street Fighter IV does - it'll be fun to see what they've brought to the next generation and what they've done new."
Shaun Himmerick, Executive Producer, Midway

"It's a tough choice, and it's between Killzone 2 and Heavy Rain. Having played both I can say they both look staggering. I think I'll go with Heavy Rain though, as it's such a cinematic experience that's pushing the boundaries in both visual quality and interactive storytelling. Quantic Dream's attention to detail never fails to surprise me."
Phil Gaskell, Senior Producer, PlayStation Network

“Aside from going online for the first time in Killzone 2, I think it has to be God of War 3. If it is anywhere near as good as its predecessors, we should be in for a real treat. For me, there have been few more satisfying gaming experiences than dishing out vengeance in the uniquely brutal way that only Kratos can. I really can't wait to see who's made him angry this time...!”
Tom Jones, Lead Artist, Killzone 2, SCE Cambridge Studio

"I’m excited to see God of War III as it should be nothing short of epic. Generally, it is nice to see game designers and artists coming to the spotlight now that our systems are so powerful."
Tim Ernst, Producer, Alpha Protocol, Sega

"For 2009, I’m looking forward to playing all the new downloadable content for MotorStorm Pacific Rift – we have some awesome new tracks and more content than ever before – all soon to be announced."
Andy Gahan, Development Manager Download Content, Evolution Studios

"I’m most looking forward to the coming instalments of PlayStation series that haven’t seen a true next generation debut – namely God of War and Final Fantasy. Everything I’ve seen on the new Final Fantasy games has looked fantastic, and I feel faint when I think of the potential of a PS3 God of War game."
Gavin Carter, Lead Producer, Fallout 3, Bethesda Game Studios

“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

‘Donkey Punch’: Crimson Tide, By Kurt Loder
Solid Snake slithers on to LittleBigPlanet and PSN
LittleBigPlanet scores most nominations for February’s AIAA

Philosony: Will the real Alex Sheperd please stand up?

One thing that I think we all love about our chosen hobby is that the experience of a single game can be drastically different for each person. I don't mean this in the way we mean about other "static" media where we might each interpret what we read/see/hear in unique ways. I mean that though two people may play the exact same game, the cut scenes they view and the boss battles they fight may be completely different. This might be most evident in sandbox games or titles that have a prodigious amount of side quests, but sometimes even the main story can take wildly different paths depending on player input.

Heavy Rain director David Cage has expressed his desire to create a game that allows you to really suffer consequences that affect the story and continue playing, always conscious of your input in the overall plot. We may be entering an era in which we gamers may not only see different stories but have to actually reflect on what the path we choose says about us as well as the story. When my recent play through of Silent Hill: Homecoming was rewarded with a less than satisfying ending I immediately cursed the game's writers for their ineptitude. But looking back I've begun to wonder: am I partially to blame? Are bad endings increasingly becoming the consequence of bad or even inconsistent decisions by players?

Don't worry, the spoilers don't begin for another 300 words.
While Silent Hill is not an according-to-Hoyle RPG we should think about stepping into the character of Alex Sheperd as stepping into a role. We have some sense of his past and we know his motivations for returning to Sheperd's Glen. Sure there's the game play element - killing psychosexual nurses and creatures that look Jeff Goldbum after a long night of particle physics - but narratively we as players are given the task of helping Alex solve the mystery of his brother's disappearance. The question that most of us don't consciously ask is this: should I approach this task the way Alex would, or the way I would?

Two other recent games can help illuminate this difference: GTA IV and Fallout 3. In GTA we have a very strongly defined protagonist. He's so strongly defined, in fact, that when certain missions arose that required me to decide if a certain character should live or die I could fairly confidently consult the old virtue-ethics rule WWNBD - What Would Niko Bellic Do? Sure if I wanted I could take a step back and consider whether I personally liked the poor sap currently having an HK45 tonsillectomy, but I wanted to play it out the way Niko would have, not the way I would have.

Fallout 3, on the other hand, puts the back story and personality of the protagonist in your hands. You even get to determine things about their childhood, such as whether they were gentle or mean-spirited. When the real story begins it is up to you to decide whether that character longingly follows the silky-smooth voice of their father like an abandoned padawan, or uses their new-found freedom to explore the world. Unlike with Niko I chose to envision myself as that vault-dweller and make decisions that I think I, Kylie, would have made.

Now, back to the aforementioned spoilers. In Homecoming there are three crucial points at which you/Alex must

make decisions that determine which of the five possible endings you'll see. The first is whether to have Alex shoot his mother or allow her to die a more slow and horrible Saw-like death. Second is deciding whether Alex should forgive his father for the semi-abusive way he treated him growing up. Lastly you have to decide whether to give one of Alex's med kits to an injured comrade before heading into the final battle .

Now I'll admit that I was a little uneven in my playing/portraying of Alex Sheperd. For the first decision I went with Alex. That is, I went with what I thought Alex, realistically, would do. Despite thinking that shooting Moms was the ethical and humane choice, I didn't think Alex had the stones to do it. In the second case, however, I went with me. "Forgive Dad," I thought, "he's repented and it's only right." I didn't even ponder whether Alex would have done so or not - I just wanted to see it happen. The last decision I made purely from a selfish game play perspective. I might need that med kit, so sorry Deputy Wheeler, but you're on your own.

The result was a less than stellar ending, one which I dub the Jacob's Ladder ending in a nod to one of the great inspirations for the franchise. The whole thing was in Alex's head, a delusion he suffered as some species of post-traumatic stress! My 7th grade English teacher threatened to flunk any student that ended a story this way and I've loathed the whole concept ever since. Still, was it my own fault? If I'd played a bit more consistently would I have gotten a more satisfying resolution?

Maybe if I'd played the game solely from my own perspective the game would have ended with something I could accept. In an ideal world I'd like to think that I would have done the "right" thing in all three situations - put Mom down, forgive Dad, help Wheeler. That, of course, garners what the developers dub the "happy" ending. If I'd been more consistent, acted the way I think Alex (whom I found fairly weak-willed and shallow) would have I'd have not shot Mom, not forgiven Dad, and probably flipped a coin on whether to give Wheeler that med kit. It wouldn't have gotten the proverbial good ending, but at least I would have been treated to something consistent, something that wasn't a lazy literary cop-out. Heck, I might have even gotten to see a UFO.

What do you think - should more games respond to player choice in a way that rewards consistency? Or is it better to have one static story that everyone can experience without the need for multiple play throughs?


Friday night fun with Insomniac
‘Donkey Punch’: Crimson Tide, By Kurt Loder

Cafe coming to PlayStation Home

Click for high-resolution image.
It looks like PlayStation Home will be expanding soon, with a brand new Home Space. This cafe was introduced on the PlayStation Boards by Home Manager Locust_Star. Apparently, this space already exists in the Asian versions of Home. From the looks of things, this is just a lounge where people can gather and chat.

Check out the images in our gallery:

Gallery: Home Cafe

[Thanks, Omni_Noesis!]

Friday night fun with Insomniac

Fancy a Resistance 2 rumble with the developers of the hugely popular first person shooter? Well time to take your chance in the Resistance 2 event nights. The Insomniac Games team is ready - are you?

Resistance 2 has taken the world by storm with its high octane first person shooter action, delivered straight from the studios of Insomniac Games - and now you can show your appreciation to the team... by blasting them into tiny pieces thanks to the Resistance 2 event nights.

The premise is wonderfully simple. Online game rooms will be created for you to enter - you log in through PlayStation Network and your copy of Resistance 2, and play against other online players, including the members of the Insomniac team. The first event will take place on Friday, January 16 2009, between 19:00-20:00 GMT / 20:00-21:00 CET.

If you're interested in taking part in this crazy frag-fest of FPS fun, then head over to the Resistance HQ forums for full details, which will be posted shortly before the events are due to start.

So, what are you waiting for? Scared of a little healthy competition? Let's see if you can put up as much resistance as the game creators themselves - and keep an eye on the PSN Events Calendar for more exciting game related occasions coming soon.

Solid Snake slithers on to LittleBigPlanet and PSN

Konami's Metal Gear Solid arrives on LittleBigPlanet while Tekken 6 and Crash Commando exclusively smash on to PlayStation Network - dive into these and more irresistible downloads, just for you on PSN.

LittleBig Metal Gear

Prepare yourself for the most covert of costumes to reach LittleBigPlanet yet, as Konami's stealth action game Metal Gear Solid 4 is the next PLAYSTATION 3 title to become part of LittleBigPlanet's downloadable costume collection. You can choose outfits to have Sackboy resemble the characters of Meryl Silverburgh, Raiden, Screaming Mantis and Old Snake, as well as download a Level Kit which allows you to add a variety of Metal Gear Solid goodies to LBP and create your own homage to the popular series.

Learn how to splatter things with the Paintinator power up, embark on a mysterious mission and get your hands on loads of new stickers, toys and decorations. Then dress up like a Gurlokovich Soldier and go on the rampage - it's all here for you to enjoy in LittleBigPlanet.

Commando crashes on PSN

Get ready to wage war in the ultimate online frag-fest with Crash Commando - a manic side scrolling shoot 'em up which blends retro arcade gameplay and online action to form an instant multiplayer classic. Navigate and battle across eight maps, using your jetpack, armoured tank or rail buggies and wipe out the opposition - and don't forget to track your glorious rise through the ranks on the online leaderboards.

If you want to give your PLAYSTATION 3 a true Crash Commando feel as well, there are also several maps and themes to download to your PLAYSTATION Home Menu. So now is the perfect time to get Crashing.

Bloodlines are drawn

Can't wait for Tekken: Bloodline Retribution? Then punch in this new and exclusive PSN trailer from Namco Bandai's massive beat 'em up, featuring never before seen footage. The Iron Fist fight begins again in 2009 - are you ready?

Full Metal jacket

If the inclusion of Metal Gear Solid in LittleBigPlanet isn't enough, there's more MGS goodness thanks to this free Metal Gear Online demo for your pleasure. With over one million registered users, Metal Gear Online is the ultimate squad-based tactical shooter. Up to 16 players can immerse themselves in this next gen multiplayer experience in the Metal Gear Solid universe.

Come for the Conquest

The battle for Middle-earth reaches PSN with new content from Lord of the Rings: Conquest. The trailer showcases some of the great stuff you can do playing as evil characters in the game, while the online multiplayer demo for up to 16 players allows you to choose to fight as either good or evil and take part in a tutorial mode to show you how to get the best out of the troops at your disposal.

Soldering on

Set in the distant future, Sldner-X: Himmelsstrmer is a fast and furious shoot 'em up with state-of-the-art graphics, driving soundtrack and classic fun gameplay sprinkled with fresh innovations. Engage in 12 stages of High Definition visuals, with online high score ranking tables. And if you want to give your PLAYSTATION Home Menu a new lick of paint, there are also two Sldner-X: Himmelsstrmer wallpapers to download for your pleasure, so you can save civilization even when you're not playing.

Pirate's play Golf too

Add some style to the swing of your favourite characters in Everybody's Golf: World Tour with this Pirate Plus Four Costume Pack, which gives five of the loveable golfers a makeover with some funky new outfits. Each costume is available in six cool colours so they'll always tee off in style.

Dressed in a pirate suit, Bloom explores the sand filled bunkers on a quest for hidden treasure, while Sophie sparkles in her fairy tale inspired dress. Elsewhere Anya prepares for take off in her smart pilot's uniform and Jasmine gets ready to take lunch orders in her new waitress ensemble.

You can also download Toro, star of the Japanese Mainichi Issho series, as a new playable character, complete with additional downloadable Mainichi Issho extras, including a cute duck accessory.

"Take home a shiny new anti-gravity craft today!"

Iconic futuristic racer WipEout HD enters a new era on PLAYSTATION 3, and it wants to bring you with it - so strap yourself into this new trial version which gives you a taste of what it's like to travel at incredible speeds through anti-gravity combat crafts, playing in full 1080p High Definition.

Shaun White's Glamour gear

Get ready for new gear that's guaranteed to turn heads on the mountain slopes - with new boards, jackets, pants and a bunch more, this download will get you outfitted from head to toe in style with this first Shaun White Snowboarding gear pack.

Savage Moon

Get ready for some serious space-bug blasting action as you pit your wits against a vast army of vicious alien insects in frantic strategy game Savage Moon. You must defend a remote mining facility from a deadly army of alien creatures known as Insectocytes, using an arsenal of high-tech military hardware to shield the base from wave after wave of attacks - the more bugs you blast, the more credits you'll earn to enhance your artillery or buy new weapons.

Successfully survive attacks to take your mining operation deeper and deeper into the asteroid in search of more valuable mineral deposits. But beware, the further you go, the nastier the beasts become...

Bowling for High Velocity

Two new characters have arrived to spice things up in the motion controlled extravaganza, High Velocity Bowling. Welcome along Darryl "Stringbean" Johnson and Gage Mason to the bowling buddies available for you to play as. Give High Velocity Bowling a throw and see just how much fun it can truly be.

Sonic Unleashed... on PSN

Sonic's on a worldwide adventure as speed is re-imagined in his latest adventure, Sonic Unleashed. Try out this demo and explore the first location of this all-new escapade.

LittleBigPlanet scores most nominations for February’s AIAA
Dakota Fanning Adds ‘Twilight’ To Her Reading List

Noby Noby Boy on PlayStation Network February 19 [Update]

Before delving into some of February's bigger, disc-based games like Killzone 2 and Street Fighter IV, Namco Bandai invites you into the zany world of Noby Noby Boy. It's the game where -- seemingly -- your imagination and insatiable hunger for eating things can take you to the moon -- literally. It will also allow you to record whatever strangeness you can procure which can then later be posted and viewed on YouTube.

Gamers in Europe can expect this spiritual successor to the Katamari series to hit the PS Store on February 19. It'll go on sale for a measly €3.99. While pricing for the UK was not mentioned in the latest press release, a quick look at previous pricing on PSN suggests to look forward to putting away 2.49. With recent news of a delay in Japan to coincide with the Feb. 19 release, we're thinking that North Americans should expect to see the game appear on that day too.

Update: We were right. Namco Bandai has announced a US release of Noby Noby Boy for Feb. 19th. It will be available for $4.99.

Gallery: Noby Noby Boy

M.I.A. ‘Honored’ By Oscar Nod, Wants To Book Dave Chappelle For Baby Shower
Friday night fun with Insomniac
LittleBigPlanet scores most nominations for February’s AIAA
Dakota Fanning Adds ‘Twilight’ To Her Reading List

LittleBigPlanet scores most nominations for February's AIAA

There are two things LittleBigPlanet is well-known for. One, is to have successfully peddled off Sackboy as a lovable PlayStation mascot and the other is to rack up nominations like they're handing out free candy at the market. Continuing this trend of making industry heads turn and getting recognition, the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) has announced the nominees for its 12th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards with LittleBigPlanet being noted as most-nominated. Is there an award for just that -- most nominated?

All in all, the do-it-yourself platformer builder scored 10 nominations including "Overall Game of the Year" and "Outstanding Innovation in a Game"; however, we won't know if it won any of those until February 19 when the ceremony begins. Host Jay Mohr will surely bank on the opportunity to milk the LBP-crazed crowd with some Sackboy humor -- we just can't wait.

[via press release]

Hideo Kojima's 15 favorite movies

Love it or hate it, Hideo Kojima loves making his games feel like movies. So what are the movies he draws inspiration from? Tsutaya is currently showcasing Kojima's top 15 films, and here's what they look like:
The Guns of NavaroneThe Great EscapeGoldfinger2001: A Space OdysseyPlanet of the Apes (original work)The Deer HunterDawn of the DeadFull Metal JacketPredatorDie HardHeatBlack Hawk DownChildren of MenBourne Series007 Casino Royale This is rather manly list of films and sounds exactly like our Blu-ray collection. Seriously, Kojima -- how are you going to attract female gamers like this? Where's "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days"? "Sleepless in Seattle"? C'mon, Hideo! You gotta broaden your horizons!

[Via Siliconera]

Celebrate Obama's inauguration with a new Buzz! Quiz TV pack

Now that Barack Obama's officially the President of the United States some things are going to change. First up? A new Buzz! Quiz TV pack that focuses on American Culture will be released on the American PlayStation Store this Thursday. See? Big, life altering changes.

The question pack will contain 500 questions "covering everything from national history to U.S. icons." For some examples of the sort of questions that will be included make sure you check out the PlayStation Blog post. In other Buzz! news, a pack of five Buzz! Jr.: Jungle Party mini games are being released in February and more Buzz! Jr. titles are planned for the coming year.

Firmware 2.60 brings photo gallery, DivX 3.11

Sony is giving PlayStation 3 owners a surprise gift today. Firmware 2.60 will be dropping imminently and will bring with it several new features. The photo gallery is a new installable feature which gives you a large variety of ways of sorting and displaying your photos. You can see more of that in the video above.

DivX 3.11 is also now supported by PS3s, as well as guest access to the PlayStation Store. This means that whether you've signed up or not you can now browse the PlayStation Store and see all the cool stuff you're missing out on. No doubt there'll be some further, secret features included in 2.60. If you find anything else be sure to let us know. We'll update as soon as the new firmware goes live.

[UPDATE] Firmware 2.60 is now live. Retrieve it via the "System Update" XMB menu option.

Mini Ninjas are invading your PS3 this Fall

Mini Ninjas is the next title from Io Interactive (Hitman series, Kane And Lynch) and, as you can see from the announcement trailer above, looks very different to anything they've done before. The game will be available this Fall on the PS3 as well as pretty much every other platform that exists ... except the PSP. The game focuses around the eponymous Mini Ninjas as they fight off evil mini (and not-so-mini) Samurai.

You'll be playing Hiro, the mini hero, armed with your ninja magic and helped out by a couple of ninja friends "as you travel through a perilous world to reach the final confrontation with the Evil Samurai Warlord in his Fortress of Doom." From the sounds of it the story isn't going to be much of a selling point, but we're loving what we've seen from the video and the screenshots (check out the gallery below).

In terms of art style alone, Mini Ninjas looks adorable. Hopefully the gameplay lives up to it. We're looking forward to seeing more throughout the year.

Gallery: Mini Ninjas

Ten year hardware life makes sense in this economy

When Sony touted PS3 as a "ten year" machine, critics and gamers were quick to laugh it off as PR jargon. However, Sony has proven with the PS2 that they're capable of making a ten-year system. Ed Barton, analyst for Screen Digest, reminds gamers that God of War II released seven years into the console life and it "stands up pretty well to a lot of current generation games."

"A hardware transition is a very expensive and traumatic experience for the entire industry and its consumers," he said. "I don't see why people wouldn't like the idea of any of the console manufacturers supporting a platform for ten years." We agree with Barton. Sony's plan for a ten year system truly makes sense, especially in the current economic environment. Current-generation systems still have a long way to go in terms of being affordable to the masses. Game development is already plenty expensive this console cycle -- if the industry rushes too soon into a new generation, how much more expensive will it be?

Console launches can cost "$3-5 billion," and with the economic climate right now, it's unlikely any company -- either Sony or Microsoft -- will want to jump into a new console cycle any time soon. For now, it looks like Sony's ten year plan with the PS3 is a pretty smart one. Kaz Hirai would agree.

Blu-ray releases for the week of January 18th

Video games and movies usually don't mix -- and Max Payne is no exception. Here are this week's Blu-ray releases:

Theatrical releases:
13 Going on 30Amusement
Antwone Fisher
The Deal
Domino
El Norte
Election
The Express
Henry Poole Is Here
Igor
King Kong (2005)Max Payne
The Notebook (Limited Edition Gift Set)
The Pink Panther
Poison Ivy 4: The Secret Society
Repo! The Genetic Opera
Saw V
Unfaithful
Denzel Washington flexes both his acting and directing chops in the true story of Antwone Fisher, an American sailor who was physically and sexually abused as a child. This blogger really enjoyed 13 Going on 30 -- it was sweet, entertaining and touching -- is that something to be ashamed of? And last but not least, who can forget the critically acclaimed fourth installment in the esteemed film franchise Poison Ivy? Theatrical releases are above, everything else (including TV releases) are after the jump:

Other releases:

Beethoven - Mendelssohn: Violin Concertos - Acoustic Reality ExperienceWAGNER: The Best of Overtures & Preludes - Acoustic Reality Experience

50 Cent game better than Killzone 2 & Street Fighter IV, says Maxim

GameTrailers.com member GooseGoose has scanned a new issue of Maxim, the leading authority on video games. In it, the reviews crew reveals that the new 50 Cent game barely outdoes Killzone 2. Sony's upcoming FPS is "the hottest girl at the ball," but that can't compare to "a Wanksta-proof gem." Street Fighter IV also falters, lacking "old-school soul."

Discuss.

[Thanks, Mads K.!]

Killzone 2 bundle official: ВЈ299.99 for game and 80GB bundle

SCEE is prepping a "no duh" hardware bundle, combining Killzone 2 with an 80GB system. Considering the importance of Killzone's release, a bundle is an obvious offering to provide to consumers. ThreeSpeech has confirmed the release of this pack -- it will retail for 299.99. Stay tuned, as further details will be announced in the future.

Watch this 41 minute Killzone 2 interview

How much do you want to know about Guerrilla Games, the team behind the upcoming Killzone 2? If you're a hardcore KZ nut, you may want to check out this Dutch interview on Gamekings. Don't worry! It has subtitles, so you'll be able to grab some popcorn and watch the developers of this anticipated FPS talk about their game.

[Thanks, NewDust!]

Killzone 2 reviewed in this month's OPM UK

Looking to find out the real scoop on Killzone 2? It'll be a little while before our review is up, but the UK won't have to wait that long. The first UK magazine review will be revealed in the next issue of the Official PlayStation Magazine, which will be on shelves on Tuesday, January the 20th. That's tomorrow, in case you're wondering.

To make the event even more special the magazine will come in a "highly collectible" holographic wallet, complete with a Helghast trooper which changes color as it catches the light. That should tide you over until Killzone 2's release on February 27th, right? If not, don't forget the demo will be out shortly before then.

[Via Press Release]

Sony Online Entertainment acquires Octopi, becomes SOE Tucson

Game industry news can be a bit depressing lately, with layoffs and shutdowns happening all over the world. Sony Online Entertainment's acquisition of Octopi is a refreshing change of pace. Octopi is known for their online collectible strategy game PoxNora. Under Sony Online Entertainment, they will operate as SOE Tucson.

While this news doesn't directly affect PS3 owners, SOE is one of the biggest supporters of PS3 -- the studios have already released a variety of PlayStation Network games, and are currently working on The Agency, FreeRealms and DC Universe Online. We doubt it'll be long until SOE Tucson works on a PS3 game of their own.

Ask PS3 Fanboy: Volume 18

And, we're back! Missed us? We missed you -- and all your questions, too. You know what that means. Yep, we're going straight into them. Send us some questions!

Keep checking back every weekend -- we'll be sure to answer all intelligent, fun, and relevant questions that you may have. If you haven't asked us anything yet ... why haven't you? Send an e-mail to majed @ ps3fanboy.com with the subject "Ask PS3 Fanboy." We'd like to stress, if your e-mail doesn't include that subject heading, your question will not be answered. If you've got PSP-related questions, be sure to ask them on Ask PSP Fanboy.

Lalithra F. asks: I just got a PS3, and brought it back to school with me. I don't have a TV here, but I do have a second display with DVI and (I think) VGA ports. I wanted to get an adapter to use this display to play the PS3. Do you have any suggestions? I found some good looking ones that go from HDMI to DVI, but then I don't know what to do about the sound. I have speakers, but I guess I'd need another... adapter?
PS3F answers: First, make sure that your monitor is equipped with HDCP. Without this, certain games like Prince of Persia with not work. Once done, you can move on to your audio problem. All right, for sound you can do two things: go with your original in-the-box AV cables (red and white for audio only) or go with "Digital Out (optical)," which is a TOSLink cable. Anyway, you should have ports for any one of these things somewhere on your monitor. Once you've got everything connected you need to go into your PS3 to Settings->Sound Settings->Audio Output Settings and then make the changes so your PS3 will recognize that it should stream audio through the other cable. You should be all set after that.

Lalithra F. asks: Someone made a second user account for no reason (when logging in to the PS3), and I want to get rid of it. How do I do that?
PS3F answers: Simply log-in as the account you wish to remove. Then, while the icon is still on that user, tap the triangle button. Drop down to the "delete" tab, and proceed to purge your system of unwanted user accounts.

David S. asks: Has anyone confirmed or denied the use of vehicles in Killzone 2?
PS3F answers: Taken from Andrew's extremely informative Killzone 2 FAQ on Joystiq: "What kinds of vehicles will you be able to control? Not many. You can ride a tank in the first level, if you so desire. However, the following five levels do not feature any vehicle combat whatsoever. We hear there's some kind of exoskeleton in the latter part of the game, though ..." Make sure you read up on the whole thing for even more Killzone goodness.

Wendy F. asks: We bought a PS3 system on EBay about 3 weeks ago and it worked great. Now all of a sudden it won't read any discs. The discs we are trying worked previously and now not even the disc icon will come up on the screen. We have tried blowing out the debris (if any inside it) and to no avail. We would appreciate any suggestions or ideas on what else to do. The only service I can find is mailing off somewhere.
PS3F answers: Have you tried every disc possible? Including CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray games and movies? Also is everything else working? Say like, are downloaded PSN games, videos, etc working fine? If so, then the problem seems to be localized to the optical lens. You'll definitely want Sony to check that out for you. So if mailing is your only option, you've got no choice but to do it if you want to find out what is truly wrong with your system. Sorry to say, but we can't help you further with this. There are no shortcut answers when it comes to defectiveness in hardware.

Craig L. asks: If PS3 games are truly region free, why are they still labeled PAL and NTSC? Does this have any bearing on which PS3 you put the game into or what TV it is displayed on?
PS3F answers: Craig, therein lays the problem. PS3 games are not "labeled" as such both in the figurative and literal sense. Check those boxes, you won't find any mention of PAL, NTSC, and (heaven forbid) SECAM. These colorization systems don't mean anything in HD standards, and thankfully Blu-ray games have not been region-locked. If you hear people refer to it, it really is only a matter of tradition (or an old habit) of naming a particular region -- because it's familiar -- rather than there being this current divide.

XCM Dominator PS3 joystick out this week

Here's an alternative to those Mad Catz pads for fighting game fans. The XCM Dominator Joystick for PS3 is due for release sometime this week, according to Engadget. It's a stylish looking pad with some common tricks such as Rapid Fire and Turbo Modes, but it also has four memory buttons which can each be programmed to execute combos of up to 20 moves. It also doubles as a nightlight. The Dominator is $89.99 and is available for pre-order here.

[Via Engadget]

Pachter: PS3 will beat 360 with $299 price drop

The December NPD result were not particularly shocking: Xbox 360, a system which is half the price of the PS3, sold twice as many systems as the PS3. What if the PS3 were cheaper? GameDaily asked a number of analysts.

Michael Pachter, who has traditionally been the PS3's cheerleader, believes the system will actually outperform the Xbox 360 at a $299 price point. "Should they price at parity with Xbox 360 ($299), I think that PS3 sales would exceed 360 sales, and eventually, they could catch up." There's still a lot of time in this generation -- if PS3 sales improve, it wouldn't take too long to close the gap between the two systems.

Jesse Divinich also agrees that Sony could break out of its last place position, although he's less confident. "Sony has a legitimate chance at catching up to the Xbox 360 within the next 2 years, but in terms of overtaking the Xbox 360, that is not likely for some time."

Yakuza run on instant noodles, you can too

Beating up people with the most unlikelyobjects, collecting debt and cutting off pinkies are all rather taxing elements of any young, struggling gangster's life. As one can imagine, these guys don't have much time for anything else, but they need to keep their strength up. So how do they do that? What do they eat? Sega suggests they eat instant noodles; but not just any noodles ... Yakuza 3-branded noodles.

It's been a long standing tradition for these tattooed ruffians to eat the incredibly easy-to-make, readily available, MSG-laden snack. And starting on March 2, you too can spice up your own soup bowls with some Yakuza 3 ramen. That is, if you happen to live in Japan and have 231 ($2.50) to spare.

Special edition FFVII PS3 revealed, FFXIII demo dated

So there are more PS3 units with specialmarkings coming out. The release of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete on April 16 will usher in this new 160GB bundle in Japan. The new unit will be bundled with the reworked and extended film from Square Enix, which will also include a demo for Final Fantasy XIII.

Alongside the hardware bundle, Advent Children Complete will see release in two other packages: the movie with the FFXIII demo, and the movie without it. The film will include English voiceovers, so those looking to import won't miss a beat. There's still no word of a release date outside Japan and whether the bonus demo would appear in worldwide releases of the film.

Here's a breakdown of the three packages and their prices:
49,980 [$550] - 160GB PS3 with Cloud wolf logo and copy of ACC
5,900 [$65] - Advent Children Complete with demo4,900 [$54] - Advent Children Complete without demo