Sunday, April 18, 2010

Weekend Essentials – Issue 23

Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City arrives on PlayStation 3 to steal away your weekend...

Have a Rockstar weekend

The eagerly awaited follow-up to Grand Theft Auto 4 has arrived on PlayStation 3. Available both on PlayStation Store and Blu-ray Disc, Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City is here to make sure you're glued to your screen for addictive open world gameplay and blistering set pieces.

Featuring two distinctive episodes strictly for adults, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, a slew of fresh vehicles and weapons await along with new activities including cage fighting and gang wars. There's even the chance to enjoy a wealth of multiplayer modes and see Liberty City in a new light with friends.

Dare you enter Section 8?

Join the large scale sci-fi blitz of Section 8 on PlayStation 3, where fast paced action meets military strategy in the far reaches of the galaxy. Downloadable from PlayStation Store, this first person blaster throws you into an epic battle between the 8th Armored Infantry and the Arm of Orion, where the dynamic battlefield means each game has the potential to be totally different from the last.

Skate away for the weekend

If ‘boarding is a bit more of your thing than jet packs, then why not jump on to the skateboarding frenzy of the Skate 3 demo, which lets you get a tantalising taste of what it's like to tear up the streets in the brand new city of Port Carverton. Download it from PlayStation Store and get grinding.

Hustle hustle

If last week's dose of Hustle Kings wasn't enough for you, there's more in the cue-sized shape of the Hustle Kings free Crazy Table Pack: Hex Crazy which gives you an additional futuristic looking pool table to try your skills on. PlayStation Store is the place to get your well earned break, so download the pack for free and show off your hustler tricks.

A growing theme

Dynamic themes are growing in popularity all the time, and there are two new ones to dazzle your eyes with. White Knight Chronicles and EyePet are the latest to get the dynamic theme treatment, which adds some brilliantly watchable animations to the XMB (XrossMediaBar) on PS3.

Also available to download from PlayStation Store are the Temples Theme - Level Kit and Costume for LittleBigPlanet on PSP, to give Sackboy a new playground and funky look to enjoy it with.

Oddly enough

A PS one classic makes its PlayStation Store bow this week with Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee released for your platform adventure gaming pleasure. Now you can explore the realm of Abe, a disenchanted Mudokon slave working at the RuptureFarms meat processing factory on Oddworld. The quest for Abe's freedom starts here...

Meanwhile at eu.playstation.com...

Don't miss the chance to pose your burning PlayStation related questions to the president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, Andrew House, through the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com. The best questions will be selected for a special feature to be published at a later date.

And if you're starting to feel the 2010 FIFA World Cup fever then there's the perfect chance to indulge it with a superb competition that could win you tickets to the massive sporting event. At eu.playstation.com/2010fifaworldcup there are tickets to be won, including a pair for the final. There are only six weeks left to join in after the massive response to week one's round, so enter now before it's too late.

New in PlayStation Home

Why not spare a few moments to explore the ever-evolving environment of PlayStation Home this weekend? Firstly there's the Siren: Blood Curse space to check out, where you can venture through the Ward of Despair, watch videos and play a mini-game for up to five players. Win and earn yourself costume rewards, but beware the terrifying Shibito...

Also in PlayStation Home is a selection of new costumes from sci-fi universe Star Wars and comedy classic Monty Python, where you can dress up as a Stormtrooper or Imperial Officer from the outer space saga, the Black Knight (complete with missing arms) from the comedy film, The Holy Grail, and gain even more goodies from these popular franchises.

Note: PlayStation Home supports the following languages: English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

A Blog perspective

Over at PlayStation Blog at blog.eu.playstation.com there is a Q&A with MAG's producer Alan Van Slyke, designer Jason Olander, and designer and senior community manager Jeremy Dunham, giving you a peek behind the scenes of the massive first person shooter on PS3.

Keep an eye on PlayStation Blog for the latest PlayStation news as it happens.

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 XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) and opt in. That way, you can keep bang up to date and receive the latest PlayStation news direct to your inbox.



Put your questions to Andrew House‘Sex And The City 2′ Trailer Warns Of Carrie’s Trouble In Abu Dhabi