The Baconing review: Hacked and slashed

"The only constant in this world is change." Wait, no, that doesn't work. "You can't change the past, but you can work to change the future." Nope, that doesn't do the trick either.

"War. War never changes." No, wrong game. Hm. Here's the thing: The Baconing has a lot more of the same DeathSpank flavor you're likely used to, but without a lot of the stuff that made DeathSpank good. I guess there's not a cliched "change" quote that quite works there, huh? Sure, the self-obsessed hero of Hothead's first two DeathSpank games is still there. There's still a whole bunch of quests strewn throughout a whimsical and colorful world. And yeah, the writing is still laden with puns and excretory humor, and is presented by a cast of solid comedic voice actors. The hero to the downtrodden still gets wacky loot like the mafioso-looking Pinstripe Platemail as he hacks and slashes his way through bizarre enemies. All that stuff is still there -- but, sadly, it's hidden under a mound of major problems. The Baconing (8/8/11)

Weekend Essentials 89

This website requires Flash Player 7 or higher. It looks like you do not have this installed. Visit the Adobe website to download the latest version of player.. JavaScript needs to be enabled on your PC in order for you to view this content. Please enable JavaScript and try again. Uncover a sinister conspiracy in Deus Ex: Human Revolution and limber up for the Rugby World Cup on PS3 this weekend. A new classic Eleven years after Deus Ex first turned heads on PlayStation 2, Deus Ex: Human Revolution arrives on PlayStation 3 this weekend with a host of accolades trailing in its wake. Playing as Adam Jensen, your mission is to find those responsible for the malicious attack on the headquarters of your employer, Sarif Industries. Take a trip to the near future this weekend on PlayStation 3 in Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Eyes on the prize The Rugby World Cup kicks off in New Zealand on 9 September 2011 and you can limber up for the tournament this weekend by picking up a copy of 505 Games' Rugby World Cup 2011 on PS3. Choose from the 20 teams on offer and battle your way through the pool and knockout stages as you home in on the ultimate prize, the Webb Ellis Cup. Mud, sweat and passion collide on PS3 this weekend in Rugby World Cup 2011. Battle it out online Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition arrives on PS3 this weekend, giving you the chance to experience an arcade classic in the comfort of your living room. For a limited time only, you can pick the game up as part of the PlayStation Network PLAY promotion, meaning you'll get the Gill character unlock for free, and with an extra 20 per cent off the full price if you're a PlayStation Plus member. Try before you buy Visit PlayStation Store this weekend to pick up a single player demo for futuristic action shooter Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine and unleash destruction on the enemies of mankind or, for brawls of a different kind, download the NHL 12 demo as the popular ice hockey simulation returns for a new season on PS3. Also out on PlayStation Store this week as trial and unlock versions, meaning you can check out the game before deciding to buy it, give the old grey matter a workout with Crazy Machines Elements and Hamilton's Great Adventure, or step into the heart of the action with Backbreaker Vengeance, which offers an accessible and fresh new take on American football. Visit PlayStation Store this weekend to pick up the freshest entertainment for your PS3 and PSP. Stock up on fantastic films at unbelievable prices The discounts continue on the Video Store of PlayStation Store this weekend with huge reductions on a great selection of movies from Warner Bros. Some you'll want to keep forever, while others are available for rental so you can save room for exciting new content that will be heading your way in the near future. The games go on If you missed any of the action from gamescom 2011 recently, then be sure to visit eu.playstation.com/gamescom on your PC for the full rundown of the key announcements from the show, including a fantastic price reduction for PS3, a brand new PSP model coming later in 2011 and tonnes more PlayStation Vita details. Keep an eye on PlayStation.Blog at blog.eu.playstation.com for the latest PlayStation news. Visit eu.playstation.com/competitions for your chance to win great prizes. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/PlayStationEU. Join in with a variety of activities on the Official PlayStation Facebook page at facebook.com/SonyPlayStation. Have your say in the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com. Visit https://store.playstation.com/login.gvm on PC to create a PSN account and opt in for email updates on PlayStation products and services.

Grab 20% off a year's PlayStation Plus subscription

Fancy a massive 20 per cent off a year's PlayStation Plus subscription? Find out how you can take advantage of this incredible offer. Bringing you fantastic discounts, games and exclusive special offers every month, PlayStation Plus is home to some of the most exciting content available on PlayStation Store. If you're not yet a member of the best subscription club in town then the perfect excuse to hop on board has arrived - you can now get a whopping 20% per cent off a year's subscription. From 26 August 2011 until 23 September 2011, you'll be able to take advantage of a very special promotion where you can snag a full year's PlayStation Plus subscription for only €39.99. This means you'll have access to all the exclusive privileges enjoyed by other subscribers, for an unbeatable price. If you sign up before 7 September 2011, you'll be able to enjoy downloadable gems such as Assassin's Creed on PlayStation 3 at 50 per cent off, a Full Game Trial of Assassin's Creed Brotherhood on PS3 with free Avatars, and titles like PS one Classic Rayman at no extra cost. Have you been a jealous onlooker of friends who have been showing off their PlayStation Plus subscription avatars on your PlayStation Network Friends list? Now is the perfect time to level the playing field. Make sure you don't miss out on this fantastic offer. Find out how to become a PlayStation Plus subscriber at eu.playstation.com/playstationplus.

Jagex CEO says Runescape will be cross-console, free-to-play (or else)

Developer Jagex is positioned to ship Runescape across all consoles, free-to-play and with complete cross-platform capabilities, if CEO Mark Gerhard has anything to say about it. Which, as CEO, he does.

Gerhard told Develop that some console owners wanted to charge for Runescape, which he sees as absolute lunacy. "People get this for free. You're shooting yourself in the foot," Gerhard said. "But Sony was ahead of the game; they said they get it. They understand free. But all three said, 'okay, but we won't let our console play online with any other.'" Gerhard is waiting for the console market to realize cross-play is a universally beneficial strategy, at least with Runescape, as it doesn't have any graphical aspects that favor one console over another. "I think they [Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo] will open up their platforms a bit more, liberate them a bit more. It's just a matter of time," he said. "But we're well placed to be on all devices soon so we can have a global community."

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim preview: Dovahkiind of wonderful

"Oh that? That's old man McElroy's house.

People say he hasn't left since Nov. 11, 2011. I guess a video game came out that day -- it was on a disc, if you remember those -- called The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and he just never, ever left after he started playing it. It's very sad. But they say he warned everyone in a preview he wrote at PAX Prime 2011. They say he played an hour and knew right then that his time as part of human society was limited." The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Gamescom 2011)

The Studio monthly 3

This website requires Flash Player 7 or higher. It looks like you do not have this installed. Visit the Adobe website to download the latest version of player.. JavaScript needs to be enabled on your PC in order for you to view this content. Please enable JavaScript and try again. Journey to the far horizons of cutting-edge digital art with the latest additions to The Studio. The eyes have it in The Studio this month, as a clutch of specially commissioned art exploring the windows to the soul fixes its gaze upon PlayStation Store. The newest additions to the digital art gallery are available to download to your PlayStation 3 and PSP right now, and include themes by Norwegian illustrator MVM as well as Russian designers Sicksystems and Mago. MVM's Dazzle Eye aims to flip the watcher and the watched, as an unblinking eye surveys your television screen from the inside and appears to follow your every move. Beyond Reality, by Sicksystems, fixates you with a reptilian stare that owes much to its creator's love of fantasy video games. And Eye See You, by Mago, is an image of a beady eyeball stranded on a psychedelic road to nowhere. Imagine a galaxy full of human head asteroids hurtling through space, meanwhile, and you'll picture something close to the bizarre vision offered by Bob London in Gimp Guzzle. He "lives and works in a black hole", apparently, so maybe that explains it. The Studio regulars Mr Jago and Andrew McAttee team up to tackle something even grander with Big Bang Part 1, which adorns the canteen wall at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's HQ. See how it was created on PlayStation.Blog at blog.eu.playstation.com. Getting back to simpler things, bright geometric shapes dance around your television screen in End of Anarchy by French design duo Check Morris. Meanwhile, Portuguese mood manipulator João Oliveira, known as On Repeat, has come up with Elements, a pack of themes that will add vibrant neon slashes to your screen. Hand drawn, resembling traditional woodblock art and with a distinct surreal streak, Feeding Time invites you to watch a winged donkey eat lunch and is the latest output from the pondering pen of Matthew Green. In All You See is RGB by Dutch digital illustrator Roya Hamburger, native art from all over the world inspires a mass of weirdly wonderful shapes. Finally, PlayStation Plus members can download two exclusive themes at no extra charge: the simple, yet hypnotising, Mobile by Sonbr, and Jeffrey Bowman's Peaks and Flow, in which a steam train is gradually built by solid blocks of colour. Head to The Studio on PlayStation Store and lose yourself in some of the sharpest downloadable designs around. For all the latest on the digital gallery, don't forget to check eu.playstation.com/thestudio.

PSA: Canadian 250GB Xbox 360 bundle with 5 games now available

Do you come from the school of thought that equates "free stuff" with "money saved"? Is a $20 gift card as good as $20 off?

Did you buy that useless robotic vacuum dog because it was so steeply discounted you'd practically lose money not buying it? We understand your plight, friend. And if you're Canadian, we think we've got a deal for you. News broke yesterday that our gentle neighbors to the north would be alone in getting the above limited edition Xbox 360 bundle which, while still $300, manages to throw enough free stuff in there that we're actively considering a pricey Canadian road trip –-- we'd practically lose money if we didn't buy it! Your $300 nets you a 250GB Xbox 360 S console, and full game downloads of Halo 3, Gears of War 2, Fable 3, Halo Wars, and the excellent Alan Wake. And, beginning today, it's available at Canadian retailers like Future Shop and Best Buy. It's not a price cut, but who needs cash off when you could get that much free stuff? [Thanks, MakoXL.]

Call of Duty and Battlefield 3 at gamescom 2011

This website requires Flash Player 7 or higher. It looks like you do not have this installed. Visit the Adobe website to download the latest version of player.. JavaScript needs to be enabled on your PC in order for you to view this content. Please enable JavaScript and try again. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 are gunning for glory on PS3 – find out why these first person shooters should be on your hit list. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Lock and load - Activision's juggernaut series is ready to unleash another volley of top drawer first person shooter action on PlayStation 3. Modern Warfare 3 is a blistering blast of military combat, bringing back Call of Duty heroes Captain John MacTavish (also known as Soap) and former SAS Captain John Price. Their duty? To help fend off the Russian Federation's expanded plans to invade parts of Europe. This sees you taking on missions across England, France and Germany, as well locales such as Moscow and Dubai.  Appropriate for a game about special forces, much of Modern Warfare 3 has been kept under wraps in the build-up to its November 2011 release. However, the globetrotting title will feature a massive online multiplayer mode via PlayStation Network so you can take your friends to task in some hotly contested gunplay. There will also be a Survival Mode where up to two players have to see off endless waves of hostiles hell-bent on hunting them down. Playable at gamescom 2011, Survival Mode is a slick and fast paced affair, where your wits are just as important as your weapons.   Making the experience even better is Call of Duty Elite, an online subscription based social service where you can track an overwhelming batch of statistics and information based on your performance and habits in the game. Whether you want to check out your personal stats across all the Call of Duty titles, view exclusive strategy videos or create a clan based on anything you want, Call of Duty Elite enriches your Modern Warfare 3 experience. Battlefield 3 Action-packed, fast and brutally intense. This is Battlefield 3, exploding onto PS3 in October 2011 with an incredible display of military warfare. The EA Digital Illusions CE title has been turning heads for a while, gathering a hugely positive response at gamescom 2011, and it's easy to see why. Big cities, sprawling deserts and even the skies - nowhere is safe from Battlefield 3's gaze, which initially drops you into a tense conflict set near the Iraq-Iran border. The US Marine Corps is fighting the People's Liberation and Resistance and the situation has escalated into a deadly firefight.  Which means you're deep in a conflict which has you battling on foot and in land, sea and air vehicles, making this truly a war across all fronts. What's sure to keep you moving are the destructible environments, where bullets can reduce cover to pebbles if put under sustained fire. The involving single player mode isn't the only thing Battlefield 3 aims to excel at. There's also a massive online multiplayer mode for up to 24 players, where you can choose one of four classes - Assault, Support, Engineer and Recon - and fight it out with friends. There's also an online based co-operative mode, revealed at gamescom 2011, where you and a partner can tackle a lengthy campaign together. Battlefield 3's producer, Patrick Liu, was on hand to offer a few early pointers on how to make sure your experience with a friend in the war zone isn't your last. "Stealth is essential at times," explains Liu, "and if you see two enemies together, try to communicate with your partner and take them down simultaneously. Also, be sure to look out for cameras in some levels, as being spotted will result in you being swarmed." Rounding off the fun is Battlelog, a free social network for Battlefield 3. "It's made to make social connections easier," says Liu, "because you can put together a squad and collect all your buddies in one place to see what they're doing all the time, in real time." Unlockables, statistics and even some healthy banter between friends are all accessible from the Battlelog. "It's an integral part of the Battlefield experience - and it's free, as part of the game." So, are you ready for an unforgettable conflict? Battlefield 3 is shaping up to be one of 2011's biggest titles, and with its slick, well paced warfare it's certainly on track to be a favourite for first person shooter fans.  "It's our most ambitious game so far," says Liu. "We wanted to do something new in the genre - something fresh." It certainly looks like EA has achieved that with Battlefield 3. For more on these world beating first person shooters, keep reading eu.playstation.com as they get closer to launch.

Dungeon Defenders' Squire gets his hands dirty in new trailer

For someone who isn't even a real knight yet, the Squire in Dungeon Defenders sure can deal a lot of damage. The latest trailer shows off his skills, namely melee abilities and defensive turrets that dole out up close and personal pain.

Dungeon Defenders will hit PC, XBLA and PSN this October.

Applause for PlayStation at gamescom 2011

This website requires Flash Player 7 or higher. It looks like you do not have this installed. Visit the Adobe website to download the latest version of player.. JavaScript needs to be enabled on your PC in order for you to view this content. Please enable JavaScript and try again. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe brought the big guns of entertainment to gamescom 2011 for PS3 and PS Vita. In its media briefing on 16 August 2011, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe unleashed a world of innovation and entertainment at the lavish Gurzenich Köln, in the centre of Cologne, Germany. Kicked off by a dynamic video showing off the exciting titles such as Batman: Arkham City, Resistance 3 and Journey, SCEE president Andrew House took to the stage to start our discovery on the now, the new and the next of PlayStation. "Today PlayStation is stronger than ever, as an innovator and entertainment provider," stated House. The PlayStation family is growing stronger thanks to the arrival of PlayStation Vita in 2012 and this innovative journey is only going to become even better. With House soon to become President and Group CEO Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., it was appropriate that he handed over to the next president and chief executive officer of SCEE, Jim Ryan. And with all eyes on PS Vita, Ryan promised the constantly evolving system would deliver extraordinary gaming experiences thanks to its amazing array of features. "PlayStation is about games and PS Vita is a state of the art portable device with games at its heart," smiled the next president and chief executive officer of SCEE. The awaiting audience showed visible excitement as a demonstration of first person shooter Resistance: Burning Skies displayed the benefits of having dual analog sticks, with touch controls to use certain weapons. It's a true portable shooter, with no compromises. A presentation of creative platformer LittleBigPlanet on PS Vita also drew appreciation from the attendees thanks to its showcase of how easy it is to build levels and creatures in the game using the system's front and rear camera to capture images of the world around us. Sticking with the use of such brilliant features, beat 'em up Reality Fighters demonstrated the PS Vita cameras in an hilariously different way - by capturing the images of both House and Ryan to have them duke it out to the backdrop of a fighting arena. The hammer wielding House took the Reality Fighters title, and the game proved another hit ready to step into the ring of gaming experiences found on PS Vita. Surprising the showgoers was the unveiling of Escape Plan, a rather different type of PS Vita game. Controlling Laarg and Lil, Escape Plan challenges you to help this hapless duo find their way out of a fortress of deathtraps. Darkly humorous, Escape Plan was greeted with a very positive response by the gathered journalists seeing it for the first time. Third party support for PS Vita wasn't slacking either, with a large selection of titles in the pipeline, including a colossal six games to come from Ubisoft, such as a new Assassin's Creed with a fresh storyline and characters. Even with PS Vita shining, PSP wasn't left out of the spotlight. Over 71 million units have found their way into homes worldwide, and Ryan revealed a new model, the PSP E-1000, to introduce even more people to its pocket sized delights. At a wallet friendly 99 euros and backed by the budget PSP Essentials range, this announcement gathered one of the biggest gasps and cheers from the audience. As Ryan said: "Portable gaming has never been so accessible - and our commitment to the handheld market has never been stronger." PlayStation 3 grabbed a piece of the action as well, with the PlayStation Move motion controller going from strength to strength. Over 8.8 millions units of PS Move have been sold worldwide, and that's only set to continue as games such as EA SPORTS FIFA 13, Resistance 3 and the LittleBigPlanet 2 Move pack engage players everywhere. A surprise for PS Move fans was also in store with the announcement of Move Fitness, offering exercise and fun personal training with the motion controller, and DanceStar Party, an arrival accompanied by British dance group Diversity. The dynamic crew tore up the stage with a fresh set that started with PS Move motion controllers in-hand before launching into an explosive routine. With the breathless display of dancing over, it was left to Ryan to stun us with a few last announcements. Downloadable from PlayStation Store in late 2011, inFamous 2: Festival of Blood on PS3 brings you back to the tragic city of New Marais where vampires have taken over. The superpowered Cole McGrath only has one day to save his people and himself from the deadly vampires' bite. With all this great value excitement, it was fitting that Andrew House closed off the conference with the announcement that PS3 would receive a price drop to 249 euros. "The best quality entertainment experience, and an accessible price," stated House - and it seemed after a staggering show of great entertainment, no one at the conference would fail to agree.

New games coming to PlayStation

This website requires Flash Player 7 or higher. It looks like you do not have this installed. Visit the Adobe website to download the latest version of player.. JavaScript needs to be enabled on your PC in order for you to view this content. Please enable JavaScript and try again. Want to discover a fresh series to get your pulse racing? Take a peek at some of the brilliant PlayStation 3 and PSP games that are outside the usual mould. With so many exciting titles hitting PlayStation 3 and PSP in 2012, you'd be forgiven for losing track. Never fear - eu.playstation.com is on-hand to highlight some of the most enticing new series due in late 2011 and during 2012. XCOM - PS3 Alien warfare just became even more intense. Step into the war-torn shoes of FBI agent William Carter who is battling an extraterrestrial threat determined to bring humanity to its knees. The latest instalment of a much-loved and respected strategy series, XCOM is a tactical first person shooter which promises deep, thrilling action where your choices dynamically affect the gameplay. The Mystery Team - PSP Ready for a good old-fashioned mystery? Well you're in luck - The Mystery Team is recruiting! Using your PSP, you can become a fearless reporter on an adventure across Europe where you uncover clues, solve brain-teasing puzzles and question witnesses to crack the cases.  Hitman Absolution - PS3 Okay, so this isn't entirely new to PlayStation - budding assassins have been waiting for this since Hitman: Blood Money way back in 2006 on PlayStation 2. However, Hitman Absolution brings the cold-blooded Agent 47 bang up to date to revamp the series. This time the hunter has become the hunted, and now this deadly assassin must unearth the truth of a dark conspiracy. Set up elaborate traps and stretch your stealth skills to the limit. Dragon's Dogma - PS3 The creators of survival horror classic, Resident Evil 4, are developing an action role-playing game to stun the globe once more. Dragon's Dogma opens up a fantasy world where you have the freedom to explore its mysteries. Goblins, griffins and dragons await you in an epic adventure of swords and sorcery. Geronimo Stilton and The Kingdom of Fantasy The Videogame - PSP The hit children's books become a video game on PSP - join intrepid editor and reporter Geronimo Stilton on a colourful quest through the Kingdom of Fantasy. Action-packed challenges and brain-teasing puzzles are the order of the day, designed to entertain children and parents alike.  Asura's Wrath - PS3 With relentless action, planetary sized bosses and a story which fuses Asian mythology with sci-fi, Asura's Wrath is already a game which is sure to stick within memory. Taking the episodic form of a TV drama series, this blistering action beat 'em up even has you controlling main character Asura during its cinematic cutscenes. Overstrike - PS3 Want to know what Resistance and Ratchet & Clank developer Insomniac has up its sleeve? Overstrike is the answer. Offering four player co-operative action, you and three friends control a team of elite agents called Overstrike 9. Their aim? To bring down a global terrorist group trying to destroy mankind. Teamwork is the key to Overstrike - can you master their high-tech gadgets and impressive weapons to succeed? Metro: Last Light - PS3 Survival horror and first person shooter gameplay meet head-on in Metro: Last Light. Prepare yourself for post-apocalyptic warfare in the ruins of Moscow, where horrific mutants hunt the remnants of mankind. As Artyom, you are the shining light of hope against this savage foe. Ready yourself for a sprawling dose of stealth and combat in humanity's darkest hour. Tomb Raider - PS3 Like Hitman, PlayStation fans will be no strangers to the Tomb Raider titles. Although this is Lara Croft like you've never seen her before - rebooting the world-beating series and throwing you into the daring boots of a 21-year-old Croft who has been stranded on an island. Wounded and lost, the relic hunting rookie must scavenge for food, water and tools to survive. Intense action and puzzle solving will feature heavily in the gameplay which will shine a new light on the Tomb Raider series. Amy - PS3 Exclusive to PlayStation Store, Amy is a survival horror which will send a shiver down your spine. It's your job to escort a strange eight-year-old girl called Amy out of a disease-ridden city overrun by gruesome creatures. Poor Amy can only communicate by expressions and gestures, so you'll need to keep an eye on her at all times if you wish to survive. Scared yet? You will be... Prey 2 - PS3 Sequel to the hit 2006 game on PC, Prey 2 tasks you to hunt down rogue alien criminals on the planet Exodus. Shame you can't remember who you are. Playing as amnesiac bounty hunter Killian Samuels, this is a futuristic first person shooter where an open, alien world is your playground. Happy hunting.  Make sure you get all the latest on these and many other new titles coming to PlayStation at eu.playstation.com and blog.eu.playstation.com.

Epic releases Gears of War 3 opening cinematic for some reason

Epic Games picked the completely random day of this Friday to release the opening cinematic for Gears of War 3 , which you can view above. The video provides a smooth rundown of Gears of War lore while setting up the seaside skirmishes and Lambent clashes that apparently must be viewed now, during this completely irrelevant weekend.

Watch Anya polish her weapon above, and please try to contain your excitement. Oh, and Gears of War 3 officially went gold on Friday.

Games come to life at gamescom 2011

This website requires Flash Player 7 or higher. It looks like you do not have this installed. Visit the Adobe website to download the latest version of player.. JavaScript needs to be enabled on your PC in order for you to view this content. Please enable JavaScript and try again. Check out our selection of pictures from the show floor at gamescom 2011. Following Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's press conference in Cologne, Germany, the world's publishers set up shop across three huge halls at the Kölnmesse to show off their upcoming games in style. With the opening day of gamescom 2011 reserved for trade and media only, this was the perfect opportunity for the game makers to make sure everything was just right - and judging by these pictures the fans are going to have plenty to keep them busy once the fun starts in earnest. At the Sony Computer Entertainment stand which dominated Hall 7, there was a distinct beach theme under the banner of "Let's PlayStation", and the jewel in the crown was undoubtedly a full size Audi R8 sportscar equipped with hydraulics for the ultimate Gran Turismo 5 experience. Next door in Hall 6, Electronic Arts had also managed to wheel in some impressive hardware, with a fighter jet promoting Battlefield 3 providing the perfect photo opportunity and a trio of hot cars drawing the crowds in to take a closer look at Need For Speed The Run. Over by the main entrance in Hall 8, SEGA's gaming icon Sonic poked up above the crowds whilst Warner Bros. had recreated a corner of the game's setting for Batman: Arkham City. Take a look through our picture gallery to get a flavour of the show and make sure you keep an eye on eu.playstation.com and PlayStation.Blog at blog.eu.playstation.com for the latest on all the great games coming your way on PlayStation in the coming months.

Experience PS Vita at gamescom 2011

This website requires Flash Player 7 or higher. It looks like you do not have this installed. Visit the Adobe website to download the latest version of player.. JavaScript needs to be enabled on your PC in order for you to view this content. Please enable JavaScript and try again. Can't wait to get your hands on the future of portable gaming? Find out how you can enjoy PlayStation Vita sooner than you think. Stunning screen, dual analog sticks, innovative games and PlayStation Network compatibility - PlayStation Vita wraps up all these things and more into a portable package which has impressed everyone who has been lucky enough to play it. Due for an early 2012 release in Europe, PS Vita has all the hallmarks of revolutionising portable gaming - and you can get the chance to experience it at gamescom 2011 in Cologne, Germany. PlayStation Vita gets its first public bow at Europe's biggest video game show from 17 August 2011, when gamescom 2011 opens its doors to the masses. By rushing over to the PlayStation stand you'll get the opportunity to play on PlayStation Vita and boast about it to your friends - and you may even get the chance to meet us on the show floor and reveal what you thought of this incredible machine. It's a brilliant opportunity to experience games such as WipEout 2048, ModNation Racers, Reality Fighters, Uncharted Golden Abyss and other top titles before anyone else. Just make sure you beat the crowds by getting there early to become one of the first people in the world to have a blast on PlayStation Vita. If you can't make it to gamescom 2011, don't worry. There are plenty of hassle-free ways to keep up to date with all the latest PS Vita news. Simply sign up to Inside PS Vita by heading over to eu.playstation.com/psvita and get all the latest info without lifting a finger. By signing up you'll also be treated to a free and exclusive Little Deviants theme to download to your PlayStation 3 or PSP from PlayStation Store on 12 August 2011. When you sign up to Inside PS Vita, we'll email a voucher code to your inbox so you can download the theme when it becomes available. It's the perfect way to get a little taste of PS Vita fun. For more on the portable system that everyone is talking about, keep reading eu.playstation.com where you'll be able to check out all the PS Vita news from gamescom 2011 and beyond.

Sackboy is on the Move

This website requires Flash Player 7 or higher. It looks like you do not have this installed. Visit the Adobe website to download the latest version of player.. JavaScript needs to be enabled on your PC in order for you to view this content. Please enable JavaScript and try again. Give your creativity a huge boost with the LittleBigPlanet 2 Move pack. LittleBigPlanet 2 is set to receive its most extensive downloadable content yet for PlayStation 3, with the LittleBigPlanet 2 Move pack offering something for everyone when it hits PlayStation Store later in 2011. Featuring full PlayStation Move motion controller support and a host of special new levels, tools and gadgets, your imagination will be sent into overdrive. In Play mode, loveable hero Sackboy finds his homeland of Craftworld under attack by a new and sinister adversary: the mysterious Cakeling. The answer to this new threat is at hand – or rather, at head – in the form of the Brain Crane gadget, which lets you harness the power of Sackboy's mind to lift and move heavy objects around the screen. Developer Media Molecule has created six story levels starring the shadowy Cakeling, along with seven brand new side missions. Full PS Move compatibility features throughout. Create mode, meanwhile, features an enormous suite of costumes, tools, power-ups, themes and unique materials, enabling you to design and build all new levels and mini-games to share with the LittleBigPlanet community via PlayStation Network. Thanks to the flexibility of PS Move, you'll be able to devise an unlimited number of sparkling ideas. With new tools such as the Movinator – which lets you build and tweak levels using your PS Move motion controller – and the colourful possibilities offered by Move Paint, the already broad horizons of LittleBigPlanet 2 will be expanded even more. Throw new music tracks and sound effects, a motion recorder with lets you save patterns "drawn" with your PS Move motion controller and additional trophy support into the mix, and you'll have a full lightning storm of inspiration to pump into your next creations. Look out for much more on the LittleBigPlanet 2 Move pack and the thrilling possibilities it offers on PS3 by checking eu.playstation.com, and PlayStation.Blog at blog.eu.playstation.com. To get your creative juices flowing, why not see what the LittleBigPlanet community has created so far at littlebigplanet.com?

Eight great gaming series that became movies

This website requires Flash Player 7 or higher. It looks like you do not have this installed. Visit the Adobe website to download the latest version of player.. JavaScript needs to be enabled on your PC in order for you to view this content. Please enable JavaScript and try again. Delve into the world of Hollywood's obsession with our favourite games. Loosen up your thumbs, grab your wireless controller, ready your Blu-ray Disc Remote Control and feast your eyes on some of the best games that made the triumphant leap from PlayStation classic to big screen blockbuster. STREET FIGHTER Capcom's astronomically popular Street Fighter series has Dragon Punched its way to the silver screen not once, but twice with 1994's Jean-Claude Van Damme starrer, Street Fighter, and again in 2009 with Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li. The series that helped put feuding fighters Ryu and Ken on the map has also been the subject of a number of anime movies including Street Fighter Alpha: The Movie and Street Fighter IV: The Ties That Bind. Check them out on Blu-ray Disc and DVD today. RESIDENT EVIL Resident Evil is the second Capcom series to make it into our list thanks to an eerie mansion full of films that started out with Paul W.S. Anderson's 2002 terror trip, Resident Evil. While the game series is famous for turning the walking dead into superstars, Anderson's films have transformed its leading lady, Milla Jovovich, into one of the biggest female action stars in cinema. Check out Jovovich's latest high-kicking adventure, Resident Evil: Afterlife, in stunning stereoscopic 3D on Blu-ray Disc now. PRINCE OF PERSIA Jordan Mechner's sprawling PlayStation 2 epic, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time exploded onto screens in 2010 with a superstar cast including Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Kingsley and former Bond girl, Gemma Arterton. The first in a planned trilogy, the film closely follows the storyline of the critically acclaimed game that has been recently re-released in glorious High Definition and stereoscopic 3D on PlayStation 3. Pick up a copy of the film on Blu-ray Disc and then download the classic game from PlayStation Store. RED FACTION THQ's sci-fi action adventure, Red Faction: Armageddon on PlayStation 3 found itself as the driving force behind a two hour long TV movie on the SyFy channel in 2011 called Red Faction: Origins. The film, starring Terminator 2's Robert Patrick, serves as a bridge between 2009's Red Faction: Guerrilla and Red Faction: Armageddon, delving into the backstories of both games' main characters and how they connect the PlayStation series together. TEKKEN TEKKEN is another famous PlayStation brawler that's made the successful transition from game screen to big screen over the years. 2010's live action beat 'em up, TEKKEN was followed by the recently revealed TEKKEN Blood Vengeance. This latest iteration is a CGI movie that you'll be able to get your hands on exclusively with TEKKEN Hybrid on PlayStation 3. The exclusive release features the film plus TEKKEN Tag Tournament and TEKKEN Tag Tournament 2 Prologue all on one Blu-ray Disc and in eye-popping stereoscopic 3D. Pre-order your copy today. MORTAL KOMBAT The bloodiest beat 'em up on PlayStation has battled its way to the screen not once, but twice and conquered the small screen with its own TV show, a cartoon and, more recently, a live action web series called Mortal Kombat: Legacy. The original 1995 movie, directed by Resident Evil's Paul W.S. Anderson, earned over 100 million dollars and held the number one spot in the United States for three weeks at the time of its release. Check out both Mortal Kombat and its sequel, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation on Blu-ray Disc to see how Ed Boon's world was brought to life for film fans. TOMB RAIDER Lara Croft's adventures have been the subject of a temple full of PlayStation classics since the days of PS one. Her first big screen outing came in 2001 starring megastar Angelina Jolie as gaming's greatest virtual heroine. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider remained the highest grossing video game to film adaptation until June 2010, when it was surpassed by Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. A sequel, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, followed suit in 2003 alongside the release of Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness on PlayStation 2. SILENT HILL Konami's haunting PlayStation series has terrified gamers for years, so it's hardly surprising that Hollywood came calling in 2006, borrowing elements from the first three games in the long running spooky saga. Written by Pulp Fiction co-writer, Roger Avary, and directed by the famous French director, Christophe Gans, Silent Hill brought the horrors of the town's dark secrets to life like never before. If you think you've got the nerve to make it through the director's descent into the depths of Silent Hill, pick up a copy on Blu-ray Disc today. Check out eu.playstation.com/ps3/movies/ for more great Blu-ray Discs available now.

PSA: Bethesda reports possible security breach, changed your password

Hackers may have infiltrated the Bethesda forum database Friday morning, causing Bethesda to reset all user passwords. Forum user passwords were encrypted and Bethesda has not confirmed any information was taken, but is taking this precaution regardless.

If you have an account on the forums, Bethesda recommends changing your password to something more secure than the name of your first dog and favorite number (Bubbles69) on all sites you have an account with. This is Bethesda's second hacker scare since June, so if you didn't change your information then, you might want to do it this time. Fool me once, and all that. [Thanks, Kevin!]

Amazing films at discounted prices all summer

This website requires Flash Player 7 or higher. It looks like you do not have this installed. Visit the Adobe website to download the latest version of player.. JavaScript needs to be enabled on your PC in order for you to view this content. Please enable JavaScript and try again. Enjoy amazing offers from the Video Store of PlayStation Store. Now you can feast your eyes on loads of great films at fantastic prices, courtesy of the Video Store of PlayStation Store on PlayStation 3 and PSP. We've teamed up with some of the world's biggest studios to offer you a fantastic range of films in an amazing sale. So whether you love comedy, action or romance, there'll be plenty of great titles to keep you entertained all through summer. Some titles will be available to purchase and keep forever, while others will be available for rental so you'll have room for even more great films and content. Visit the Video Store of PlayStation Store today and check out the great selection of Disney films on offer.

Buy Minecraft this weekend, get Minecraft for free

Notch is getting married this weekend, and he's celebrating the, uh ... celebration of his love by giving free Minecraft to everyone ...

who buys a copy of Minecraft! Wait, let us explain. Everyone that purchases a copy of the game this weekend (not using a gift code), will receive a free gift code to give to whomever they want. Once you purchase a copy, the code will show up in your account on the Minecraft website. After all, nothing says love like giving someone an insidious addiction.

Just Dance 2 just broke 5 million copies sold in the US

Like some B celebrity reality show contestant, Just Dance 2 continues to tromp all over the competition. Nintendo has announced that Ubisoft's dance-along has sold more than five million copies on the Wii in the United States, making it one of only eight games to do so on the platform.

It also marks the only third party title to break five million on Wii – every other five-million-seller was published by Nintendo, namely Wii Play, Wii Fit, Wii Fit Plus, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Mario Kart Wii, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Wii Sports Resort. Also, when it comes to titles that have crossed the five million mark, Nintendo trumpets that the Wii is home to "twice as many as competing current-generation consoles combined." Nintendo claims the title sold 120,000 units in July, making it the third best-selling individual Wii SKU, though it remains the fifth best-selling title overall, according to NPD. Assuming Just Dance 2 keeps up with our celebrity dancing show analogy, we're sure it will eventually win us all over with its plucky charm.

Physics puzzler 'The Splatters' coming to XBLA in 2012, coming to PAX this month

Frankly, we always thought "the splatters" is something you really want to avoid on long car trips, but apparently The Splatters is a video game too. Based on the trailer, it appears the goal is to zip through stages, exploding bombs and causing as much bodily harm as possible to the gelatinous Splatters.

It, uh, looks neater than it sounds. Developed by SpikySnail, The Splatters is set to debut on Xbox Live Arcade next year. Lucky PAX Prime attendants, however, will have a chance to check it out later this month at Microsoft's booth (6301). The Splatters (XBLA)

Two packs of EDF: Insect Armageddon DLC now available

Killing bugs is like a marriage: If you wanna keep the spark alive, you've gotta add some variety. If you feel a distance growing between you and the insects of Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon , the new Death From Above!

Jet armor and Pounds of Pain! Battle armor weapon packs ($3 a piece, 15 weapons in each pack) may be just what you need to close the gap. With 30 new ways to say "I miss you," isn't it time you remind that special bug in your life that he/she/it is the only insectoid menace that's worthy of your bullets?

Top Tips: inFamous 2

This website requires Flash Player 7 or higher. It looks like you do not have this installed. Visit the Adobe website to download the latest version of player.. JavaScript needs to be enabled on your PC in order for you to view this content. Please enable JavaScript and try again. Master the creative tools of this electric adventure thanks to hints and advice from developer Sucker Punch. Save the world or destroy it – or create it, thanks to the expansive User-Generated Content mode of inFamous 2. You can devise unique missions on PlayStation 3 and upload them via PlayStation Network to add to the ever-evolving flow of new challenges for the inFamous 2 community. Bombard the city of New Marais with exploding disco balls, create ice sculptures taller than any building or beat enemies into submission with a succession of terrible jokes. There's something to satisfy even the most surreal imagination. Here, we pick three of the best nuggets of insider, do-it-yourself knowledge from the people who know best – the developers at inFamous 2 studio Sucker Punch. Trigger happy gaming  Random events occurring in your creations can be kicked off by using special triggers. These make your missions feel unpredictable and exciting, while also letting you fine-tune parameters such as climactic set pieces. So, you could take down and restrain an enemy without disrupting the mission, or you might want an object to explode when a mission ends. Triggers are crucial to keeping players on their toes. Bend logic to your will Learn about the mysteries of logic boxes, and make your missions some of the most dynamic and engaging around. Different combinations of logic boxes set the conditions for each mission – such as start and end points – and let you build up content layer by layer, forming a network that buzzes with your ideas. Keep track of the conditions you set using the Smart Text box in the bottom left of the screen. It updates automatically as you add logic boxes and acts as a dynamic summary of how your mission will play out.   Pick a path Influencing how a non-playable character (NPC) behaves in inFamous 2 is much easier than you might think. You simply need to choose an NPC and decide how he, she or it should behave. Set path points and create a mission script using the logic boxes, and you'll be able to introduce a target, an enemy or a sidekick to your scene. For real drama, why not create multiple characters and paths? Imagine creating a chase sequence in an assassination mission through heaving city streets, for instance. It'd be tense, but with careful planning you could make the crowd part at just the right moment to provide the player with a clear shot at the target.    Give your mind free rein in New Marais. Discover a host of essential tips by visiting PlayStation.Blog at blog.eu.playstation.com, where you'll find a series of User-Generated Content tutorial videos from Sucker Punch.

Dishonored screens may light your fire, definitely light a guy on fire

Dishonored , the latest game from the crew at Arkane, and the first to be published by its new corporate overlords at Bethesda, still has that new game smell. Take this screenshot above, for example: Did you realize that this "retro-futuristic" world, based on 1666 London and powered by whale oil, had leggy robot flamethrowers?

Strange, that new game smells kinda smells like burning. Dishonored (QuakeCon 2011)

First PS3 jailbreak raid in South Africa arrests one man, confiscates his kits

Officials in Johannesburg, South Africa conducted the world's first "PS3 circumvention raid" at a residential property in Parktown, confiscating $14,000 (R100,000) worth of computers, PS3s, hard drives, jailbreak software and USB kits, along with "fake" PS2 games and original PS3 games. One man was taken into custody at the Specialized Commercial Crimes Court but made bail, and is expected in court September 29.

... Just to be sure, has anyone seen our own South African friend Luddy in the past few days?

The Stanley Parable is a thoughtful Half-Life 2 mod

"Cakebread," the creator of Half-Life 2 mod "The Stanley Parable," says the less you know about his experimental, story-driven game the better, and we're going to adhere to the spirit of that. Besides, if the trailer above doesn't make you want to play it, nothing we're going to say will help.

Joystiq auditions for The Tester Season 3

Much to the delight of Hal Sparks and unemployed Q-list celebrities across the globe, Sony's semi-reality show, The Tester, is returning for a third season. This year, contestants will vie for a production job at Santa Monica Studios.

Rather than make snide comments from the shadows, your buddies at Joystiq are putting it all on the line and auditioning for the shows themselves. See our audition tapes after the break and wish us luck!

From Dust breathes life into XBLA activity charts, followed by Bastion

With a little help from the Summer of Arcade promotion, not to mention the involvement of gaming industry legend Eric Chahi, Xbox Live Arcade's From Dust managed to top Major Nelson's XBLA activity charts during its release week, followed by the previous week's offering, Bastion. It's so nice of them to fall in line like that!

Like a bunch of obedient ducks, who are also downloadable video games. As is usually the case with the activity charts, we don't know exactly how many full purchases From Dust managed to pull in. We can't be the only ones that enjoy destroying the whole world with a thousand natural disasters at once.