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PlayStation Store Global Update – February 7, 2012

Louis Edwards — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:17:10 +0000

Each week Sony brings PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable owners new content, add-ons, games and more. PlayStation LifeStyle catalogs the PlayStation Store updates for the major regions across the globe. Check back every Tuesday and Wednesday to keep up to date with each week’s PlayStation Store Update.

** Note for other regions **

European PSN is updated on Wednesdays.

North American Update

PlayStation Plus Content

PSN Games:	The Simpsons Arcade Game
minis:	Hungry Giraffe Gold Medalist
PS one Classics:	Final Fantasy V
Early Access Demo:	The House Of The Dead III Exclusive Playstation Plus Demo
Media:	Qore Episode 45 – February
Full Game Trial:	Catherine

PSN Games

Jak 3 ($14.99)
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy ($14.99)
Jak II ($14.99)
Shank 2 ($9.99)
The Simpsons Arcade Game ($9.99) Free for PlayStation Plus Subscribers
Gotham City Impostors ($14.99)

PS3 Full Games

Jak and Daxter Collection ($39.99)
Top Spin 4 ($29.99)
LEGO Pirates Of The Caribbean ($39.99)
Catherine ($39.99)

Game Demos (Free)

Jimmie Johnson’s Anything With An Engine Demo
Cubixx HD Demo
Gotham City Impostors Demo

Add-on Game Content

UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception Add ons (x23) ($0.49 – $5.99 each)
Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3 - Weapon Expert Pack ($3.99)
Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning - Finesse Bonus Pack ($2.99)
Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning - Might Bonus Pack ($2.99)
Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning - Sorcery Bonus Pack ($2.99)
Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning House Of Valor (Online Pass Paid) ($9.99)
The King Of Fighters XIII Unlock Gallery ($2.99)
Final Fantasy XIII-‐2 – Noel’s Outfit: Battle Attire ($2.99)
Final Fantasy XIII-‐2 - Opponent: Lightning & Amodar ($2.99)
UFC Undisputed 3 -‐ Ultimate Fights Rivals Pack (Free)
UFC Undisputed 3 -‐ Ultimate Fights: Submission Pack (Free)
UFC Undisputed 3 Alistair Overeem ($0.99)
UFC Undisputed 3 Season Pass ($16.99)
Rocksmith – Black By Pearl Jam ($2.99)
Rocksmith – Jeremy By Pearl Jam ($2.99)
Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-‐7 - 5 Spell Pack ($1.99)

Rock Band 3

“Comedown” – Bush ($1.99)
“Diachylon” – Chaotrope ($1.99)
“Everything Zen” – Bush ($1.99)
“Foundation” – Unkindness ($1.99)
“Heavy Weather – The Storm ov The Undead” – Rainbowdragoneyes ($1.99)
“Machinehead” – Bush ($1.99)
“Real Wild Child” – Jerry Naylor ($1.99)
“Slaves to Substance” – Suicide Silence ($1.99)
Artist pack ($5.49) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game album: Bush Pack 01. This pack includes “Comedown”, “Everything Zen” and “Machinehead”. By Bush.

Updates

Blacklight: Tango Down (Price Change) (PS3) (now $4.99, original price $14.99)
Swarm (Price Change) (PS3) (now $4.99, original price $14.99)
Bloodrayne: Betrayal (Price Change) Sale (PS3) (now $9.99, original price $14.99)

Avatars

Carnival Island Avatar Bundle 2 ($1.49)
Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning Avatars Bundle ($2.99)
Kingdoms Of Amalur Avatars (x10) ($0.49)

Game Videos (free)

Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational Game Video
The Tester Season 3 Episode 1
Starhawk Press Reactions Trailer
Starhawk Public Beta Welcome Trailer
ModNation Racers: Road Trip Features Video
Journey Music Trailer
Warlords: How To Play Trailer Part 1
Warlords: How To Play Trailer Part 2
Need For Speed: The Run Italian Pack Trailer
SSX: This Is SSX Trailer
SSX: It’S Tricky Trailer
SSX: Survive It Trailer
Binary Domain Bigger Than You Think Trailer
Yakuza Dead Souls: Npc Trailer
UFC Undisputed 3 Career Trailer
UFC Undisputed 3 Contenders Pack Gameplay Trailer
Rayman Origins Meet The New Crazy Trailer
Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational Game Video
ModNation Racers: Road Trip Features Video
Wipeout 2048 Game Trailer

PS3 Themes

Hitman Absolution - Crossed – Hand Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning Premium Theme ($2.99)
Silent Hill 3 Premium Theme ($1.99)
Silent Hill 2 Premium Theme ($1.99)
Amazing Earth: Starry Night Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Abstract Color Swirls Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
In The Ring With Candice Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance Theme (Free)

PS3 Wallpapers (free)

Amy Wallpaper

PS2 Classics

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Movie ($9.99)

PlayStation Store for PSP

Videos

The Tester Season 3 Episode 1

Next Page: European Update »

Win a PlayStation Vita Bundle from PSLS and Play-Asia.com

Staff — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:37:47 +0000

The PlayStation Vita launch is only weeks away, but you could have your hands on one even sooner. That’s because PlayStation LifeStyle has teamed up with Play-Asia.com to give away a PlayStation Vita with a 4GB Memory Card, and a copy of Uncharted: Golden Abyss. Want to win? We know you do, so read on to find out how!

To qualify, you must be a US resident and a registered PlayStation LifeStyle user. Then all you have you have to do follow @pslifestyle and @playasia on Twitter, and retweet the following tweet on Twitter:

RT & follow both @PSlifestyle & @playasia to win a PS Vita Uncharted Bundle! http://goo.gl/GChoV #Vita #Superbowl

Each retweet is worth one entry into the giveaway, and you can retweet to enter up to five times each day, until Thursday, February 9th at 8:00PM EST. The big winner will be announced on Friday at Noon EST, and your grand prize will be mailed to you immediately!

You may also add one entry for ‘Like’-ing Play-Asia.com and PlayStation LifeStyle on Facebook, and another entry for commenting here.

Note: PlayStation Vita is the Asia Wi-Fi/3G model, which is region free and compatible with all PlayStation Vita games from other regions. Uncharted: Golden Abyss and 4GB Memory Card will be included in the bundle. For more information on the bundle, click here.

Don’t forget to visit Play-Asia.com for all of your import games, including import PS3, PSP and PlayStation Vita games, as well as Japanese PlayStation Network cards.

And The PSLS Fan Art Winner Is…

Sebastian Moss — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:20:34 +0000

After we whittled down the incredible number of fan art submissions to the top five best pieces, we let you decide who the winner was.

With an impressive 57% of the votes, Alexandre Morsilla’s Killzone art of a Helghast soldier with a smashed visor has officially won the PSLS fan art award:

Alexandre also wins $20 on PSN, congrats!

The competition may be over, but keep sending submissions to fanart@playstationlifestyle.net and they may be featured on the site.

PSLS Fan Art Top 5: Vote For The Best

Sebastian Moss — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:11:10 +0000

We received a huge number of submissions in the short time we ran the PSLS fan art competition, but five pieces rose above the rest, showing just how talented our community is. We couldn’t decide which was the best, so we’re giving you the chance to vote for the best.

Fan Art Top Five (in no particular order):

Alexandre Morsilla kicks the top five off with an incredible picture of a Helghast soldier that wouldn’t look out of place in a game concept art book:

Curtis Tiegs’ beautiful drawing of Kratos makes me wish for more GOW:

leo313rd sketches the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas box art as excitement for GTAV grows:

Edgar De La Vega draws an amazing range of different dragons from different games:

Wouter Tammes Buirs shows off his talents with his Heart of Darkness-inspired self-creation:

Which was your favorite? Vote now!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Voting closes tomorrow, winner gets the prestigious PSLS Fan Art award and $20 on PSN.

PlayStation Store Global Update – January 31, 2012

Louis Edwards — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:27:21 +0000

** Note for other regions **

European PSN is updated on Wednesdays.

North American Update

PlayStation Plus Content

Full Game Trial:	Madden NFL 12
Avatars:	Squirrel Avatar Tank Commander Avatar
Themes:	Abstract Art Dynamic Theme

PSN Games

Puddle ($9.99)

PS3 Full Games

Madden NFL 12 ($29.99)
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days ($19.99)
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men ($14.99)
Mini Ninjas ($19.99)

Game Demos (free)

Twisted Metal Multiplayer Demo
Syndicate Demo
Puddle Demo

Add-on Game Content

LittleBigPlanet Groundhog Day Costume (Free)
Assorted PlayStation Home Packs x 15 ($2.99 – $4.99)
Dead Island – Ryder White ($9.99)
Need For Speed: The Run – Italian Pack ($6.99)
The King Of Fighters XIII Unlock Icons ($2.99)
Soulcalibur V Customization Equipment 1 ($1.99)
Soulcalibur V Downloadable Music 1 -10 ($0.99 each)
Soulcalibur V Downloadable Music Pack 1 ($2.99)
Soulcalibur V Downloadable Music Pack 2 ($2.99)
Scene It? Movie Night Sci-Fi Movies DLC ($9.99)

Rock Band 3

“Fat Lip” – Sum 41 ($1.99)
“Head Over Heels” – Tears for Fears ($1.99)
“Still Waiting” – Sum 41 ($1.99)

Rock Band Network v2.0

“Africa” – Quartered ($1.99)
“Against the Wall” – Ill Niño ($1.99)
“El Monstro” – Dance for the Dying ($0.99)
“Hysteria” – Aiden ($1.99)
“Turn Around” – Bumblefoot ($0.99)

Updates

Mahjong Tales: Ancient Wisdom (Sale) (PS3) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)

Avatars

The Darkness II Avatars (x15) ($0.49 each)
The Darkness II Avatar Bundles (x3) ($1.49 each)
The King Of Fighters XIII Avatars (x9) ($0.49 each)
Atelier Totori Avatars (x9) ($0.49 each)
Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken Avatar Bundle 1 ($2.99)
Assassin’s Creed Universe Avatars (x5) ($0.49 each)
Assassin’s Creed: Revelations Avatars (x9) ($0.49 each)
Jak and Daxter Collection Dark Jak Avatar 2 ($0.49)
Jak and Daxter Collection Jak and Daxter Avatar 3 ($0.49)
PixelJunk Shooter (x6) ($0.49 each)
Jak and Daxter Collection Jak and Daxter Avatar 2 ($0.49)
Jak and Daxter Collection Dark Jak Avatar ($0.49)
Jak and Daxter Collection Jak and Daxter Avatar ($0.49)
Carnival Island Avatar Bundle 1 ($1.49)
PlayStation B-boy Avatar (x3) ($0.49 each)

Game Videos (free)

Pulse 1/31 Edition
Reality Fighters Features Trailer
Aliens: Colonial Marines Contact Trailer
The House Of The Dead III Announcement Trailer
UFC Undisputed 3 – Roster Video

PS3 Themes

The Darkness II: Official Theme (free)
Atlanta Hawks 2012 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Charlotte Bobcats 2012 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Cleveland Cavaliers 2012 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Denver Nuggets 2012 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Detroit Pistons 2012 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Golden State Warriors 2012 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Houston Rockets 2012 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Indiana Pacers 2012 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
LA Clippers 2012 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Memphis Grizzlies 2012 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Milwaukee Bucks 2012 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Minnesota Timberwolves 2012 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
New Jersey Nets 2012 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
New Orleans Hornets 2012 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Philadelphia 76ers 2012 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Portland Trailblazers 2012 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Sacramento Kings 2012 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Toronto Raptors 2012 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Utah Jazz 2012 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Washington Wizards 2012 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Digital Blasphemy: Hidden Forces ($2.99)
Dynamic Temple Temptress ($2.99)
Wendy Premium Theme 5 ($2.99)
Vampire 5 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Dragon 3 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Technicolour Yawn by Tom Sewell Static Theme ($1.99)

PlayStation Store for PSP

Downloadable Games

Naruto Shippuden: UN Impact ($39.99)

Game Videos (free)

Pulse 1/31 Edition

PSP Themes

Redbox PSP Theme ($1.99)
Death Dealer PSP theme ($1.99)
Dragon 4 PSP theme ($1.99)
Dragon 5 PSP theme ($1.99)

Next Page: European Update »

PSLS Community Fan Art Runners-Up

Sebastian Moss — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:14:34 +0000

When we launched the PSLS fan art competition less than a week ago, we were excited to see what would fill our inboxes. But even though we had high hopes, we were blown away by what you came up with, making the process of picking a winner nigh impossible. Tomorrow, we’ll be giving you the chance to vote for your favorite out of our top five pics, but until then you can take a look at the great art submissions that didn’t quite make it to the final showdown.

As a side note, the vote for the best staff artwork has come to a close, with a certain dragon slayer having taken the top spot. Yaay!

Fan Art Runners Up (in no particular order):

Curtis Tiegs starts off the list of art with a bang, with some beautiful Shadow of the Colossus artwork. Curtis’ second submission was even better in our eyes, and so will be shown in the final vote tomorrow.

Submitted by Tony Johnson, hand drawn by Ben Johnson, shows Ezio hiding in the shadows, his face obscured by the dark:

Tony Johnson also composed an ode to go with the drawing:

ODE TO EZIO
We’ve watched you grow from a boy into a man.
While sitting on a bench eavesdropping on the latest Templar plan.
You grew out your beard as you got older.
At the same time your assassinations got bolder.
First it was just a nobody, then it was the pope.
To all aspiring Assassins you were their beacon, their hope.
Oh Ezio, how many men died at your hands?
Hundreds and thousands, from many different lands.
Hooded man lurking in the shadow.
What will I use throwing knife or crossbow?
Swan dive into that pile of hay.
Or hide in it it keep enemies at bay.
Your killing was brutal and gory, each one filled with blood.
Off rooftops you threw people, to the ground, with a thud.
When someones on your tail, in a crowd you will blend.
We love you Ezio, you are a mentor and a friend
We will never forget you or your incredible life story.
Long live the great Ezio Auditore.

Using a pencil, asharpie and a little gold paint, Greg Leigott created this fantastic depiction of Kratos:

Andrew Papa, who is our Editor-In-Chief, Anthony Severino’s nephew, sent in this great rendition of Batman: Arkham City:

PSN user wtGp sketched Phoenix at her finest:

NhD Mohammed and a friend came up with a picture of a modern-day Desmond with a surprisingly realistic Assassin Car:

Tyler Merendino sketched Ezio, with pertinent quotes from the games:

Whitenoise244 played to my love of dragons:

Wouter Tammes Buirs drew a wonderfully detailed self-created character that was inspired by Heart of Darkness. Tomorrow, you’ll get to see an even more detailed, and even more amazing depiction of the character, as part of our top 5:

r3bel1 rocked some bright yellow shoes in Kingdom Hearts:

Joshua Paskins imagined what it would be like for Abobo to enter the Skyrim world:

OverChasm created two artworks, a close up of Seu-ee as well as a devilishly clever take on the Portal cake meme.

Dan Slagle “showed off his MS Paint Skills” in a picture about the difficulties of Dark Souls:

And last, but certainely not least, we received two truly remarkable drawings from Drew Blair, age 6 and Nolan Blair, age 10. The fantastic pieces show PlayStation characters at their best, both from PlayStation Move Heroes and Ratchet and Clank Tools of Destruction:

Thanks for all the terrific submissions! Be sure to tune in tomorrow to vote for the prize winner, but even though the competition is now over, feel free to send art to fanart@playstationlifestyle.net and it may still be featured on the site.

PSLS Gets Arty: Vote For The Best Staff Fan Art

Sebastian Moss — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:26:49 +0000

Earlier in the week, we launched the PSLS fan art competition, where you can send in your best art to win $20 on PSN, and be featured on the site. We also announced that we were going to take part and try our own hand at being arty, and have all tried to make the best fan art we could. To add a competitive element, you will be able to pick your favorite below, with the winner getting a cake.

Check out all the images here, and vote at the bottom.

Anthony Severino, Editor-in-Chief:

Sebastian Moss, Managing Editor:

Cameron Teague, PR Manager:

Josh Fernandes, Podcast Producer, TwitchTV host:

Heath Hindman, PSLS Senior Editor:

Alex Osborn, PSLS Daytime News Writer:

Nick Michetti, PSLS Daytime News Writer:

Paulmichael Contreras, Podcast host, PSLS staff writer:

Dan Oravasaari, PSLS staff writer:

Kevin Chang, PSLS YouTube Manager:

Louis Edwards, PSLS staff writer:

Did any of the art pieces catch your eye? Which was your favorite? Vote now!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Remember, there’s still time to enter the community fan art competition, so send over your art to fanart@playstationlifestyle.net!

PSLS’ Fan Art Competition: Win $20 on PSN!

Sebastian Moss — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:06:21 +0000

We here at PlayStation LifeStyle love fan art, so when we saw users on our forum suggesting we feature readers’ fan art on the site, we just couldn’t resist bringing fan art to PSLS. Plus, to launch the new fan art email we’re giving away $20 on PSN to one lucky entrant.

To enter, all you have to do is send a picture of the art to fanart@playstationlifestyle.net with before midday EST on Monday 30th. Even after the competition is over, art sent in may be featured on the site, and submissions may earn prizes.

Some rules:

Any style or type of art goes – drawings, photoshops, play-doh creations etc
Don’t include inappropriate content – sexism, racism, crudely explicit images etc
Only send images you made, or have permission of the content owner
The higher resolution the better (within reason)
Use recognized common file formats we can actually open
A maximum of two entries per person. If you have more pics, save them until after the competition and then send them to us.

Of the entrants we get before midday EST on Monday 30th, one submission will win a code for $20 on the US PSN, but don’t worry, you don’t need to be this generation’s Michelangelo to win. The art will be judged not only on how well drawn/made it is, but also humor, message and uniqueness. That means a stick man submission could win if it excels in other areas, so don’t count yourself out of the race if you’re not naturally artistic.

And if you don’t win, your entry will still be featured on the site! In the email be sure to let us know what name, PSLS username or online tag you want to go by.

In addition, the PSLS staff will all be trying our hands at fan art and will be showing off our efforts this Friday. Here’s a sneak peek of what to expect showing my increasing love of dragons (click for full screen):

Thanks to the internet for teaching me how to draw a dragon.

Good luck! We can’t wait to see what you come up with.

PlayStation Store Global Update – January 24, 2012

Louis Edwards — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:02:32 +0000

** Note for other regions **

European PSN is updated on Wednesdays.

North American Update

PlayStation Plus Content

Full Game Trials:	Mortal Kombat Full Game Trial
Avatars and Themes:	Assassin’s Creed Revelations Dynamic Theme Hitman: Absolution – Crossed Hands Dynamic Theme
Beta:	Starhawk Beta Central Website Access
Discounts:	Capcom Super Pack- 75% off, Plus Price: $12.50

PSN Games

Scarygirl ($9.99)

PS3 Full Games

Duke Nukem Forever ($19.99)
Mortal Kombat ($49.99)

Game Demos (free)

PixelJunk SideScroller Demo
The Darkness II: Demo
Scarygirl Demo
UFC Undisputed 3 Demo

Beta

Gotham City Imposters Beta

Add-on Game Content

LittleBigPlanet 2 Muppets Premium Level Kit ($5.99)
Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3 – Animal Pack ($3.99)
The King Of Fighters XIII Unlock Customize Colors ($2.99)
Elevator Action Deluxe Additional Character 4 (PSN Exclusive) (FREE)
Dynasty Warriors 7 Xtreme Legends – Wallpapers 1 – 4 ($2.99 each)
Assassin’s Creed Revelations – Mediterranean Map Pack ($9.99)
Assassin’s Creed Revelations – Mediterranean Map Pack Trial (DLC Trial) (FREE)
Magic 2012 Foil Conversion Beknighted ($0.99)
Magic 2012 Foil Conversion Trinity Of Elements ($0.99)
Magic 2012 Full Deck Beknighted ($0.99)
Magic 2012 Full Deck Trinity Of Elements ($0.99)

Rock Band 3

“Lodi” – Creedence Clearwater Revival ($1.99)
“Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” – Creedence Clearwater Revival ($1.99)
“Susie Q” – Creedence Clearwater Revival ($1.99)
“Without Morals” – Nevermore ($1.99)
“Last Chance” – Tetrafusion ($1.99)
“Now or Never” – Stagehands ($0.99)
“Strangers” – Free Spirit ($1.99)
“Be Right Here” – Mind At Risk ($0.99)
Creedence Clearwater Revival Pack 02 ($5.49) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game album: Creedence Clearwater Revival Pack 02. This pack includes “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?,” “Lodi,” and “Susie Q” by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Updates

Revoltin’ Youth (Price Change) (minis) (now $0.99, original price $1.99)
Mad Blocker Alpha (Price Change) (minis) (now $2.99, original price $3.99)
Ninjamurai (Price Change) (minis) (now $2.99, original price $1.99)

Qore

Qore Episode 44: January, 2012

Game Videos (free)

EA Sports FIFA PS Vita Soccer First Action Trailer
Battlefield 3 99 Problems Trailer
Battlefield 3 Sharqui Penninsula Trailer
Wipeout 2048 Game Trailer
Grand Slam Tennis 2 – Wimbledon Venue Trailer
Hitman Absolution – ‘A Personal Contract’ Trailer
Motionsports: Adrenaline Urban Jungle Add-On – Trailer
Everybody Dance Launch Trailer

PS3 Themes

Scarface Theme ($1.99)
Gimp Galaxy Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Dazzle Eye Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Beyond Reality by SickSystems Theme ($1.99)
Buddhas by Hydro Static Theme ($1.99)
Cosmic Candy by Andrew McAttee Theme ($1.99)
Explosion by Craig Redman Theme ($1.99)
Hungry Eyes by Kristian Hammerstad Theme ($1.99)
Jagobah Systems by Mr Jago Theme ($1.99)
Le Theme by 123Klan Theme ($1.99)
Plant-Station by Serial Cut Theme ($1.99)

PlayStation Store for PSP

Bundle

Patapon and LocoRoco Dual Pack ($14.99)
MotorStorm & Twisted Metal Dual Pack ($14.99)

PSP minis

Bermuda Triangle ($2.99)
Gold Medalist ($2.99)
Stick Man Rescue ($3.99)

PSP Themes

A World Of Shapes PSP Theme ($1.49)
Happy Lovers Town PSP Theme ($1.49)
Play PSP Theme ($1.49)
Velvet Vs Mega PSP Theme ($1.49)

Next Page: European Update »

Insert Disc: New Year, New Games; What Are You Playing?

Heath Hindman — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:04:06 +0000

As expected, November and December brought furious sales both online and offline. In most Western cultures, the end of the year is a season of gift giving, which raises the question: hey, what did you get? What games have been rocking you so far in 2012?

There are three of us here at PlayStation LifeStyle that have Vitas, so we’ve been playing with our new toys. Been a blast so far; I’m picking up WipEout 2048 when it comes out this weekend and hope to bring you guys a timely review. I loved WipEout 3 on the original PlayStation and dabbled in WipeOut Pure for PSP, so I’m excited to see how the series evolves for Vita.

While on Christmas break, the Hindman household did some catching up. My wife and I picked up some games in our native language that we’ve been missing out on. We snagged PS3 versions of Portal 2, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and Mass Effect 2 (man what’s with all the 2′s?) for ourselves, and Pokemon Pearl for our younger students. Those kids go nuts when we let ‘em play some Pokemon after class.

The last thing on my plate recently, but only a few minutes here and there, has been the PSOne Classic version of Chrono Trigger. Talk about a great game practically ruined by wretched lag. Yuck.

Keep Yourself From Getting Banned in COD: Modern Warfare 3

Dan Oravasaari — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:47:52 +0000

Given the diversity of people around the globe playing games online you are bound the run into people who play by the rules, and those who don’t. Sadly the biggest issue in playing online is what happens when both of those groups meet. Activision has taken it upon themselves to stop the cheating that has been ruining their previous titles. This means that people who have been used to playing a game without any consequences are finally going to see repercussions for their actions. Given that the rules are about to change, read below to see if you are in danger of being banned.

As spelled out by Activision’s community manager fourzerotwo:

a. Boosting - Any player demonstrating ‘game abuse’ in the form of organizing cooperative or single game play for the purpose of gaining experience, prestige, score, weapon levels, icons, titles or other related in-game unlocks.
( i ) First Offense: With proper verification, user is banned for 48 hours and a stats reset.
(ii) Second Offense: With proper verification, user is banned for 48 hours and a stats reset, and a permanent ban from leaderboards.
(iii) Third Offense: With proper verification, user is perm banned.
b. Cheating - Any player demonstrating ‘game abuse’ in the form of unknown boosting, glitching, hacking or other related offenses for the purpose of gaining experience, prestige, score, weapon levels, icons, titles or other related in-game unlocks.
( i ) First Offense: With proper verification, user is banned for 48 hours and a stats reset.
(ii) Second Offense: With proper verification, user is banned for 48 hours and a stats reset, and a permanent ban from leaderboards.
(iii) Third Offense: With proper verification, user is perm banned.
c. Glitching - Any player demonstrating ‘game abuse’ in the form of organizing cooperative or single game play for the purpose of gaining experience, prestige, score, weapon levels, icons, titles or other related in-game unlocks. Examples: Exploiting map holes, the javelin glitch, and participating in modded lobbies
( i ) First Offense: With proper verification, user is banned for 48 hours and a stats reset.
(ii) Second Offense: With proper verification, user is banned for 48 hours and a stats reset, and a permanent ban from leaderboards.
(iii) Third Offense: With proper verification, user is perm banned.
d. Hacking - Any player demonstrating ‘game abuse’ in the form of modifying the executable or creating infected lobbies with or without the purpose of gaining experience, prestige, score, weapon levels, icons, titles or other related in-game unlocks.
( i ) First Offense: With proper verification, user is console banned.
e. Offensive_Behavior – Any player demonstrating in-game verbal abuse, harassing, or other related behavior deemed as universally unacceptable to other players.
( i ) First Offense: With proper verification, user is banned for 24 hours
f. Offensive_Gamertag – Any player demonstrating an offensive in-game gamer tag, to be decided as universally unacceptable to other players.
( i ) First Offense: With proper verification, user is reputation banned 5000. A reputation ban that exceeds a certain threshold can lead to bans from playing.

Given that is has taken this long for Activision to be more outspoken on what it will take to get banned do you think that people will be more likely to stop cheating. Let us know in the comments what your experience has been with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Have things improved since the previous titles or grown worse?

PlayStation Store Global Update – January 3, 2012

Louis Edwards — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:52:51 +0000

** Note for other regions **

European PSN is updated on Wednesdays.

North American Update

PlayStation Plus Content

Free PSN Games:	Back to the Future The Game – Full Series Sword & Soldiers
Free PS one Classics:	Syphon Filter Syphon Filter 2 Syphon Filter 3
Discounted PSN Games:	Rocket Knight – 50% off – 1/3 (PS+ Price $7.50)
Discounted PS3 Full Games:	Darksiders – 20% off – 1/3 (PS+ Price $15.99)
Full Game Trials:	Darksiders

PSN Games

TNT Racers + Trial ($9.99)
NFL Blitz ($14.99)

PS3 Full Games

Darksiders ($19.99)

Game Demos (free)

TNT Racers
Learning With The Pooyoos – Episode 2 Demo

Add-on Game Content

Resistance 3 The Legacy Grenade (free)
Resistance 3 SPRA Black Ops Skin (free)
Resistance 3 Infected Nathan Hale Skin and Taunt (free)
Champion Jockey – Music Pack 4 ($1.49)
Apples to Apples A Bushel of Fun ($2.99)
Rocksmith – Gold On The Ceiling By The Black Keys ($2.99)
Rocksmith – Just Got To Be By The Black Key ($2.99)
Rocksmith – Mind Eraser By The Black Keys ($2.99)
Rocksmith – The Black Keys Song Pack (Bundle) ($7.99)

Rock Band 3

“2112: Discovery, Presentation” – Rush ($1.99)
“2112: Oracle: The Dream, Soliloquy, Grand Finale” – Rush ($1.99)
“2112: Overture, The Temples of Syrinx” – Rush ($1.99)
“Billionaire” – Travie McCoy ($1.99)
“Boy” – Ra Ra Riot ($1.99)
“Can You Tell” – Ra Ra Riot ($1.99)
“Dawn of Spring” – Christopher J ($0.99)
“Found Me the Bomb” – Buckmer & Garcia ($0.99)
“Frankenstein Teaser Trailer” – Richard Campbell ($0.99)
“I Write Sins Not Tragedies” – Panic at the Disco ($1.99)
“Panic” – Sublime With Rome ($1.99)
“Pressure” – Paramore ($1.99)
“Revenants” – The Cold Goodnight ($0.99)
“Riptide Resort” – Freen in Green ($0.99)
“Rush ’2112″ – artist ($5.49)
“Stereo Hearts” – Gym Class Heroes (ft. Adam Levine) ($1.99)
“The End of Progress” – Mystakin ($0.99)
“The Thief in the Night – Part I” – Chaotrope ($0.99)
“The Way It Ends” – Prototype ($0.99)
“You Make Me Feel.” – Cobra Starship ($1.99)
Fueled By Ramen Pack 01 ($9.99) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game album: Fueled By Ramen Pack 01 . This pack includes “You Make Me Feel…”, “Stereo Hearts”, “I Write Sins Not Tragedies”, “Pressure”, “Panic”, and “Billionaire” by various artists.

Avatars

Just Dance 3 – Baby One More Time ($0.49)
Just Dance 3 – Barbra Streisand ($0.49)
Just Dance 3 – Da Funk ($0.49)
Just Dance 3 – I’m So Excited ($0.49)
Just Dance 3 – Kurio Ko Uddah Le Jana 2 ($0.49)
Just Dance 3 – Lollipop ($0.49)
Just Dance 3 – Master Blaster ($0.49)
Just Dance 3 – Party Rock Anthem ($0.49)
Just Dance 3 – Take On Me ($0.49)

Game Videos (free)

NBA 2K12 – Legends Showcase Launch Trailer
Battlefield 3 Back to Karkand Gameplay Premiere Trailer
EA SPORTS FIFA STREET Announcement Trailer
FIFA Street 4 Announce Trailer
Sonic CD Time Trailer
Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode II Announcement Trailer
Wwe ’12 Launch Trailer
Assassin’s Creed Embers Trailer

PS3 Themes

Metal Gear Solid 2 Art Theme ($1.99)
Metal Gear Solid 3 Art Theme ($1.99)
Mayan Temple Dynamic Theme ($1.99)

PlayStation Store for PSP

Bundle

Alien Havoc & Bubble Trubble Bundle ($3.99)

Hong Kong Store

PS Vita Demo

Gravity Daze

Next Page: European Update »

PlayStation Store Global Update – December 27, 2011

Louis Edwards — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:44:45 +0000

** Note for other regions **

European PSN is updated on Wednesdays.

North American Update

PlayStation Plus Content

Full Game Trials:

Carnival Island
MotorStorm Apocalypse

PSN Games

All Zombies Must Die (Move) ($9.99)
Oddworld: Strangers Wrath HD ($14.99)
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell HD ($14.99)
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory HD ($14.99)
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow HD ($14.99)

PS3 Full Games

Carnival Island ($39.99)
MotorStorm Apocalypse ($59.99)

Game Demos (free)

Carnival Island Demo

Add-on Game Content

MotorStorm Apocalypse New Year’s Livery (free)
Saints Row The Third: Warrior Pack ($2.99)

Game Videos (free)

PlayStation Home Platinum’D Episodes 1-3
PlayStation Home Platinum’D Episodes 4-6
PlayStation Home Platinum’D Episodes 7-10

PS3 Themes

Liverpool Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Real Madrid Dynamic Theme ($2.99)

PSone Classics

Klonoa: Door to Phantomile ($5.99)

Next Page: Japanese & Hong Kong Update »

Our Best Christmas Gaming Memories

Heath Hindman — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 15:00:20 +0000

December is the season of giving and receiving, and if you’re reading this website, you probably enjoy video games. Oh hey, so do we! In this feature, we at PlayStation LifeStyle share some of our favorite gaming-related Christmas memories.

Nick Michetti‘s memories were rekindled in recent years, thanks to a nostalgic re-release:

I remember my dad hooking up my Nintendo 64 to the television for the first time and letting the next-gen of Super Mario 64 sink in. To me, a gameplay experience like that was unbelievable. My last consoles before that were a SNES and a Genesis. Super Mario World had been my go-to game. The sheer moment of controlling Mario in a 3D space for the first time and throwing King Bob-Omb off of the top of the mountain in the first level was the stuff of future gaming legend. I would later reunite with Super Mario 64 in the form of the enhanced DS port, Super Mario 64 DS. Even though the d-pad replaced the analog stick, that game kept me coming back to my DS until I got to the final Bowser boss battle once again. I was playing the game on a different platform at a different time in my life (from being a little kid with an N64 to being in college with a DS), but all of the great memories came back once again.

Josh Fernandes is the king of Iron Fist Tournament. Or at least he was 15 years ago:

1996. I was 7 years old, and was at my cousins house who happened to be 12 at the time. My other cousins were there who happened to be 6, 9, and 11 years old. We all sat in the back room playing Tekken 2 in what I can only describe as the greatest Tekken tournament of all time…or at least it felt that way. We shouted every time time someone landed a hit and somehow it never got old. If someone managed to mash the right combination of buttons to pull off a special move, then the room practically exploded. I slept well that night.

Cameron Teague‘s parents unwittingly introduced him to the Ultima-te gateway drug:

There have been so many good Christmases over the year for me when it comes to video games, so it’s kind of hard to pick just one to tell. I will go with the tale of a young boy and his very first computer. I remember waking up to find a mammoth, ugly-yet beautiful, white Dell computer on my kitchen counter. Not only was it the full set up, but a disc for AOL internet (I KNOW!), and a little addiction known as Ultima Online. Not only that, but a little bit later, my brother and I picked up Warcraft and the rest is history. If only my parents knew then that Ultima Online would take up around 6 years of my life and start me on a downward spiral into gaminghood!

If Santa should fail, then thus shall be Anthony Severino‘s last and Final Fantasy:

Growing up, there were few things I enjoyed more than my SNES and the RPG gasoline that fueled my fondest childhood memories of video games. To tell my favorite Christmas story, I have to flash back to a time when Square Enix was Squaresoft, and that publisher name meant more to me than any franchise name could have at the time (except for maybe Mortal Kombat).
My younger brother and I had asked for Final Fantasy III for the SNES. Our parents played a cruel trick on us; they said they couldn’t find the game in stores, and they’d get it for us after Christmas. Later in the day while visiting family, our Aunt had given us a wrapped gift in the shape of a magazine. But this was no magazine, it was the strategy guide for Final Fantasy III. Instead of being happy about a gift my brother and I had wanted, it only poured salt in a fresh, Final Fantasy III-less wound. But then, like a well-timed Curaga spell, my parents gave us yet another gift they had “forgot” about earlier.
It was Final Fantasy III. And it was a very Merry Christmas that year.

But Severino isn’t the only one that can say Final Fantasy defined his Christmas, as Jonathan Leack reminisces from 1997:

Waiting anxiously to unwrap the PlayStation 1 has been one of the most challenging trials of my life. Little did I know just how much influence it would really have on me. So long were the days of blowing out dust from cartridges and not being able to experience epic cutscenes with lifelike characters bringing the story to life. Although I was most excited to play Twisted Metal and blow up my cousin with Sweet Tooth’s napalm cone, it wasn’t until I popped in Final Fantasy VII that I really understood what Christmas was all about: sitting in a room staring at a 20 year old TV as if it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Okay, so maybe Christmas is truly about family and showing others that we care, but the next couple months all I could think about was killing Sephiroth and running through the Gold Saucer playing every mini-game over and over again.

In 1994, Heath Hindman made a prediction that Nostradamus would be proud of:

The first Christmas memory that comes to mind when I’m asked to think of the most awesome, was Christmas morning 1994, when I got a Game Boy bundle with Tetris. Original, fat, 20-pound, gray-on-yellowish-graphic-havin’, Game Boy. I do believe I honestly thought to my 11-year-old self, “This is like having a Nintendo I can walk around with. This is the best thing that will ever exist. Nothing can ever be better than this.” In a way, I was right; technology and game design improved, but the feeling of that moment has never been duplicated for me. I often remind my family of this fact.

What are your best holiday memories as far as gaming goes? We told you ours, now start confessing!

Quoted for Truth: Comment of the Year

Anthony Severino — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:34:26 +0000

All this week, we’re running our Best of 2011 Awards. And while we are highlighting the voice of the community with a Reader’s Choice award that will publish later today, maybe we should be awarding the voice of the community itself.

As critics, we’re subject to much criticism ourselves. It’s been a strong topic as of late in our comments. If we give a high score, people complain that the game doesn’t deserve the high marks. If we award a game with a low score, we’re told that we should be put into a straight-jacket and tossed into the loony bin. We can’t win. Which is fine, the people making such comments have every right to their opinions. It’s only a problem when they can’t understand that so do we. If only people would focus more on the written word inside the review and less on the score itself. It’s not just a problem here, it’s an industry-wide issue that’s likely to never change, as long as the all-powerful metascores remain a focus.

For those reasons, I decided to highlight what I consider to be one of the most level-headed comments made in the entire year. PlayStation LifeStyle user Timewarp left the following comment on our recent Uncharted: Golden Abyss review.

While I respectively disagreed with PSLS’ review of Uncharted 3 (I think it was more of an 8.5/10) I still believe it was an unbiased review and the same goes for this one. I think some of us gamers – not just on the site but on the internet as a whole – have developed this very arrogant problem with reviewers. I blame the majority of this on the scandal involving game designers bribing reviewers for high scores. It’s led to this point where a lot of us feel we have to call bias for every low and high review scores or as I like to call them every review score.
Yes, Uncharted: Golden Abyss is likely to get a 10/10 and sometimes that may mean the reviewer hasn’t put in the work, but that certainly isn’t true with every single situation. I think we focus too much on the score and not enough on the content of the actual review. Sometimes we’re just hard to deal with, we moan that a game is given a low score because it’s exclusive or not exclusive; we complain a game gets a high score because AGAIN it’s exclusive or not exclusive. A review doesn’t impact our ability to play the games we like, so how about we learn to grow up and accept the reviews for what they are. Because while you may feel like your doing right by revealing the truth behind the quality of certain games, you may end up looking quite spiteful to the reviewer who may have put a lot of time to give us a balanced and fair review.
I don’t say this to mock anyone or to accuse anybody of any wrong doing. I just think we need to have more respect for the PSLS staff and the work that that they do.

Here at PSLS, we have thick skin. 99.9% of the time we take the criticism and use it constructively. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t still sting to be told our hard work isn’t good enough for some people. Reviewing a game takes a lot of time and effort – it isn’t just play a game and slap on a score, we have to be thorough and critical. And it’s not just us, either. Reviewers everywhere are placed under intense scrutiny, and while as a critic that definitely comes with the territory, a lot of it is undeserved and taken too far out of control.

Reviews are nothing more than an opinion. If your opinion doesn’t match, that’s fine and well, too. But understand that your opinion is no better than anyone else’s.

I can’t reiterate it enough: Read the text, not the score.

Have a Happy Holiday and a Wonderful New Year.

-Anthony Severino, Editor-In-Chief