FIFA World Cup interview

Simon Humber, Line Producer on 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, talks to eu.playstation.com about recreating the football carnival.

What are the key additions in 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa?

The key message for us is that we continue to work on the gameplay and there are more than a hundred improvements compared with FIFA 10. We've fixed small problems such as goalkeepers rushing off their lines and strikers finding it too easy to chip the ball over them.

And then there are the visuals - this is the best looking football game we've ever made. The lighting is much improved and we've revisited some of the player likenesses from FIFA 10 that we weren't so happy with in retrospect.

It's all driven towards creating a more rounded game experience.

What are you including in terms of online play?

The online World Cup is going to be a massive feature. It lets you play through the group and knockout stages against real opponents and as any of the 199 teams that tried to qualify for the Finals.

Our ethos with online play this time around is bite-sized gaming. If you look at FIFA 10's online leaderboards, it takes days and months to make an impact. Because you have a maximum of seven games in each World Cup campaign, players can play through it in an evening or finish it off at a later date. And there's no greater feeling than lifting the World Cup at the end of it.

How it works is that for each match, you're paired with a player that is at the same stage in their World Cup, be that the first group match or the final. For the group stages, we bring in each player's past results to generate the league table. This is the best method because it means you can play the competition however you like, be that in one sitting or over the course of a few days. Basically, throughout the tournament you always play against someone at the same stage, using any of the 199 available nations.

How closely have you worked with FIFA to ensure you faithfully recreate an event that, during development, was still many months away?

At the beginning of the project we compiled a massive list of assets and information that we needed, and as the months go by, they deliver stuff that allow us to replicate what they're doing, and create something that's authentic in terms of the aesthetic and format.

You've included many lesser-known nations in 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa; how do you go about researching them and ensuring they look and play like they should?

We have a network of experts spread across all of the football confederations, all over the world. They supply us with information and opinion on some of the more obscure countries. Then we have FIFA; so if we have trouble finding out who the Vanuatu captain is, for example, then we consult their list of Vanuatu players and take it from there.

Having studied the competition so closely, do you think there will be a surprise winner on 11 July?

No, I think it will be the usual suspects, don't you?

Finally, are you holding any features back?

Yes, this is the first of three announcements so you can look forward to hearing of more features in the run up to South Africa.

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Joe Mad talks Digital Comics

X-Men artist and Darksiders Creative Director Joe Madureira talks about his biggest passion in life.

From a very young age, Philadelphia-born Joe Madureira possessed the creative talent to draw comic book characters. His intricate attention to detail and artistic flair made him stand out so much that by the time he was 17 years of age, he was a working comic book professional with a colourful future ahead of him. “I always felt that drawing comics was sort of a personal fulfilment. It’s just you and some music in a room and it’s pretty cool.”

This was during the mid ‘80s, when comic book fans would often have to purchase individual issues of a particular series to find out how the story came to an end. Little did Madureira realise that mainstream book shops would eventually be selling full editions of stories, known as trade paperbacks. “Years ago I never would have imagined that the industry would have moved so much towards trade paperbacks and graphic novels, because I bought all my comics in a small comic shop and now there’s just so many people buying their trades at book shops, or on the web.”

In 2009, PlayStation launched Digital Comics, a new comic service, especially for PSP. The online service allows users to download comics to their PSP systems, so they have a transportable, digitised comic to enjoy anywhere and everywhere. “I know some web comics are cropping up as well so I think definitely having comics on a hand-held device is cool. You could still take it with you like you would with a comic.”

Despite his love of graphic novels and paper-based comics, Madureira is definitely embracing the new, digitised versions that are now so readily available. “I definitely think it’s sort of a natural evolution, and it’s pretty exciting. The potential is really cool.”

The online catalogue of comics stocks everything from well known, major titles such as Transformers and Star Trek, to small independent publishers. There is a wide variety of comics available to download from the Comic Store, which is updated on a weekly basis.

The comics available date from the 1940s to the present day, and cover a range of genres. Within the first two months of Digital Comics going live, there were over a quarter of a million editions downloaded from PlayStation Store.

You can check out some of Joe’s work on the Uncanny X-Men comics at playstationcomics.com.

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Weekend Essentials – Issue 14

Brand new role-playing games arrive on PS3 and PSP, and PlayStation Store celebrates Valentine’s Day.

RPG paradise

In Star Ocean The Last Hope: International on PlayStation 3, humanity takes to space in search of a new home after World War III cripples the Earth. Embark on a quest for stars, oceans and hope, and experience the dynamic battle system that sets the Star Ocean series apart from other role-playing games. You can even pilot the Calnus spaceship for the first time and explore the universe as you please.

In the 30 seconds you've spent reading this, you could have been playing Half Minute Hero, the retro RPG on PSP. It features five radically different game modes so you could be playing a traditional RPG one second and a shoot 'em up or a real time strategy 30 seconds later. And with stylish 8-bit graphics, it takes you back to a time when a handful of pixels could rescue a princess.

What's in Store?

While those of you that have cracked the case in the Heavy Rain Artificial Reality Game are already sampling the Heavy Rain demo, now more can try the interactive drama on PlayStation 3 by downloading it from PlayStation Store.

echoshift and SOCOM Fireteam Bravo 3 are two upcoming PSP games also getting the demo treatment in PlayStation Store. The former is a perplexing puzzler based on time manipulation, while the latter is the latest instalment in the hit tactical shooter on PSP.

Love is in the air as EyePet and LittleBigPlanet get their own Valentine's Day downloads, and what better way to express your love than with Flower? The serene downloadable hit is now available at a special price, along with a Dynamic Theme to bring some calm to your XMBTM (XrossMediaBar).

This week's films

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to join your loved ones and friends on the couch for a good film, and the PlayStation Store Video Store has just what you're looking for, whether that's a romantic comedy or an explosive thriller.

Couple's Retreat is this week's featured release and it sees Vince Vaughn head an all-star cast in a light-hearted comedy. Eight couples embark on a group holiday, only to discover that they've signed up for an unconventional form of couples' therapy - and the activities are not optional.

This week also sees the arrivals of The Taking of Pelham 123, a New York thriller starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta, and District 9, the sci-fi hit set in South Africa. Both are available to rent from PlayStation Store.

Get involved

Here at eu.playstation.com, minis month continues with the latest instalment of Obsession Confessions focusing on which games you like to squeeze in when you have precious seconds to spare. Join the discussion over at the official PlayStation Forums.

And there's still time to enter the Dark Void and minis competitions; head to eu.playstation.com/competitions to find out more.

Be sure to opt-in to receive PlayStation emails when you sign-up for a PlayStation Network account. If you already have an account, sign in to your PlayStation Network Account Settings at eu.playstation.com/registration or via the XMBTM (XrossMediaBar) and opt-in. That way, you can keep bang up to date and receive the latest PlayStation news direct to your inbox.

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Neil LaBute dips into Heavy Rain

eu.playstation.com talks to film director Neil LaBute about why Heavy Rain inspired him to create his short film, How Far Would You Go For Love?

What were your thoughts on Heavy Rain?

I've never really been a hardcore games person, I usually watch my son or my friends play. But what I've seen from Heavy Rain is that it is a much deeper emotional experience [than most other games]. There's always heavy interaction when it comes to games, but the idea of having this emotional component to it was interesting to me, it was something I hadn't seen. There was this sense of responsibility to that universe.

That's always something I've been interested in for my work and part of the questions I ask as I try to write. So to see a person like that [in David Cage] designing games and adding that layer to traditional gameplay was attractive - and I wanted to help get that word out with the film.

So are emotion driven videogames something you'd like to see progress in the medium, and get you more interested in videogames?

Absolutely. I hope Heavy Rain is successful because games, like anything else, are built on reputation, on how well they sell and playability, so I hope people don't find [emotion driven storytelling] intrusive. It's incredibly hard to get kids around the age of my son, who's 18, to watch a black and white film. He can't really understand it, he wonders why you'd ever make that choice to watch or make that. Same with games, I'm not sure people sometimes want anything more than an escape from emotional reality - and that's where games and films cross paths, because sometimes people just want to watch a movie and not think about it.

I think people will be drawn to Heavy Rain for an interesting experience. I hope that it will be a huge hit because for me that is a fantastic element of it.

The father/son relationship of Heavy Rain is something often explored in movies but less so in games, so is that something you'd personally like to see more of?

Yeah, that's absolutely right. The tag line for Heavy Rain is "How far would you go to save someone you love?" Just by having that message, your final destination is asking yourself how much I'll give for someone else, how much am I willing to give up and able to do to save someone. You ultimately say to yourself that you love this kid [Ethan Mars' son] more than you love yourself.

That's not something I see much of in other games, especially ones which essentially work on repeated actions, beating the clock and stimulating various parts of your senses in a refreshing way, which is why you go back to it. But I like the idea you can also go into a game and actually throw these sort of sophisticated questions to people and find interest in a game which plays with all the aspects that makes them fun and actually has some moral responsibility to them - and also the sense that you're always doing it for someone else. I hope that games keep going in that direction.

Would you ever see yourself making a game after seeing something like Heavy Rain?

It would have to be something like Heavy Rain - if it would show interest in a person making choices that would affect them for the rest of their lives. That's an added bonus to me. I still get to shoot people and run around, but every so often I get asked a really deep question.

The only thing that would make me lock into [the time made to create a] game would be if it had all these features with something in the story that makes people squirm, or lean forward from an emotion. That's ultimately the rule of anything I create, as a storyteller. With games, even more so than you do with film, you create something worth capturing and coming back to, and ask some big questions along the way, to make people do things that they wouldn't normally do and ask questions of themselves.

To get a glimpse of Neil LaBute's short film, How Far Would You Go For Love? visit blog.eu.playstation.com and watch it now.

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Weekend Essentials – Issue 16

Heavy Rain and White Knight Chronicles head up three exciting PlayStation exclusives.

Blame it on the weatherman

How far would you go to save someone you love? That's the question asked of Ethan Mars in Heavy Rain, the interactive drama exclusively available on PlayStation 3. When Ethan's son is kidnapped by the Origami Killer he is forced to fully explore this dilemma and all of its painful consequences.

As for the answer, that's up to you. As you take control of the four characters hunting the paper-folding murderer, your actions will decide how the story unfolds. Whether you forget to have a shave that morning or are killed in a scrapyard brawl, there's no going back, no game over and the branching story will evolve around your actions.

Stand tall

If Ethan Mars had the option of slipping into a seven-foot tall suit of armour, then he'd do well to take it. He can't, but Leonard can in White Knight Chronicles, the second PS3 exclusive landing this week. A meaty tale of a kidnapped princess and a hooded lord, this role-playing game from Level-5 features a deep and flexible real time battle system and innovative online integration.

From a white knight to a blue hedgehog in a sports car, Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing is the third PS3 release of the week. It takes Sonic, Tails and Knuckles, as well as characters from other SEGA games, such as Alex Kidd and Beat from Jet Set Radio, and drops them up onto the starting grid for fun and accessible kart racing. If you need any further convincing, check out the demo on PlayStation Store.

Knights of the living dead

Undead Knights lurches exclusively onto PSP, letting you create your own zombie army as the House of Blood seeks revenge on the tyrannical King of Cavalier. You can set your undead horde on the enemy, hurl them if you're in a hurry and even build yourself a zombie ladder if a wall is too high. And with three multiplayer modes, corpses have never been so much fun.

Welcome Home

This weekend, get together with three friends and say cheese for the White Knight Chronicles Photo Challenge. The PlayStation Home Events Space has been decked out with swords and sorcery in mind to celebrate the brand new role-playing game on PS3. Using a special camera function, take a snap of your quartet's fiercest pose and email it to home_photo@scee.net. The top five will win a limited edition, real life White Knight Chronicles statuette to scare away anyone thinking of kidnapping their princesses.

Here at eu.playstation.com, you can get your hands on a PlayStation 3 and an official FIFA World Cup match ball, in a wonderfully old-school game of spot the ball. And don't forget to get involved in the current Obsession Confessions discussion over at the official PlayStation Forums - just tell the community which minis you'd play if you had just three minutes to live, and you could receive a Voucher Code to download a copy of Tetris on PSP for your troubles.

Be sure to opt in to receive PlayStation emails when you sign up for a PlayStation Network account. If you already have an account, sign in to your PlayStation Network Account Settings at eu.playstation.com/registration or via the XMBTM (XrossMediaBar) and opt in. That way, you can keep bang up to date and receive the latest PlayStation news direct to your inbox.

Kristen Stewart Says New Movie Shows ‘Different Types Of Love’What do you want to know about Heavy Rain?

PS3 Theme tool updated

Give your PS3 a new look with the latest official Custom Theme Guidelines.

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc has released version 1.60 of the Custom Theme Guidelines. This document explains how you can change elements of the system software such as the background and icons on the XMB™ (XrossMediaBar).

Version 1.60 of the guidelines has been updated to include the PSPgo icon which appears on the XMB Menu when a PSPgo system is connected to your PS3 using a USB cable, and includes support for the Polish language.

This latest update to the guidelines can be downloaded at eu.playstation.com and if you'd like some inspiration before you create your own Theme, visit PlayStation Store on your PS3 and head to the Other Media section to view our selection of great Themes.

You can also check out the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com to see what the community has been up to.

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New Alpha Protocol trailer declassified, box art is Bourne again

New Alpha Protocol trailer declassified, box art is Bourne again

byAlexander Sliwinski

{ Feb 25th 2010 at 3:00PM }

Emerging from "deep cover" (a euphemism for plastic surgery in Eastern Europe), where it received "tweaks," Alpha Protocol is ready to shake its money maker and get everyone interested in it again with a new trailer and screenshots. Not only that, but the game's box art has also received a facelift, adding several more guns to what was only a two pistol cover before.

Alpha Protocol is set to prevent war in the States on June 1, with layovers in Australia and Europe on May 27 and 28, respectively.
Gallery:Alpha Protocol (2-25-10)

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Darksiders developer video interview

eu.playstation.com has a chat with comic book legend and creative director of Darksiders, Joe Madureira, about the post-apocalyptic adventure on PlayStation 3.

Exploding from publisher THQ and developer Vigil Games, action adventure title Darksiders thrusts you into a world where the Apocalypse has prematurely erupted. And only you can find out why by taking up the sword of the first of the Four Horsemen, War.

In this exclusive video feature you can peek behind the scenes of the game with its creative director, Joe Madureira, who became a successful and popular artist in the comic book industry through his work on titles such as X-Men and Battle Chasers.

And this is just the start - if you want to give the hellishly hot action of Darksiders a try, why not download the demo from PlayStation Store now?

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God of War: The story so far

With God of War III arriving on PS3 in March 2010, take a look back at the vengeance driven journey that led Kratos to the base of Mount Olympus to a final showdown with the god of gods, Zeus.

In the beginning

Set halfway through Kratos' ten years of service to the gods, God of War: Chains of Olympus on PSP sees the mighty Spartan seek absolution from the sins of his past after being deceived into murdering his wife and child by Ares. Now, a champion to the gods, he must embark on brutal crusades that have become the stories of legend in the ancient world.

However, when the world is plunged into eternal darkness and the gods are rendered powerless after the sun god, Helios, disappears, Kratos is tasked with retrieving him in a bid to break Morpheus' stranglehold over the other gods and Earth itself. Along the way he journeys to lands no mortal has ever walked upon and, before he reaches the end of his task, he must choose between personal redemption and saving the world from obliteration.

In Chains of Olympus Kratos will have to face all manner of foes including the Persian King, a hulking foe leading his army of warriors into battle against the city of Attica; Charon, the ferryman of the underworld and the Basilisk, a gargantuan lizard-like monster summoned by the Persians to conquer Greece.

Start at the beginning on PSP with God of War: Chains of Olympus.

At war with the God of War

Opening on the highest cliff top in Greece, God of War originally released on PlayStation 2 is told through a series of flashbacks. It's here in God of War that we discover the origins of Kratos' unstoppable arsenal, the Blades of Chaos; mighty weapons forged in the pits of Hades and handed to him by Ares in a bid to carry out his orders of destruction.

The story begins in Athens where Kratos battles the three-headed monster, Hydra, before embarking on a bloody mission for Athena who wants him to stop Ares and save her city from defeat. In order to do this Kratos must set out on a journey to track down Pandora's Box, which grants any mortal who possesses it, the power to defeat a god. Unfortunately, the box has been locked deep within Pandora's Temple located on the back of the Titan, Cronos, who has been cursed by Zeus to wander the Desert of Lost Souls for all eternity.

As he battle minions and faces some of the most enormous bosses ever conjured on PlayStation, Kratos uncovers mysteries surrounding his true origins and eventually comes face to face with Ares in a bloody battle to the death before being crowned the new God of War by Athena.

The battle for revenge and Ares throne starts here.

Defy the Gods and alter the past

In God of War Kratos was but a mortal warrior who set out on a quest to dethrone Ares. Succeeding, he was handed the mantle of God of War by Athena, but his journey didn't end there. In God of War II released on PlayStation 2, Kratos sits atop his throne on Olympus, raging battles with far more brutality than that of his predecessor. Opening on a huge scale battle in Rhodes in which he battles the Colossus of Rhodes, Kratos is stripped of his powers by Zeus because he fears he may suffer the very same fate as Ares.

Slain and cast down to an eternity of torment in Hades Kratos is rescued by Gaia, the mother of the Titans, who offers him a deal. Help the Titans destroy the gods by locating the Sisters of Fate on the Island of Creation to alter his past and crush Zeus. As Kratos embarks on this perilous journey through mythical lands he will come face to face with ancient legends including the magical horse, Pegasus, the Titan Typhon and Prometheus and Atlas, a Titan he'll meet for the second time after his brief appearance in God of War: Chains of Olympus on PSP.

At the end of his journey he will not only alter the course of history and strike fear into the hearts of gods, but also bring forth the Titans from the Great War - where they suffered an agonising defeat - through the power of the Loom of Fate, a device which allows him to travel back in time. And when this tale comes to an end at the base of Mount Olympus another shall begin as chaos reigns in God of War III, the final chapter of Kratos' bloody quest for vengeance.

In March 2010, the end begins...

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Georgios Tourliadis to fly the flag at the FIFA World Cup

The Greek teenager is selected from thousands of competition entrants to take part in the biggest event on the football calendar.

When the 2010 FIFA World Cup kicks off in South Africa this summer, one lucky PlayStation fan will step onto the pitch for the opening game before any of the players.

Georgios Tourliadis, a fifteen year-old from Alexandroupoli, Greece, will be one of the flag bearers at the opening match between South Africa and Mexico after winning the FIFA 10 PSP Flag Bearer competition at eu.playstation.com.

"When I entered the competition I had no hope of winning," said Georgios. "I have always wanted to watch a big sporting event like the FIFA World Cup and now I will get to participate."

His luck was in when his PlayStation Network Online ID was selected at random from thousands of entries, winning him the most wonderful opportunity for any young football fan.

"I'm also excited to travel to a faraway country with a different history and culture," he added. "My grandmother was born in Johannesburg, from Greek migrants, and she lived there for some years, so I have heard many stories about South Africa.

"My father comes from Ithaca, the island of the mythic King Odysseus and his heroic adventures. Now we will live our own adventure. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and PSP have made my dreams reality; I look forward to the day we travel."

Above is a picture of Georgios with Alexandros Tzorvas, the Greek international goalkeeper. Who knows, they could bump into each other again in South Africa...

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FIFA 10 Ultimate Team video interview

Paul Hossack, producer of FIFA 10 Ultimate Team, talks to eu.playstation.com about the downloadable trading card game mode.

As FIFA 10 Ultimate Team hit the final straight in its development schedule, Paul Hossack from the EA Sports team travelled to Stamford Bridge, London to speak to eu.playstation.com about what to expect from the downloadable game mode this season.

Keep checking eu.playstation.com for more video interviews on the hottest new games and services on PlayStation.

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Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

The PlayStation community predicts which games will be big hits in 2010.

For this edition of Obsession Confessions, the PlayStation community looked deep into their crystal balls and told us which games will go on to define the year 2010. Here are their predictions in order of popularity, along with quotes from the official PlayStation Forums.

1. God of War III

"Kratos will carry out his revenge against the Gods of Mount Olympus, completing one of the most important PlayStation series." (zetatron, Spain)

2. Final Fantasy XIII

"It's time for a new RPG fantasy adventure that will grab you and not let go from beginning to end. Do you want to know what your PS3 is capable of? If so, then buy this game." (fantasyfreak, Netherlands)

3. Heavy Rain

"Heavy Rain is a unique and intriguing PS3 exclusive. After all of the trailers and previews, I still don't fully understand what it's about, which is great, as it adds an exciting mystery factor to it." (CalvertCrew, United Kingdom)

4. Gran Turismo 5

"Gran Turismo 5 for game of the year. Why? Well, let's face it... it's going to be amazing, isn't it?" (nextbigthing91, United Kingdom)

5. The Last Guardian

"You suffered for Yorda, you suffered for Agro and now you will suffer for Trico." (jeanbodin, Portugal)

6. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

"We don't know what is coming this autumn, but now, just before summer, it has to be Battlefield: Bad Company 2." (Neshy, Norway)

7. ModNation Racers

"The game of the year is ModNation Racers. It's incredibly innovative for the racing game world. Just the idea of creating a brand new circuit from scratch drives me crazy. I can't wait for it to be released on PS3." (Ofrollo, Italy)

8. Metal Gear Solid: Rising

"I don't know if this game will be released in 2010, but I really hope so. As always, the Metal Gear Solid series ranks highly." (bydont-25, France)

9. MAG

"I have played the Beta and it was amazing. Having 256 players on one server is absolutely smashing!" (neoisback-DB, Germany)

10. Red Dead Redemption

"Very, very, very interesting project. For me, personally, it is still a mystery how such a world, in such detail and containing so much action, could have been put onto one Blu-ray Disc." (CTAP7OM, Russia)

Many thanks to all of the community members that contributed via the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com. Stay tuned for more Obsession Confessions, coming soon.

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What do you want to know about Heavy Rain?

Don’t miss your chance to pose your burning question to the creators of PlayStation 3 adult thriller, Heavy Rain.

Want to gaze behind the dark curtain of enthralling adventure game Heavy Rain and gain a little fame at the same time? eu.playstation.com and the official PlayStation Forums are giving you that chance with The People vs Heavy Rain, where you can quiz the creators of the PS3 game everyone is talking about.

If you have a great question for Quantic Dream's Director and CEO, David Cage, and its Co-CEO
Guillaume de Fondaumiere, then head over to the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com and post your query (PlayStation Network account required). The chosen questions will be selected for the interview (conducted on 16 February 2010), and the answers posted in a feature on eu.playstation.com at a later date.

Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to discover some answers about one of the biggest games of the year before the Rain falls...

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The People vs: Heavy Rain – part one

The PlayStation community puts its questions to Heavy Rain’s writer and director David Cage, and executive producer Guillaume de Fondaumière.

Mature thriller Heavy Rain is the game which has everyone talking - and what better way to find out more about this heart pounding PlayStation 3 title than by asking its writer and director, David Cage and executive producer Guillaume de Fondaumire? That's exactly what the PlayStation community did, so eu.playstation.com gathered some answers for you. Thanks to everyone at the official PlayStation Forums who submitted their questions.

While working on Heavy Rain was it difficult to create so many possibilities and scenarios for the characters based on the player's choices? (Alex_Gard9, Italy)

Guillaume de Fondaumire: It was extremely difficult, and the difficulty starts at the writing stage of the game, because when David creates this story it necessitates the need to write a core story and then all the branches - but you don't want to end up with this enormous thing that doesn't make sense, we always want to keep control over the story because you want it to be good.

David wrote 2,300 pages of script, so he needed to be focused because you want to give as many possibilities to the player so he feels totally in control. And at the same time you need to keep everything within boundaries, and make sure it makes sense. It's a very long and difficult process.

And then adapting that in terms of gameplay is another challenge because it's really important to us to tell a story that you can play. We had a team of four people who worked for three years on the interface, making sure everything makes sense from a gameplay perspective and at the same time is enjoyable and understandable - and also helps drive the story.

What was the hardest part of the game to develop? (pAvax, Netherlands)

David Cage: Pretty much everything was challenging, just because we pretty much did everything for the first time. So writing the script was a nightmare. Alfred Hitchcock said: "writing a movie is mainly three things - a good script, a good script and a good script." And I would say that something like Heavy Rain is pretty much the same thing. Finding the actors was another challenge - shooting the motion capture was a huge challenge of a different type.

But if I had to narrow it down to one answer, I'd say that triggering emotions in the game's scenes was something we were really anxious about, because if you just played the game and didn't feel anything then we've missed everything we wanted to create in the game. And emotion isn't one thing that you can just measure out, it's really a combination of many things, and it comes from the acting, the script, the lighting, the music... you need everything to be perfectly in sync to trigger the emotions you want. So it was incredibly challenging.

The main characters of Heavy Rain look very realistic and natural. The actors' performance must have been a real focus for you, so how long did the motion capture shooting last in total? (bajwanasser, France)

DC: A year from start to finish. There were also retakes, unfortunately, but we have an internal motion capture studio. We try not to overuse it. We were really organised and had to schedule everything, as there was no other way of producing such a big volume of data.

What movie directors or script writers have influenced you personally or the rest of the team during the creation of Heavy Rain? (toolfan2007, United Kingdom)

DC: I really enjoy movies from David Fincher, Ridley Scott, Stanley Kubrick, Jonathan Demme, Alfred Hitchcock and many others. None of them really influenced the work to the point of copying anything, but they're part of my culture and in writing, directing and filming things they've had a strong influence on me.

Did you read Choose Your Own Adventure books as a child? (Theshortbaker, Australia)

DC: Yes, definitely. In fact, I started playing text based adventures, and I believe if there's a comparison with Heavy Rain it's with them. Because we tried to do graphically what they were doing with text, discovering what came from the choices you make. Heavy Rain is from a similar idea, but just with a very small granularity - every single action has consequences.

Keep checking eu.playstation.com to make sure you don't miss the second part of The People vs: Heavy Rain where Cage and de Fondaumire discuss some of the future plans for Heavy Rain outside of games, what real life events helped inspire some of its scenes, and why Heavy Rain's Quality Assurance testers found parts of the game almost too much to handle...

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Bayonetta developer video interview

eu.playstation.com takes a peek behind the magic curtain of PlayStation 3 action extravaganza Bayonetta, with the game’s producer Yusuke Hashimoto and director Hideki Kamiya.

Sega's acclaimed action game, Bayonetta, has stormed the charts with a blistering blend of fast paced gunplay, mystical action and unforgettable set pieces. Here's your chance to get a little more insight into the game with its producer Yusuke Hashimoto and director Hideki Kamiya, who talk about how the game evolved and what makes it so special.

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Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

The PlayStation community predicts which games will be big hits in 2010.

For this edition of Obsession Confessions, the PlayStation community looked deep into their crystal balls and told us which games will go on to define the year 2010. Here are their predictions in order of popularity, along with quotes from the official PlayStation Forums.

1. God of War III

"Kratos will carry out his revenge against the Gods of Mount Olympus, completing one of the most important PlayStation series." (zetatron, Spain)

2. Final Fantasy XIII

"It's time for a new RPG fantasy adventure that will grab you and not let go from beginning to end. Do you want to know what your PS3 is capable of? If so, then buy this game." (fantasyfreak, Netherlands)

3. Heavy Rain

"Heavy Rain is a unique and intriguing PS3 exclusive. After all of the trailers and previews, I still don't fully understand what it's about, which is great, as it adds an exciting mystery factor to it." (CalvertCrew, United Kingdom)

4. Gran Turismo 5

"Gran Turismo 5 for game of the year. Why? Well, let's face it... it's going to be amazing, isn't it?" (nextbigthing91, United Kingdom)

5. The Last Guardian

"You suffered for Yorda, you suffered for Agro and now you will suffer for Trico." (jeanbodin, Portugal)

6. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

"We don't know what is coming this autumn, but now, just before summer, it has to be Battlefield: Bad Company 2." (Neshy, Norway)

7. ModNation Racers

"The game of the year is ModNation Racers. It's incredibly innovative for the racing game world. Just the idea of creating a brand new circuit from scratch drives me crazy. I can't wait for it to be released on PS3." (Ofrollo, Italy)

8. Metal Gear Solid: Rising

"I don't know if this game will be released in 2010, but I really hope so. As always, the Metal Gear Solid series ranks highly." (bydont-25, France)

9. MAG

"I have played the Beta and it was amazing. Having 256 players on one server is absolutely smashing!" (neoisback-DB, Germany)

10. Red Dead Redemption

"Very, very, very interesting project. For me, personally, it is still a mystery how such a world, in such detail and containing so much action, could have been put onto one Blu-ray Disc." (CTAP7OM, Russia)

Many thanks to all of the community members that contributed via the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com. Stay tuned for more Obsession Confessions, coming soon.

Emilie De Ravin Reveals Her ‘Instant Chemistry’ With Robert PattinsonObsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

The PlayStation community predicts which games will be big hits in 2010.

For this edition of Obsession Confessions, the PlayStation community looked deep into their crystal balls and told us which games will go on to define the year 2010. Here are their predictions in order of popularity, along with quotes from the official PlayStation Forums.

1. God of War III

"Kratos will carry out his revenge against the Gods of Mount Olympus, completing one of the most important PlayStation series." (zetatron, Spain)

2. Final Fantasy XIII

"It's time for a new RPG fantasy adventure that will grab you and not let go from beginning to end. Do you want to know what your PS3 is capable of? If so, then buy this game." (fantasyfreak, Netherlands)

3. Heavy Rain

"Heavy Rain is a unique and intriguing PS3 exclusive. After all of the trailers and previews, I still don't fully understand what it's about, which is great, as it adds an exciting mystery factor to it." (CalvertCrew, United Kingdom)

4. Gran Turismo 5

"Gran Turismo 5 for game of the year. Why? Well, let's face it... it's going to be amazing, isn't it?" (nextbigthing91, United Kingdom)

5. The Last Guardian

"You suffered for Yorda, you suffered for Agro and now you will suffer for Trico." (jeanbodin, Portugal)

6. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

"We don't know what is coming this autumn, but now, just before summer, it has to be Battlefield: Bad Company 2." (Neshy, Norway)

7. ModNation Racers

"The game of the year is ModNation Racers. It's incredibly innovative for the racing game world. Just the idea of creating a brand new circuit from scratch drives me crazy. I can't wait for it to be released on PS3." (Ofrollo, Italy)

8. Metal Gear Solid: Rising

"I don't know if this game will be released in 2010, but I really hope so. As always, the Metal Gear Solid series ranks highly." (bydont-25, France)

9. MAG

"I have played the Beta and it was amazing. Having 256 players on one server is absolutely smashing!" (neoisback-DB, Germany)

10. Red Dead Redemption

"Very, very, very interesting project. For me, personally, it is still a mystery how such a world, in such detail and containing so much action, could have been put onto one Blu-ray Disc." (CTAP7OM, Russia)

Many thanks to all of the community members that contributed via the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com. Stay tuned for more Obsession Confessions, coming soon.

Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the FutureEmilie De Ravin Reveals Her ‘Instant Chemistry’ With Robert Pattinson

Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

The PlayStation community predicts which games will be big hits in 2010.

For this edition of Obsession Confessions, the PlayStation community looked deep into their crystal balls and told us which games will go on to define the year 2010. Here are their predictions in order of popularity, along with quotes from the official PlayStation Forums.

1. God of War III

"Kratos will carry out his revenge against the Gods of Mount Olympus, completing one of the most important PlayStation series." (zetatron, Spain)

2. Final Fantasy XIII

"It's time for a new RPG fantasy adventure that will grab you and not let go from beginning to end. Do you want to know what your PS3 is capable of? If so, then buy this game." (fantasyfreak, Netherlands)

3. Heavy Rain

"Heavy Rain is a unique and intriguing PS3 exclusive. After all of the trailers and previews, I still don't fully understand what it's about, which is great, as it adds an exciting mystery factor to it." (CalvertCrew, United Kingdom)

4. Gran Turismo 5

"Gran Turismo 5 for game of the year. Why? Well, let's face it... it's going to be amazing, isn't it?" (nextbigthing91, United Kingdom)

5. The Last Guardian

"You suffered for Yorda, you suffered for Agro and now you will suffer for Trico." (jeanbodin, Portugal)

6. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

"We don't know what is coming this autumn, but now, just before summer, it has to be Battlefield: Bad Company 2." (Neshy, Norway)

7. ModNation Racers

"The game of the year is ModNation Racers. It's incredibly innovative for the racing game world. Just the idea of creating a brand new circuit from scratch drives me crazy. I can't wait for it to be released on PS3." (Ofrollo, Italy)

8. Metal Gear Solid: Rising

"I don't know if this game will be released in 2010, but I really hope so. As always, the Metal Gear Solid series ranks highly." (bydont-25, France)

9. MAG

"I have played the Beta and it was amazing. Having 256 players on one server is absolutely smashing!" (neoisback-DB, Germany)

10. Red Dead Redemption

"Very, very, very interesting project. For me, personally, it is still a mystery how such a world, in such detail and containing so much action, could have been put onto one Blu-ray Disc." (CTAP7OM, Russia)

Many thanks to all of the community members that contributed via the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com. Stay tuned for more Obsession Confessions, coming soon.

Emilie De Ravin Reveals Her ‘Instant Chemistry’ With Robert PattinsonObsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

Weekend Essentials – Issue 15

Exciting Heavy Rain content continues to fall along with some Aliens Vs Predator action this week on PlayStation.

"Now that's what I call a close encounter"

Are you the hunter, the survivor or the prey? Aliens Vs Predator lets you choose in a PlayStation 3 sci-fi blaster where two of the movie world's most frightening extraterrestrials battle it out for supremacy. Will you pick the fearless Colonial Marine? The lethal Alien? Or the hi-tech savagery of the Predator? Throw yourself into battle across single and multiplayer modes and find out who reigns supreme.

A shower of Heavy Rain brilliance

A tantalising batch of Heavy Rain downloads has stormed onto PlayStation Store to set the stage for the PS3 game's release on 26 February. The Heavy Rain Soundtrack is available to download so you can experience its emotional orchestral compositions, recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, England. And if you want to give your PS3 system's XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) a little sprinkle of Heavy Rain ambience, you can also download a dynamic theme based on the game as well.

These extras are ideal to help drip the time away before Heavy Rain is released - and there's also a lovely bonus to download now which you can play when you purchase the Blu-ray Disc game, in the shape of Heavy Rain: Chronicle 1. A playable scenario based on the original Taxidermist scenario demo used to officially unveil Heavy Rain in 2008, Chronicle 1 places you in the shoes of Madison Paige as she investigates the creepy home of a suspicious character. Your decisions and actions are the difference between her success... and a more grisly fate.

If all of these take your fancy, then the Heavy Rain: Collector's Edition Content pack is the perfect solution, combining the Soundtrack, dynamic theme and Chronicle 1 all in one download - letting you get the full Heavy Rain experience when the game is released.

Shoot from the hip with your PSP and SOCOM

How elite are you? Prepare to find out with SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 3 on PSP, which pitches you and your friends into frantic firefights where teamwork, strategy and a good aim are the only things keeping you alive. Be the best in an incredible solo campaign, join up to three comrades in the four player online co-operative Ad Hoc Mode, or go toe-to-toe in competitive battles for up to 16 players.

Score some FIFA prizes

Fancy being a match winner? Then you could win a PlayStation 3 and an official FIFA World Cup match ball in the FIFA 10 Ultimate Team Competition.

If you're game, head over to eu.playstation.com/competitions and see if you can spot where the ball should be in the supplied picture. Good judgement could earn you some great prizes, so give it a shot - and you could find yourself scoring a PS3.

‘Avatar’ Wins Fifth Straight Weekend At Box OfficeFIFA 10 Ultimate Team is coming

Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

The PlayStation community predicts which games will be big hits in 2010.

For this edition of Obsession Confessions, the PlayStation community looked deep into their crystal balls and told us which games will go on to define the year 2010. Here are their predictions in order of popularity, along with quotes from the official PlayStation Forums.

1. God of War III

"Kratos will carry out his revenge against the Gods of Mount Olympus, completing one of the most important PlayStation series." (zetatron, Spain)

2. Final Fantasy XIII

"It's time for a new RPG fantasy adventure that will grab you and not let go from beginning to end. Do you want to know what your PS3 is capable of? If so, then buy this game." (fantasyfreak, Netherlands)

3. Heavy Rain

"Heavy Rain is a unique and intriguing PS3 exclusive. After all of the trailers and previews, I still don't fully understand what it's about, which is great, as it adds an exciting mystery factor to it." (CalvertCrew, United Kingdom)

4. Gran Turismo 5

"Gran Turismo 5 for game of the year. Why? Well, let's face it... it's going to be amazing, isn't it?" (nextbigthing91, United Kingdom)

5. The Last Guardian

"You suffered for Yorda, you suffered for Agro and now you will suffer for Trico." (jeanbodin, Portugal)

6. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

"We don't know what is coming this autumn, but now, just before summer, it has to be Battlefield: Bad Company 2." (Neshy, Norway)

7. ModNation Racers

"The game of the year is ModNation Racers. It's incredibly innovative for the racing game world. Just the idea of creating a brand new circuit from scratch drives me crazy. I can't wait for it to be released on PS3." (Ofrollo, Italy)

8. Metal Gear Solid: Rising

"I don't know if this game will be released in 2010, but I really hope so. As always, the Metal Gear Solid series ranks highly." (bydont-25, France)

9. MAG

"I have played the Beta and it was amazing. Having 256 players on one server is absolutely smashing!" (neoisback-DB, Germany)

10. Red Dead Redemption

"Very, very, very interesting project. For me, personally, it is still a mystery how such a world, in such detail and containing so much action, could have been put onto one Blu-ray Disc." (CTAP7OM, Russia)

Many thanks to all of the community members that contributed via the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com. Stay tuned for more Obsession Confessions, coming soon.

Emilie De Ravin Reveals Her ‘Instant Chemistry’ With Robert PattinsonObsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

The PlayStation community predicts which games will be big hits in 2010.

For this edition of Obsession Confessions, the PlayStation community looked deep into their crystal balls and told us which games will go on to define the year 2010. Here are their predictions in order of popularity, along with quotes from the official PlayStation Forums.

1. God of War III

"Kratos will carry out his revenge against the Gods of Mount Olympus, completing one of the most important PlayStation series." (zetatron, Spain)

2. Final Fantasy XIII

"It's time for a new RPG fantasy adventure that will grab you and not let go from beginning to end. Do you want to know what your PS3 is capable of? If so, then buy this game." (fantasyfreak, Netherlands)

3. Heavy Rain

"Heavy Rain is a unique and intriguing PS3 exclusive. After all of the trailers and previews, I still don't fully understand what it's about, which is great, as it adds an exciting mystery factor to it." (CalvertCrew, United Kingdom)

4. Gran Turismo 5

"Gran Turismo 5 for game of the year. Why? Well, let's face it... it's going to be amazing, isn't it?" (nextbigthing91, United Kingdom)

5. The Last Guardian

"You suffered for Yorda, you suffered for Agro and now you will suffer for Trico." (jeanbodin, Portugal)

6. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

"We don't know what is coming this autumn, but now, just before summer, it has to be Battlefield: Bad Company 2." (Neshy, Norway)

7. ModNation Racers

"The game of the year is ModNation Racers. It's incredibly innovative for the racing game world. Just the idea of creating a brand new circuit from scratch drives me crazy. I can't wait for it to be released on PS3." (Ofrollo, Italy)

8. Metal Gear Solid: Rising

"I don't know if this game will be released in 2010, but I really hope so. As always, the Metal Gear Solid series ranks highly." (bydont-25, France)

9. MAG

"I have played the Beta and it was amazing. Having 256 players on one server is absolutely smashing!" (neoisback-DB, Germany)

10. Red Dead Redemption

"Very, very, very interesting project. For me, personally, it is still a mystery how such a world, in such detail and containing so much action, could have been put onto one Blu-ray Disc." (CTAP7OM, Russia)

Many thanks to all of the community members that contributed via the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com. Stay tuned for more Obsession Confessions, coming soon.

Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the FutureEmilie De Ravin Reveals Her ‘Instant Chemistry’ With Robert Pattinson

Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

The PlayStation community predicts which games will be big hits in 2010.

For this edition of Obsession Confessions, the PlayStation community looked deep into their crystal balls and told us which games will go on to define the year 2010. Here are their predictions in order of popularity, along with quotes from the official PlayStation Forums.

1. God of War III

"Kratos will carry out his revenge against the Gods of Mount Olympus, completing one of the most important PlayStation series." (zetatron, Spain)

2. Final Fantasy XIII

"It's time for a new RPG fantasy adventure that will grab you and not let go from beginning to end. Do you want to know what your PS3 is capable of? If so, then buy this game." (fantasyfreak, Netherlands)

3. Heavy Rain

"Heavy Rain is a unique and intriguing PS3 exclusive. After all of the trailers and previews, I still don't fully understand what it's about, which is great, as it adds an exciting mystery factor to it." (CalvertCrew, United Kingdom)

4. Gran Turismo 5

"Gran Turismo 5 for game of the year. Why? Well, let's face it... it's going to be amazing, isn't it?" (nextbigthing91, United Kingdom)

5. The Last Guardian

"You suffered for Yorda, you suffered for Agro and now you will suffer for Trico." (jeanbodin, Portugal)

6. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

"We don't know what is coming this autumn, but now, just before summer, it has to be Battlefield: Bad Company 2." (Neshy, Norway)

7. ModNation Racers

"The game of the year is ModNation Racers. It's incredibly innovative for the racing game world. Just the idea of creating a brand new circuit from scratch drives me crazy. I can't wait for it to be released on PS3." (Ofrollo, Italy)

8. Metal Gear Solid: Rising

"I don't know if this game will be released in 2010, but I really hope so. As always, the Metal Gear Solid series ranks highly." (bydont-25, France)

9. MAG

"I have played the Beta and it was amazing. Having 256 players on one server is absolutely smashing!" (neoisback-DB, Germany)

10. Red Dead Redemption

"Very, very, very interesting project. For me, personally, it is still a mystery how such a world, in such detail and containing so much action, could have been put onto one Blu-ray Disc." (CTAP7OM, Russia)

Many thanks to all of the community members that contributed via the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com. Stay tuned for more Obsession Confessions, coming soon.

Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the FutureEmilie De Ravin Reveals Her ‘Instant Chemistry’ With Robert Pattinson

Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

The PlayStation community predicts which games will be big hits in 2010.

For this edition of Obsession Confessions, the PlayStation community looked deep into their crystal balls and told us which games will go on to define the year 2010. Here are their predictions in order of popularity, along with quotes from the official PlayStation Forums.

1. God of War III

"Kratos will carry out his revenge against the Gods of Mount Olympus, completing one of the most important PlayStation series." (zetatron, Spain)

2. Final Fantasy XIII

"It's time for a new RPG fantasy adventure that will grab you and not let go from beginning to end. Do you want to know what your PS3 is capable of? If so, then buy this game." (fantasyfreak, Netherlands)

3. Heavy Rain

"Heavy Rain is a unique and intriguing PS3 exclusive. After all of the trailers and previews, I still don't fully understand what it's about, which is great, as it adds an exciting mystery factor to it." (CalvertCrew, United Kingdom)

4. Gran Turismo 5

"Gran Turismo 5 for game of the year. Why? Well, let's face it... it's going to be amazing, isn't it?" (nextbigthing91, United Kingdom)

5. The Last Guardian

"You suffered for Yorda, you suffered for Agro and now you will suffer for Trico." (jeanbodin, Portugal)

6. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

"We don't know what is coming this autumn, but now, just before summer, it has to be Battlefield: Bad Company 2." (Neshy, Norway)

7. ModNation Racers

"The game of the year is ModNation Racers. It's incredibly innovative for the racing game world. Just the idea of creating a brand new circuit from scratch drives me crazy. I can't wait for it to be released on PS3." (Ofrollo, Italy)

8. Metal Gear Solid: Rising

"I don't know if this game will be released in 2010, but I really hope so. As always, the Metal Gear Solid series ranks highly." (bydont-25, France)

9. MAG

"I have played the Beta and it was amazing. Having 256 players on one server is absolutely smashing!" (neoisback-DB, Germany)

10. Red Dead Redemption

"Very, very, very interesting project. For me, personally, it is still a mystery how such a world, in such detail and containing so much action, could have been put onto one Blu-ray Disc." (CTAP7OM, Russia)

Many thanks to all of the community members that contributed via the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com. Stay tuned for more Obsession Confessions, coming soon.

Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the FutureEmilie De Ravin Reveals Her ‘Instant Chemistry’ With Robert Pattinson

Obsession Confessions: minis month

The world will end in three and a half minutes. What do you want to play?

The shortest month of the year is minis month and we want to you to tell us about your favourite snack-sized games from the minis category on PlayStation Store.

Just head over to the Official PlayStation Forums to join the conversation.

Which is the best game to squeeze in before the next bus stop, during a commercial break or before the imminent apocalypse?

In two weeks, the top ten will be listed here at eu.playstation.com along with quotes from the community. Best of all, the community members that we quote will receive PlayStation Network Voucher Codes to download a free copy of Tetris on PSP.

Head over to the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com and get involved right now. Two minutes and counting...

Mel Gibson On His Mad Max Successor: ‘I Don’t Even Know Who That Is!’Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

PS3 Theme tool updated

Give your PS3 a new look with the latest official Custom Theme Guidelines.

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc has released version 1.60 of the Custom Theme Guidelines. This document explains how you can change elements of the system software such as the background and icons on the XMB™ (XrossMediaBar).

Version 1.60 of the guidelines has been updated to include the PSPgo icon which appears on the XMB Menu when a PSPgo system is connected to your PS3 using a USB cable, and includes support for the Polish language.

This latest update to the guidelines can be downloaded at eu.playstation.com and if you'd like some inspiration before you create your own Theme, visit PlayStation Store on your PS3 and head to the Other Media section to view our selection of great Themes.

You can also check out the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com to see what the community has been up to.

‘Dear John’ Star Amanda Seyfried Jokes About ‘Sabotage’ On Miley CyrusWeekend Essentials – Issue 12

Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

The PlayStation community predicts which games will be big hits in 2010.

For this edition of Obsession Confessions, the PlayStation community looked deep into their crystal balls and told us which games will go on to define the year 2010. Here are their predictions in order of popularity, along with quotes from the official PlayStation Forums.

1. God of War III

"Kratos will carry out his revenge against the Gods of Mount Olympus, completing one of the most important PlayStation series." (zetatron, Spain)

2. Final Fantasy XIII

"It's time for a new RPG fantasy adventure that will grab you and not let go from beginning to end. Do you want to know what your PS3 is capable of? If so, then buy this game." (fantasyfreak, Netherlands)

3. Heavy Rain

"Heavy Rain is a unique and intriguing PS3 exclusive. After all of the trailers and previews, I still don't fully understand what it's about, which is great, as it adds an exciting mystery factor to it." (CalvertCrew, United Kingdom)

4. Gran Turismo 5

"Gran Turismo 5 for game of the year. Why? Well, let's face it... it's going to be amazing, isn't it?" (nextbigthing91, United Kingdom)

5. The Last Guardian

"You suffered for Yorda, you suffered for Agro and now you will suffer for Trico." (jeanbodin, Portugal)

6. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

"We don't know what is coming this autumn, but now, just before summer, it has to be Battlefield: Bad Company 2." (Neshy, Norway)

7. ModNation Racers

"The game of the year is ModNation Racers. It's incredibly innovative for the racing game world. Just the idea of creating a brand new circuit from scratch drives me crazy. I can't wait for it to be released on PS3." (Ofrollo, Italy)

8. Metal Gear Solid: Rising

"I don't know if this game will be released in 2010, but I really hope so. As always, the Metal Gear Solid series ranks highly." (bydont-25, France)

9. MAG

"I have played the Beta and it was amazing. Having 256 players on one server is absolutely smashing!" (neoisback-DB, Germany)

10. Red Dead Redemption

"Very, very, very interesting project. For me, personally, it is still a mystery how such a world, in such detail and containing so much action, could have been put onto one Blu-ray Disc." (CTAP7OM, Russia)

Many thanks to all of the community members that contributed via the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com. Stay tuned for more Obsession Confessions, coming soon.

Emilie De Ravin Reveals Her ‘Instant Chemistry’ With Robert PattinsonObsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

The PlayStation community predicts which games will be big hits in 2010.

For this edition of Obsession Confessions, the PlayStation community looked deep into their crystal balls and told us which games will go on to define the year 2010. Here are their predictions in order of popularity, along with quotes from the official PlayStation Forums.

1. God of War III

"Kratos will carry out his revenge against the Gods of Mount Olympus, completing one of the most important PlayStation series." (zetatron, Spain)

2. Final Fantasy XIII

"It's time for a new RPG fantasy adventure that will grab you and not let go from beginning to end. Do you want to know what your PS3 is capable of? If so, then buy this game." (fantasyfreak, Netherlands)

3. Heavy Rain

"Heavy Rain is a unique and intriguing PS3 exclusive. After all of the trailers and previews, I still don't fully understand what it's about, which is great, as it adds an exciting mystery factor to it." (CalvertCrew, United Kingdom)

4. Gran Turismo 5

"Gran Turismo 5 for game of the year. Why? Well, let's face it... it's going to be amazing, isn't it?" (nextbigthing91, United Kingdom)

5. The Last Guardian

"You suffered for Yorda, you suffered for Agro and now you will suffer for Trico." (jeanbodin, Portugal)

6. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

"We don't know what is coming this autumn, but now, just before summer, it has to be Battlefield: Bad Company 2." (Neshy, Norway)

7. ModNation Racers

"The game of the year is ModNation Racers. It's incredibly innovative for the racing game world. Just the idea of creating a brand new circuit from scratch drives me crazy. I can't wait for it to be released on PS3." (Ofrollo, Italy)

8. Metal Gear Solid: Rising

"I don't know if this game will be released in 2010, but I really hope so. As always, the Metal Gear Solid series ranks highly." (bydont-25, France)

9. MAG

"I have played the Beta and it was amazing. Having 256 players on one server is absolutely smashing!" (neoisback-DB, Germany)

10. Red Dead Redemption

"Very, very, very interesting project. For me, personally, it is still a mystery how such a world, in such detail and containing so much action, could have been put onto one Blu-ray Disc." (CTAP7OM, Russia)

Many thanks to all of the community members that contributed via the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com. Stay tuned for more Obsession Confessions, coming soon.

Emilie De Ravin Reveals Her ‘Instant Chemistry’ With Robert PattinsonObsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

The PlayStation community predicts which games will be big hits in 2010.

For this edition of Obsession Confessions, the PlayStation community looked deep into their crystal balls and told us which games will go on to define the year 2010. Here are their predictions in order of popularity, along with quotes from the official PlayStation Forums.

1. God of War III

"Kratos will carry out his revenge against the Gods of Mount Olympus, completing one of the most important PlayStation series." (zetatron, Spain)

2. Final Fantasy XIII

"It's time for a new RPG fantasy adventure that will grab you and not let go from beginning to end. Do you want to know what your PS3 is capable of? If so, then buy this game." (fantasyfreak, Netherlands)

3. Heavy Rain

"Heavy Rain is a unique and intriguing PS3 exclusive. After all of the trailers and previews, I still don't fully understand what it's about, which is great, as it adds an exciting mystery factor to it." (CalvertCrew, United Kingdom)

4. Gran Turismo 5

"Gran Turismo 5 for game of the year. Why? Well, let's face it... it's going to be amazing, isn't it?" (nextbigthing91, United Kingdom)

5. The Last Guardian

"You suffered for Yorda, you suffered for Agro and now you will suffer for Trico." (jeanbodin, Portugal)

6. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

"We don't know what is coming this autumn, but now, just before summer, it has to be Battlefield: Bad Company 2." (Neshy, Norway)

7. ModNation Racers

"The game of the year is ModNation Racers. It's incredibly innovative for the racing game world. Just the idea of creating a brand new circuit from scratch drives me crazy. I can't wait for it to be released on PS3." (Ofrollo, Italy)

8. Metal Gear Solid: Rising

"I don't know if this game will be released in 2010, but I really hope so. As always, the Metal Gear Solid series ranks highly." (bydont-25, France)

9. MAG

"I have played the Beta and it was amazing. Having 256 players on one server is absolutely smashing!" (neoisback-DB, Germany)

10. Red Dead Redemption

"Very, very, very interesting project. For me, personally, it is still a mystery how such a world, in such detail and containing so much action, could have been put onto one Blu-ray Disc." (CTAP7OM, Russia)

Many thanks to all of the community members that contributed via the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com. Stay tuned for more Obsession Confessions, coming soon.

Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the FutureEmilie De Ravin Reveals Her ‘Instant Chemistry’ With Robert Pattinson

Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

The PlayStation community predicts which games will be big hits in 2010.

For this edition of Obsession Confessions, the PlayStation community looked deep into their crystal balls and told us which games will go on to define the year 2010. Here are their predictions in order of popularity, along with quotes from the official PlayStation Forums.

1. God of War III

"Kratos will carry out his revenge against the Gods of Mount Olympus, completing one of the most important PlayStation series." (zetatron, Spain)

2. Final Fantasy XIII

"It's time for a new RPG fantasy adventure that will grab you and not let go from beginning to end. Do you want to know what your PS3 is capable of? If so, then buy this game." (fantasyfreak, Netherlands)

3. Heavy Rain

"Heavy Rain is a unique and intriguing PS3 exclusive. After all of the trailers and previews, I still don't fully understand what it's about, which is great, as it adds an exciting mystery factor to it." (CalvertCrew, United Kingdom)

4. Gran Turismo 5

"Gran Turismo 5 for game of the year. Why? Well, let's face it... it's going to be amazing, isn't it?" (nextbigthing91, United Kingdom)

5. The Last Guardian

"You suffered for Yorda, you suffered for Agro and now you will suffer for Trico." (jeanbodin, Portugal)

6. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

"We don't know what is coming this autumn, but now, just before summer, it has to be Battlefield: Bad Company 2." (Neshy, Norway)

7. ModNation Racers

"The game of the year is ModNation Racers. It's incredibly innovative for the racing game world. Just the idea of creating a brand new circuit from scratch drives me crazy. I can't wait for it to be released on PS3." (Ofrollo, Italy)

8. Metal Gear Solid: Rising

"I don't know if this game will be released in 2010, but I really hope so. As always, the Metal Gear Solid series ranks highly." (bydont-25, France)

9. MAG

"I have played the Beta and it was amazing. Having 256 players on one server is absolutely smashing!" (neoisback-DB, Germany)

10. Red Dead Redemption

"Very, very, very interesting project. For me, personally, it is still a mystery how such a world, in such detail and containing so much action, could have been put onto one Blu-ray Disc." (CTAP7OM, Russia)

Many thanks to all of the community members that contributed via the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com. Stay tuned for more Obsession Confessions, coming soon.

Emilie De Ravin Reveals Her ‘Instant Chemistry’ With Robert PattinsonObsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

The PlayStation community predicts which games will be big hits in 2010.

For this edition of Obsession Confessions, the PlayStation community looked deep into their crystal balls and told us which games will go on to define the year 2010. Here are their predictions in order of popularity, along with quotes from the official PlayStation Forums.

1. God of War III

"Kratos will carry out his revenge against the Gods of Mount Olympus, completing one of the most important PlayStation series." (zetatron, Spain)

2. Final Fantasy XIII

"It's time for a new RPG fantasy adventure that will grab you and not let go from beginning to end. Do you want to know what your PS3 is capable of? If so, then buy this game." (fantasyfreak, Netherlands)

3. Heavy Rain

"Heavy Rain is a unique and intriguing PS3 exclusive. After all of the trailers and previews, I still don't fully understand what it's about, which is great, as it adds an exciting mystery factor to it." (CalvertCrew, United Kingdom)

4. Gran Turismo 5

"Gran Turismo 5 for game of the year. Why? Well, let's face it... it's going to be amazing, isn't it?" (nextbigthing91, United Kingdom)

5. The Last Guardian

"You suffered for Yorda, you suffered for Agro and now you will suffer for Trico." (jeanbodin, Portugal)

6. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

"We don't know what is coming this autumn, but now, just before summer, it has to be Battlefield: Bad Company 2." (Neshy, Norway)

7. ModNation Racers

"The game of the year is ModNation Racers. It's incredibly innovative for the racing game world. Just the idea of creating a brand new circuit from scratch drives me crazy. I can't wait for it to be released on PS3." (Ofrollo, Italy)

8. Metal Gear Solid: Rising

"I don't know if this game will be released in 2010, but I really hope so. As always, the Metal Gear Solid series ranks highly." (bydont-25, France)

9. MAG

"I have played the Beta and it was amazing. Having 256 players on one server is absolutely smashing!" (neoisback-DB, Germany)

10. Red Dead Redemption

"Very, very, very interesting project. For me, personally, it is still a mystery how such a world, in such detail and containing so much action, could have been put onto one Blu-ray Disc." (CTAP7OM, Russia)

Many thanks to all of the community members that contributed via the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com. Stay tuned for more Obsession Confessions, coming soon.

Emilie De Ravin Reveals Her ‘Instant Chemistry’ With Robert PattinsonObsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

The PlayStation community predicts which games will be big hits in 2010.

For this edition of Obsession Confessions, the PlayStation community looked deep into their crystal balls and told us which games will go on to define the year 2010. Here are their predictions in order of popularity, along with quotes from the official PlayStation Forums.

1. God of War III

"Kratos will carry out his revenge against the Gods of Mount Olympus, completing one of the most important PlayStation series." (zetatron, Spain)

2. Final Fantasy XIII

"It's time for a new RPG fantasy adventure that will grab you and not let go from beginning to end. Do you want to know what your PS3 is capable of? If so, then buy this game." (fantasyfreak, Netherlands)

3. Heavy Rain

"Heavy Rain is a unique and intriguing PS3 exclusive. After all of the trailers and previews, I still don't fully understand what it's about, which is great, as it adds an exciting mystery factor to it." (CalvertCrew, United Kingdom)

4. Gran Turismo 5

"Gran Turismo 5 for game of the year. Why? Well, let's face it... it's going to be amazing, isn't it?" (nextbigthing91, United Kingdom)

5. The Last Guardian

"You suffered for Yorda, you suffered for Agro and now you will suffer for Trico." (jeanbodin, Portugal)

6. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

"We don't know what is coming this autumn, but now, just before summer, it has to be Battlefield: Bad Company 2." (Neshy, Norway)

7. ModNation Racers

"The game of the year is ModNation Racers. It's incredibly innovative for the racing game world. Just the idea of creating a brand new circuit from scratch drives me crazy. I can't wait for it to be released on PS3." (Ofrollo, Italy)

8. Metal Gear Solid: Rising

"I don't know if this game will be released in 2010, but I really hope so. As always, the Metal Gear Solid series ranks highly." (bydont-25, France)

9. MAG

"I have played the Beta and it was amazing. Having 256 players on one server is absolutely smashing!" (neoisback-DB, Germany)

10. Red Dead Redemption

"Very, very, very interesting project. For me, personally, it is still a mystery how such a world, in such detail and containing so much action, could have been put onto one Blu-ray Disc." (CTAP7OM, Russia)

Many thanks to all of the community members that contributed via the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com. Stay tuned for more Obsession Confessions, coming soon.

Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the FutureEmilie De Ravin Reveals Her ‘Instant Chemistry’ With Robert Pattinson

Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the Future

The PlayStation community predicts which games will be big hits in 2010.

For this edition of Obsession Confessions, the PlayStation community looked deep into their crystal balls and told us which games will go on to define the year 2010. Here are their predictions in order of popularity, along with quotes from the official PlayStation Forums.

1. God of War III

"Kratos will carry out his revenge against the Gods of Mount Olympus, completing one of the most important PlayStation series." (zetatron, Spain)

2. Final Fantasy XIII

"It's time for a new RPG fantasy adventure that will grab you and not let go from beginning to end. Do you want to know what your PS3 is capable of? If so, then buy this game." (fantasyfreak, Netherlands)

3. Heavy Rain

"Heavy Rain is a unique and intriguing PS3 exclusive. After all of the trailers and previews, I still don't fully understand what it's about, which is great, as it adds an exciting mystery factor to it." (CalvertCrew, United Kingdom)

4. Gran Turismo 5

"Gran Turismo 5 for game of the year. Why? Well, let's face it... it's going to be amazing, isn't it?" (nextbigthing91, United Kingdom)

5. The Last Guardian

"You suffered for Yorda, you suffered for Agro and now you will suffer for Trico." (jeanbodin, Portugal)

6. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

"We don't know what is coming this autumn, but now, just before summer, it has to be Battlefield: Bad Company 2." (Neshy, Norway)

7. ModNation Racers

"The game of the year is ModNation Racers. It's incredibly innovative for the racing game world. Just the idea of creating a brand new circuit from scratch drives me crazy. I can't wait for it to be released on PS3." (Ofrollo, Italy)

8. Metal Gear Solid: Rising

"I don't know if this game will be released in 2010, but I really hope so. As always, the Metal Gear Solid series ranks highly." (bydont-25, France)

9. MAG

"I have played the Beta and it was amazing. Having 256 players on one server is absolutely smashing!" (neoisback-DB, Germany)

10. Red Dead Redemption

"Very, very, very interesting project. For me, personally, it is still a mystery how such a world, in such detail and containing so much action, could have been put onto one Blu-ray Disc." (CTAP7OM, Russia)

Many thanks to all of the community members that contributed via the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com. Stay tuned for more Obsession Confessions, coming soon.

Obsession Confessions: Welcome to the FutureEmilie De Ravin Reveals Her ‘Instant Chemistry’ With Robert Pattinson

Weekend Essentials – Issue 14

Brand new role-playing games arrive on PS3 and PSP, and PlayStation Store celebrates Valentine’s Day.

RPG paradise

In Star Ocean The Last Hope: International on PlayStation 3, humanity takes to space in search of a new home after World War III cripples the Earth. Embark on a quest for stars, oceans and hope, and experience the dynamic battle system that sets the Star Ocean series apart from other role-playing games. You can even pilot the Calnus spaceship for the first time and explore the universe as you please.

In the 30 seconds you've spent reading this, you could have been playing Half Minute Hero, the retro RPG on PSP. It features five radically different game modes so you could be playing a traditional RPG one second and a shoot 'em up or a real time strategy 30 seconds later. And with stylish 8-bit graphics, it takes you back to a time when a handful of pixels could rescue a princess.

What's in Store?

While those of you that have cracked the case in the Heavy Rain Artificial Reality Game are already sampling the Heavy Rain demo, now more can try the interactive drama on PlayStation 3 by downloading it from PlayStation Store.

echoshift and SOCOM Fireteam Bravo 3 are two upcoming PSP games also getting the demo treatment in PlayStation Store. The former is a perplexing puzzler based on time manipulation, while the latter is the latest instalment in the hit tactical shooter on PSP.

Love is in the air as EyePet and LittleBigPlanet get their own Valentine's Day downloads, and what better way to express your love than with Flower? The serene downloadable hit is now available at a special price, along with a Dynamic Theme to bring some calm to your XMBTM (XrossMediaBar).

This week's films

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to join your loved ones and friends on the couch for a good film, and the PlayStation Store Video Store has just what you're looking for, whether that's a romantic comedy or an explosive thriller.

Couple's Retreat is this week's featured release and it sees Vince Vaughn head an all-star cast in a light-hearted comedy. Eight couples embark on a group holiday, only to discover that they've signed up for an unconventional form of couples' therapy - and the activities are not optional.

This week also sees the arrivals of The Taking of Pelham 123, a New York thriller starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta, and District 9, the sci-fi hit set in South Africa. Both are available to rent from PlayStation Store.

Get involved

Here at eu.playstation.com, minis month continues with the latest instalment of Obsession Confessions focusing on which games you like to squeeze in when you have precious seconds to spare. Join the discussion over at the official PlayStation Forums.

And there's still time to enter the Dark Void and minis competitions; head to eu.playstation.com/competitions to find out more.

Be sure to opt-in to receive PlayStation emails when you sign-up for a PlayStation Network account. If you already have an account, sign in to your PlayStation Network Account Settings at eu.playstation.com/registration or via the XMBTM (XrossMediaBar) and opt-in. That way, you can keep bang up to date and receive the latest PlayStation news direct to your inbox.

‘Tron Legacy’ Director Joseph Kosinski Raves About 3-D And Daft PunkWeekend Essentials – Issue 12

Win prizes with the LittleBigPlanet Contraption Challenge

Create a little bit of genius with LittleBigPlanet and be rewarded with a PSPgo.

Driven by the official PlayStation Forums, the popular Little Big Contraption Challenge is an event which dares you to show off your LittleBigPlanet creativity to the world. Each task asks you to create a specific contraption based on the challenge set by Forum member Nuclearfish, with nine completed so far.

Contraption Challenge 10 is special, however - because you can win a PSPgo and a copy of LittleBigPlanet on PSP if your contraption is good enough. Titled Amphibious Vehicle, the Challenge requires you to make a vehicle that can travel across land and water; the more creative and original your entry, the better.

To take part, all you need to do is start LittleBigPlanet on PS3, go online via PlayStation Network and select Community on your in-game Pod Computer. Then by heading to the Search menu and inputting the level name "CC10 - Template" you should find the level created by Forum member Nuclearfish. Copy it to My Moon on your Pod Computer and create your contraption within it.

Once you're happy, publish your creation using the prefix CC10 in the level title. Five finalists will be chosen from the entries, and then a winner will be selected from a poll where Forum members vote on their favourite. For more information, head over to the Forums at community.eu.playstation.com.

You have until 28 February 2010 to publish your level, so take a look at the previous Contraption Challenge winner for inspiration, start building your Amphibious Vehicle contraptions and best of luck.

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