A Sky Lift-class RDV delivering a vehicle.

Shrouded in advanced optical stealth and guided by automated networked navigation systems, the J42 “Sky Lift” RDV (Rapid Deployment Vehicle) drone is able to deliver even the heaviest armor, with pinpoint accuracy, anywhere on the battlefield. The proliferation of this invaluable tech has changed the face of ground warfare in the EVE universe, giving front-line commanders the ability to strike enemy positions with little warning or reinforce vulnerable points at a moment’s notice.

Originally designed for industrial transportation by Outer Ring Excavations (ORE), the Sky Lift was repurposed for combat missions with a few key alterations. Firstly, the engines underwent a massive upgrade, from aftermarket conventional jet turbines to the latest F/4 Ionized Plasma Forges. The extra thrust they provide compensates for the increased weight of the fuselage, which is augmented with 25mm radar absorbing armor plates. Without crew, the cockpit area has been redesigned with Tech 2 drone hardware, a multi-spectrum geospatial avionics system, and a state-of-the-art Phantom-65 stealth field controller.

One key feature that was completely unchanged, however, is the “Magnetar” lift system. This retractable electromagnetic crane is powered by the Sky Lift’s main reactor but also has an integrated backup capacitor for especially heavy loads. It generates a magnetic field so powerful that most of the vehicle’s EM shielding is in place to protect against the side effects of the lift system, rather than enemy electronic attacks.

Designed from the ground up, the lounge will be located on the upper level of the EB Games’ downtown location at 267 Yonge Street in Toronto, Ontario. The goal of the PlayStation Lounge is to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your PlayStation needs.

In celebration of this journey, we’d like to invite all of our Canadian fans to attend the PlayStation Lounge Grand Opening event, details below:

Event Details
Sunday, November 13, 2011.
2-5 PM
267 Yonge Street, Toronto
Luke Schenn signing 2-3:30 PM / Naughty Dog signing 3:30-5 PM

Special guests will include Luke Schenn from the Toronto Maple Leafs and Robert Cogburn, Game Designer from Naughty Dog, the creators of the Uncharted franchise. The first 100 fans to line up will receive autographed hockey pucks from Schenn and autographed Nathan Drake scarves from Cogburn.

So come out and join us for the grand opening of the lounge, have your picture taken with Ratchet from the award-winning Insomniac franchise, and pick up some autographed swag too!

Please RSVP to the PlayStation Lounge Grand Opening by visiting our Facebook event page.

During this summer’s Gamescom, we invited Chris Millar to join us on the PlayStation.Blog and introduce Fun Bits Interactive and their first creation for PlayStation Vita, Escape Plan. Aside from the gorgeous black-and-white, film noir art style that pops right off the massive OLED screen, Escape Plan is truly unique game, thanks to its two memorable characters, LAARGE and LIL.

It’s time to check on their progress. Escape Plan Producer Matt Morton hopped in front of our cameras at Sony Santa Monica Studios recently, and was happy to give us this update on the art-direction, PS Vita multi-touch controls, and to show us why Escape Plan is such a harsh, but addictive puzzler.

The first overall pick by the Florida Marlins in the 2000 MLB Draft, Gonzalez has really come in his own, both on the field and at the plate. A little history on him…in 2010 while playing for the San Diego Padres, he was named team MVP for the third consecutive year and fourth time overall. Then after the blockbuster trade that sent him to the Boston Red Sox last offseason, he enjoyed one of his best professional seasons to date, which included his 1,000 career hit, fourth consecutive All-Star selection, third Gold Glove, first Silver Slugger Award, and a top five finish in batting average (.338) and RBI (117) in all of baseball—not too bad!

I also want to stress that MLB 12 The Show will be coming to PlayStation Vita and will utilize all of the core gameplay features found in the PS3 version. So, players will be able to take the same big league baseball experience on the road with them, anytime, anywhere. We’ll have more info to share soon, but trust me when I tell you that MLB 12 will have a ton of new features (PS3 & Vita) that we’ll be detailing over the course of the campaign so keep an eye on the PlayStation.Blog, TheShowNation, and our MLB The Show Facebook page for more info as we get closer to launch.

Welcome to The Show!

Players that go to the newly-opened Pier Park will find that a new level of the classic Turkey Chase event has been released complete with brand new rewards. For those unfamiliar with this PlayStation Home tradition, the premise is simple: In celebration of the impending Turkey Day, players that approach the gathering of turkeys in Pier Park will enter into a game wherein you chase a bunch of wily turkeys around the space (word to the wise: these turkeys are quite cunning so you’d better bring appropriate footwear). If you can manage to catch them all, you will unlock Thanksgiving-themed rewards that are sure to make you an object of envy amongst your peers. Sound borderline insane? Of course it does – which is exactly why we are doing it!

Those of you that visit the new PlayStation Home Mall this week will find some killer deals in our Fall Blowout sale, which has the price being reduced on a ton of classic items. Check out this video for a look at some of the deals my buddy Magnus will be cutting this week as part of our Fall Blowout sale. Be sure to take advantage of this special offer; come next Thursday these items will disappear from our shelves forever!

Speaking of deals that can’t be missed, we’ve bundled up select items and placed them exclusively on the PlayStation Store at a massively discounted price. Go to the PlayStation Store this week to pick up the Alpha Protocol Gear Pack and the Best of nDreams Pack!

Also available this week in the PlayStation Home Mall: New items from Mass Media, a LittleBigPlanet Sackboy companion, brand new do’s for the dudes and dudettes in the new Shears store, new clothing and furniture items from Granzella, a Fearless Records boombox (packed with some of the best tracks from this leading rock label), and more!

The PlayStation Home Community Theater is hosting a massive event this week. Join us this Thursday when PSTALENT.COM returns with a special episode of The Spotlight. This season finale highlights some of the top PlayStation Home developers and includes a special appearance by Narde15 of Gamer Indepth. As a bonus, those of you that come out to view this episode will receive a very special gift courtesy of PSTALENT.COM and the PlayStation Home Community Management team!

See you in Home!

BioShock’s writer and Creative Director, Ken Levine, and his team are now working on BioShock Infinite, a departure from the dark, dystopian corridors of Rapture into the bright skies of Columbia, a floating city named after the female personification of the United States of America. I recently had the chance to sit down with Ken to talk about the philosophies that underpinned the original BioShock and how, if at all, these are being applied to BioShock Infinite.

PlayStation.Blog: What’s more important to you: surprising the player or making existing fans feel familiar?

Ken: When you look at BioShock Infinite, you can’t deny that it’s a BioShock game. However, and this might seem counter-intuitive, Rapture was a surprise to the player; you wanted to see what was around each corner because it was so strange. If we were to take you back to Rapture then that surprise element would no longer be there. Weirdly, we had to change BioShock in order to make it BioShock, or at least to retain that core principle of the unexpected.

I think the important point for us is that BioShock Infinite has the same roots as the original, and in part those roots are me, Nate, Shaun, Steve and all of the guys in my team who worked on it. In terms of the game itself, we’re talking about the depth and detail of the game world, the kinds of weapons you’re going to have, the freedom of the combat and the character growth system that we’re going to be showing later.

I’m not saying we can never go back to Rapture, but it would need to be in a way that was fresh and new.

PlayStation.Blog: What is your favourite moment in the original BioShock?

Ken:The two moments of BioShock that will always be special to me as writer and creative director are the opening descent to Rapture and the encounter with Andrew Ryan. We really put ourselves out there on the latter because it was a boss battle where you don’t actually fight the boss, but that was fundamental to the story, the fact that you had no choice in how it played out. We are thrilled that it worked so well because it was such a risky moment.

I don’t think people give gamers enough credit and assume that they only want explosive, visceral experiences. We also want to be mentally stimulated. The fact that the scene resonated so much proves that we are more diverse in their tastes than some think.

When faced with a choice between protecting and destroying in games, point in case being the dilemma of whether to rescue or harvest the Little Sisters in BioShock, do you think we are innately drawn to one or the other?

Well we don’t have any kind of metric to track that particular example but we do have anecdotal evidence. I do a podcast called Irrational Interviews and I was talking with Guillermo Del Toro on there. He said that he harvested in front of his two daughters and they got really mad at him. My sense is that people generally rescue and I think that decision is an emotional one rather than a logical one.

I believe players have an inclination to what we might call ‘disruptive’ actions, such as jumping around when another character is talking, but I don’t get worried about people doing weird things; games are about the player doing what they want and they are generally there to try and experience every interaction available. It’s their game.

PlayStation.Blog: And yet protection seems to be a running theme in BioShock games. Is this a conscious design decision?

Ken: I see what you mean in that you have Big Daddies and Little Sisters and there’s some kind of protective relationship going on there. With BioShock Infinite it’s important to point out that you’re not escorting Elizabeth all the time – she is capable of taking care of herself and she is more like a partner in your mission. But she is looking to your experience in combat. She has never fought but Booker has a rough past and a lot of combat experience.

The basic notion of protecting is one of the noblest things we can do for each other and those relationships can be beautiful in game form. Just look at that moment when you first take Yorda’s hand in Ico. In BioShock games we like to explore how those relationships can have both a dark and a light side. When a Big Daddy protects a Little Sister, he is also exploiting her by making her gather ADAM. In BioShock Infinite, when Booker finds Elizabeth she is locked in this tower with Songbird, who is her only companion but also her jailor.

Those are the challenging relationships that we are drawn to.

PlayStation.Blog: If you’re faced with a potential fork in your design choices, where either narrative or gameplay benefits depending on your decision, which one usually wins out?

Ken: You have to reach a decision that benefits both. We had a dilemma early in the development of BioShock Infinite with the character of Elizabeth. We needed to ensure that her powers made sense to both narrative and gameplay. We knew we had this character that was going to be extremely powerful, but we didn’t know exactly what those powers were going to be. It was a tough job making sure that what she does from moment to moment in the context of the gameplay suited her role in the overall story. We generally don’t choose; we tweak from both sides to get unity, and if you don’t get that unity, then we tend to jettison things.

PlayStation.Blog: How exactly are the PlayStation Move controls going to work?

Ken: We’ve got the Move controls working now back at the studio, certainly more so than we had when we announced it at E3, and really we’re just waiting for the opportunity to show that with a new piece of content. It’s working well but we still have a lot of polishing to do. Of all the motion controllers in the world, the Move is the one best suited to a first-person shooter, and a lot of PlayStation games have done a great job incorporating it. I will say that we’re discovering some great opportunities with the Skyline gameplay, but rather than show it to people with an old demo, I’d prefer to show it with a new piece of content.

PlayStation.Blog: BioShock famously took inspiration from Ayn Rand’s Atlus Shrugged. Does BioShock Infinite have a particular philosophical or literary influence?

Ken: I read a lot about history and I got interested in the late 19th century by the book Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, which is set around the 1893 World Fair. For me, that time is the most transformative in history because you had all these technologies coming into play, like radio, movies, electricity, cars – mass production in general. Alongside that, you had social transformations with suffrage, labour movements, the beginning of the civil rights movement – all these amazing uprisings bringing a sense that the colony is starting to buckle and break free.

Just look at what was happening in science, with Heisenberg, Einstein and Max Planck; they were discovering that the Universe is so much more complex than anyone thought, and we’re still figuring out the implications of their findings to this day.

In the original BioShock we tapped in to Crick & Watson and their discovery of genetics. In BioShock Infinite we’re looking more at the world of physics and we bring that in through Elizabeth, who is able to manipulate her universe. We’re always looking at the technological, scientific, social and cultural changes that are happening in any historical period we touch, and we try to integrate those into our stories.

Originally, we conceived the game as a struggle between a technological movement and a Luddite movement, and it didn’t work out because, in reality, those Luddite movements never took hold in a powerful way, so we didn’t have such a rich well of inspiration.

What we have arrived at is a conflict between the Founders, an ultra-nationalist group that is the dominant power in Columbia, and the Vox-Populi, an international workers’ movement that is fighting against the Founders, kicking all of the rich people out of their part of town.

The real conflict of that time – and, you could argue, what is happening today – is this left and right schism of extreme nationalism on one side, and an anti-capitalist, internationalist movement on the other. With our games we’re never looking to advocate a political position and we try to ask questions more than we try to answer them. We show the extreme ends of the spectrum.

The Splicers in BioShock were insane, almost feral, but the enemies we have seen in BioShock Infinite seem more lucid. How does this affect the game?

You’re going to see a range of enemies in terms of where they’re at mentally. It’s not like BioShock where you’re showing up after an event and picking up the pieces; Elizabeth and Booker are in the middle of it all. The Vox-Populi is a small group when you show up at the beginning of the game, and your actions change that and accelerate their growth. You’re going to see changing AI based on your actions. Then you’ve also got SongBird and Handyman – examples of bigger, stronger enemies.

PlayStation.Blog: How does it make you feel when you hear that some players completed BioShock almost exclusively using the Electro Bolt and the shotgun?

Ken: One of the first things we did when we started on BioShock Infinite was to draw a graph with y and z axes, and to say that one of those axes was the number of enemies in an encounter and the other was the range of those enemies. In the original BioShock, the entire game lived in one corner of that graph – few enemies, all at close range — so the Electro Bolt and shotgun were perfect. BioShock Infinite is going to have much greater ranges and, potentially, far more enemies, so we’re greatly increasing the spectrum of encounters that are possible, and that requires the player use a broader set of tools.

That being said, it may be a given player will try to find a way to close down those distances and stick with Electro Bolt and shotgun, but I don’t think that’s going to be anywhere near as effective a strategy this time around. They were too devastating in BioShock, we admit that, but we’re not going to solve it by simply nerfing those weapons; we’re doing it by changing the types of encounter you’re going to face.

Medieval Moves is a new playful action-adventure game designed specifically for PlayStation Move. Help Prince Edmund protect his kingdom against the evil sorcerer Morgrimm and his army of skeletons. Use your PS Move motion controller to sword fight, shoot arrows, and fling throwing stars in your epic battles. And for you 3D fans out there, this game offers full stereoscopic 3D support, so make sure you have your 3D glasses close at hand.

After you’ve grown weary from battle, test out your athletic skills with Sports Champions a classic fan-favorite Move title that will have you competing with your friends in the ultimate sports showdown. Crush, spike and smoke the competition in six challenging events including Disc Golf, Gladiator Duel, Beach Volleyball, Archery, Table Tennis and Bocce.

The holiday fun doesn’t stop there. We’re also excited to announce the availability of the PlayStation 3 Everybody Dance bundle, the perfect party-starter for this season’s festivities. Now available exclusively at Target at an amazing price of only $299.99, the PlayStation 3 Everybody Dance bundle includes everything that you need to entertain your friends and family including a copy of the ultimate Move party game Everybody Dance, a 320GB PlayStation 3, a PS Move motion controller, a PS Eye camera and a DualShock 3 wireless controller.

What new PlayStation Move games are you looking forward to this holiday? Let us know in the comments below!

The boy who lived enters New Releases this week with the final chapter of his saga in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. The epic film series comes to an exciting conclusion with the ultimate showdown between the young wizard and the evil Lord Voldemort. Choose from SD or beautiful 1080p HD, as well as eye-popping action in Available in 3D.

Catch up on the entire series and the previous seven films in the Harry Potter Collection in Collections & Sales, featuring all the past adventures and some movies and great low prices. Hurry! The sale ends on November 21.

Get your laughs with The Change-Up this week in Movies. Ryan Reynolds (Green Lantern) and Jason Bateman (Horrible Bosses) star as two men who couldn’t have more different lives. After a fateful wish one night, the two switch places and must live life in each other’s shoes. Leslie Mann (Allen Gregory), Olivia Wilde (Cowboys & Aliens) and Alan Arkin (Get Smart) round out the cast.

Bout 1 of our Theatrical Throwdown is over and your votes made the difference. Rent the champion Scream 4 this weekend for just $0.99 in either SD of 1080p HD starting at 2pm Pacific Friday through Sunday at 11 pm. Find all our $0.99 deals in Rent Now and vote for your choice in Bout 2 starting Sunday afternoon.

Four of HBO’s premium mini-series are now available to own in either SD or 1080p HD in TV Shows, the only place you can purchase great HBO content on your PS3 device. The award winning series Band of Brothers, The Pacific, Generation Kill and John Adams are available digitally for the first time!

Bloodsucking films that won’t suck your pocketbook dry take over our Deal of the Week with Vampires. Films like Daybreakers and Bram Stoker’s Dracula, plus the BBC series Being Human, are available at super low prices for this week only!

Need more zombies in your life? The Walking Dead Theme is now available with chilling creatures in the game section of the PlayStation Store.

Here’s a look at what’s new this week…

Just In TV
US Store: Band of Brothers, The Pacific, Generation Kill, John Adams, Green Lantern: The Animated Series: Season 1, WWE The Ladder Match 2, Vietnam in HD: Season 1, Prophets of Science Fiction: Season 1, One Piece: Season 1, Chrono Crusade, and more!
Canada Store: Band of Brothers, The Pacific, Generation Kill, John Adams, Mythbusters: Season 11, Primeval: Season 5, One Piece: Season 1, and more!

New Release Movies
US Store: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, The Change-Up, Arena, Atlas Shrugged Part 1, Age of the Dragons, 13, One Eyed Jacks, and many more.
Canada Store: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, The Change-Up, One Eyed Jacks, A Better Tomorrow, The River Why, and many more.

Top US Movie Purchases

1. Crazy, Stupid, Love.
2. Cars 2
3. Captain America: The First Avenger
4. The Change-Up (Unrated)
5. Horrible Bosses
6. Bad Teacher (Unrated)
7. Green Lantern
8. Water for Elephants
9. Fast Five (Extended Edition)
10. Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Top US TV Shows Purchases

1. The Walking Dead | Season 2 - Cherokee Rose
2. The Walking Dead | Season 2 - Save The Last One
3. Sons of Anarchy | Season 4 - Hands
4. Sons of Anarchy | Season 4 - Kiss
5. The Walking Dead | Season 2 - Bloodletting
6. The Walking Dead | Season 2 - What Lies Ahead
7. American Horror Story | Season 1 - Halloween, Pt. 2
8. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Season 7 - The ANTI-Social Network
9. South Park: Uncensored | Season 15 - 1%
10. Family Guy | Season 10 - Screams of Silence: The Story of Brenda

Introducing: My Channels:

We just updated the Music Unlimited service application on PS3 with some great features that many of you have been asking for. The new “My Channels” function gives you added control over how you listen to and access music. “My Channels” lets you build custom radio stations around your favorite artists. Simply type in the name of the artist and we’ll populate a station with songs from that artist and related artists. This is available to both Basic and Premium subscribers and is yet another portal to discovering great music on the service.

Featured New Releases on Music Unlimited

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Sibling rivalry is nothing new. The Kinks started it, the Black Crowes continued it and perhaps Oasis has perfected it. The commonality has generally been mediocre solo projects between inevitable reunions. Such was the case with Liam Gallagher’s lackluster Beady Eye project, but his brother Noel bucks the trend with a beautiful and varied release that takes the Oasis template and seamlessly integrates strings, a choir and other subtleties. The record is quite possibly the only glimpse we will get of Noel as a solo artist, and with his excellent band of Flying Birds, it’s one to savor.

If you like: Oasis, The Verve, Coldplay
Recommended Track: “If I Had a Gun”

Romeo Santos – Formula Vol. 1
As the former front man of a multi-platinum group, Romeo Santos is no stranger to making history. His group, Avenutra, pushed bachata music into the mainstream & debuted in the top 10 on their final album together. It’s only appropriate that the first single from his solo debut would skyrocket to #1 on the Latin charts. Santos continues to keep his eyes set on a crossover by asking Usher and Lil’ Wayne to join on the tracks, “Promise” and “All Aboard.”

If you like: Aventura, Prince Royce, Usher
Recommended Track: “Soberbio”

Tech N9ne Collabos – Welcome to Strangeland
In the fourth installment of his “Collabos” series, Tech N9ne focuses on joining forces with artists on Strange Music, the label he started in 1998. A veteran with 12 other studio albums under his belt, he brings on artists like Jay Rock, Kutt Calhoun, Young Blood and more for this explosive partnership. This is a great way to discover some up and coming artists who have the blessing of one of the most prolific rappers in the game.

If you like: Tech N9ne, Big Scoob, Dr. Pharoah
Recommended Track: “Kocky”

Can’t get enough after watching the Country Music Awards? Crank up the Music Unlimited service’s Top 10 Country & Folk songs!

As a life-long gamer (four plus decades) I’ve seen many, many games. Some great and some…well, not-so-great. The first and foremost question that I ask for ANY game is simply “is it any fun?” If all the technical aspects of a game do not add to a sense of immersion or fun then I consider that game a missed opportunity.

I recently sat in for the first time with the game team on Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest while they were putting the finishing touches on the game, coming Tuesday, November 15th. Not to my surprise, the game not only met my expectations but far surpassed them.

The first comment I will make to anyone who asks me to best describe Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest will simply be “try it.” I know that statement won’t win any literary awards for video game commentary, but it is my honest answer. Those that have tried Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest agree that the gameplay speaks volumes.

In one scenario, a hoard of skeletons charged straight at me. I knew I was in trouble…out-numbered, and more than a little frightened. Then I thought of my supply of dynamite. Instead of having to recall the button preses needed to access and launch my stick of dynamite, I simply held the PlayStation Move motion controller in front of me, shielding its light from the camera in order to keep the fuse lit. At just the right time I chucked that bad boy into the hoard and actually snickered at the thought of my devious efforts. That was so much more fun and rewarding than a combination of button presses. In fact, I couldn’t wait to do it over and over and over again. Simple. Immersive. Intuitive. And very fun!

During another scenario in the game’s online competitive mode called “Cauldron of Chaos,” my online opponent and I were fending off waves of attackers. The goal is not to kill the attackers, but release their essence. This essence then fills the one of four cauldrons that can be tipped over to summon more attackers onto your opponent. The last one standing wins! I found this competitive concept refreshing and surprisingly rewarding, making for a genuinely rich game that the whole family can play. Features such as a simple in-game invite system, updated online play series, leaderboard challenges, unlockables, and customizable soundtracks really add to the fun. Imagine the possibilities!

I found myself experiencing these type of moments again and again and I knew I was experiencing much, much, more than a great follow-up to Sports Champions for the PS3.

I could tell the team at Zindagi Games, San Diego Studio and the PlayStation family are VERY proud of this game. The demo is available right now in the PlayStation Store for you to try today. Go get it, what are you waiting for?

Just remember: file it under F.U.N.!

The PlayStation Card lets you earn points on all of your purchases, including 10X points on every purchase you make on PlayStation Network. That means you can earn 10X points on each of your game-related PSN purchases as well as PSN movie or TV episode purchases and rentals. EVERY purchase you make using this card lets you rack up points you can redeem for PlayStation games, accessories, and PlayStation Network content – along with other great products from Sony.

In addition to earning 10X the points on all PSN purchases, cardholders will receive the following additional purchase rewards:

• 3X points on ALL PlayStation and Sony purchases at Sony stores and Sony.com
• 3X points at quick service restaurants, at movie theaters, and on your mobile phone bill
• 1X points on ALL other purchases

You can also earn a $50 PlayStation Network code after your first purchase with the PlayStation Card. Additional details on the $50 PSN code offer can be found here.

It’s a great opportunity for any gamer looking to earn rewards just by purchasing the items you already enjoy. To learn more about the PlayStation Card and to apply today, click here. Happy shopping!

Speaking of sharp, we also examine the most creative minds working on the next wave of PS3 games in our “PlayStation’s Ten Smartest Developers” feature. Who are they? What are the games that built their legacy? And what are they working on next? Every one of our top ten is worthy of their slot, but we had to make some difficult cuts to trim the list. Will you agree with our picks or be outraged at the omissions? We’re certain you’ll let us know.

Elsewhere in the issue, we make our first tantalizing visit to the world of Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The fact that Bethesda only allowed us an hour to wander in wonderment actually borders on cruelty. At least EA gave us a day to explore Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning! Plus, we sit down with Naughty Dog for one last pre-release chat about Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. And PTOM editors Ryan Taljonick and Scott Butterworth continue the debate inspired by our November issue cover: Will Modern Warfare 3 outgun Battlefield 3? Or vice versa?

Rage heads up our reviews this month—a beautiful game with so many intriguing elements, it’s also one of the more difficult judgments we’ve had to make in recent months. That’s not the case with Dark Souls and NBA 2K12, read our breakdown on why these games are some of the best experiences available at the moment.

It’s all in PTOM’s December issue, headed to newsstands on October 25.

We are really excited to reveal the official logo for your next favorite racing game – ModNation Racers: Road Trip!
ch-check it out…

“Big Ups” To Our Friends In Japan!
This week we pay tribute to our ModNation family in Japan. You may not realize that many of your favorite creators and top racers are quite possibly half way across the globe in Japan and Asia. Don’t let a little time zone difference stop you from enjoying these amazing creating and racing gurus.

This Week’s Top Tracks: Favorites of Japanese Creators

ModNation Player Profile: big-village_920_
big-village_920_ is just one of many great tracks creators from Japan who have made a name for themselves in the ModNation community. Read his profile HERE.

Ready, Set, Go Go Go!
Take a look at these stats from some of the best racers from the Far East!

BOO!
Ha! Gotcha! Last chance to send us some of your favorite Halloween themed tracks, mods, and kart for next week’s ModNation Monday blog Spooktacular-palooza-rama (too much?) HERE

Creations of the Week: Favorites of the Japanese Creators

Check out some more great creations from Japan’s Top MNR creators…

Mods: Doscarion, Erezeve, R-ASKA, hoshii961miki, orenekonano, kuri-pa8shi, E_D_F
Karts: asura-007, etsuo-s, QminimumnQ-, kazuix2000, ra_koi, Gachiko3×3
Tracks: AS-NOIR, arashi200xjp, kuro-anco, yamasita-kouji, ylSK8TLZPqQ

Hot Lap Tracks Of The Week: Atlas City Mini Golf Park by IndustrialSavior
My first thought upon starting this tracks was “hmmm… cheeseburger” but I digress. Immediately my second thought was that of absolute joy as I raced what should be considered the gold-standard of the golfing (miniature or otherwise) track design genre (along with apricot-jam-IS’s tracks). Race under castles, though pipes, between windmill blades and around alligators, etc… all of the mini-golf staple elements are present here. Now if somebody could just design a great Disc Golf (Frisbee Golf in laymen’s terms) course I could die a very happy man! *wink*

Summary:
1. Cheese-burger
2. Joy
3. Excitement
4. Accolades
5. Alligators
6. Great race!

Monday: Atlas City Mini Golf Park by IndustrialSavior
IndustrialSavior has discovered some sort of time-warp continuum in the universe lately that allows him to produce 2-4 great tracks a week! Don’t “Bogart” the time machine, IndustrialSavior!
Tuesday: Viking’s Valhal by Biver_
Biver_ wasn’t sure if his track was Hot lap worthy. What?! We’re not worthy Biver_, we’re not worthy!
Wednesday: TR [Twisted Routes] by resven
This is a really impressive submission considering resven being new to the game and only their second published track. Great job!
Thursday: Porta Valara by Cmckinney94
Another strong creation from a relative new comer to the Hot lap creation world. Keep ‘em coming!
Friday: Highways n’ By-Ways by atheistsw
atheistsw is still loving his Big City theme creation tools, evidenced by this strong racer
Saturday: Indusburg Nuclear Winter by IndustrialSavior
IndustrialSavior has become a track creating madman recently. Check out his portfolio over the past few months. He’s on fire!
Sunday: Jumping the Great Wall by dane9261
I have always enjoyed dane9261’s creation sensibilities. His obvious vision for his tracks pays off big time here

私はチーズバーガーを食べに行きま～～～す！！
Mark
(PSN ID: ModNationSD)

It’s all here. The cars, the courses, the original soundtrack and of course, the unforgettable Rooolliiiing staaaart! Race your AI opponents in classic Arcade Mode, beat the clock in Survival and Time Trial modes or sing along to your favorite DAYTONA songs in Karaoke mode!

We are bringing back the original DAYTONA USA experience introduced back in 1993 with enhanced retro graphics, trophies, steering wheel controller support and a new online mode that supports up to 8 players.

Since its arcade debut, DAYTONA USA has stood the test of time as one of SEGA’s top racing titles. The DAYTONA USA and retro game fans will certainly notice that every detail of the original hit has been meticulously preserved and polished for this ultimate version of DAYTONA USA.

For two weeks only (until November 8th), we are giving away our DAYTONA USA retro theme as gift with purchase. DAYTONA USA is also part of this month’s PlayStation Plus program. For Plus members, we are giving away a free theme and retro car avatars.

We hope to see you on the speedway tomorrow!

inFAMOUS: Festival of Blood delivers a darker adventure for Cole; complete with new powers, (did we mention he flies?) a new look for the city of New Marais, and access to the complete suite of User Generated Content tools. This downloadable inFAMOUS adventure is standalone and doesn’t require you to have previous inFAMOUS titles to play it.

Click here to check out the entire Only On PSN lineup.

For classic shmup action with a twist, you’ll want to get your hands on PixelJunk SideScroller. Q Games puts the PixelJunk twist on the genre with luminescent visuals, incredible bosses, and unforgettable powerups and weaponry to take on the masses.

Other PSN Games arriving this week include the now HD arcade classic Daytona USA, the hilarious puzzle action of Worms Crazy Golf, and just in time for Halloween: Zombie Apocalypse: Never Die Alone.

Also new to PlayStation Network this week is CinemaNow, an all new video service that further expands your video watching options on your PlayStation 3. CinemaNow gives you access to new releases movies and brings you TV episodes, many the day after they air. With over 15,000 movies and TV shows to choose from, you can rent movies in stunning HD complete with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound; no subscription required! Grab it from the Store or in the My Channels section under the TV/Video Services XMB column.

PlayStation Plus subscribers; hope you’ve enjoyed October’s free content and discounts! We draw this month to a close by kicking off new discounts on a ton of new releases including 20% off inFAMOUS: Festival of Blood, Pixeljunk Sidescroller, and Worms Crazy Golf; 30% off new release Daytona USA, and 50% discounts on Mercury Hg, and 4 Elements. And that’s on top of new Full Game Trials, free themes, and free avatars!

Don’t forget to check out new demos like Sonic Generations, new full PS3 titles hitting the Store such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and new add-ons for favorites like Gran Turismo 5 and Ace Combat Assault Horizon. Hit us in the comments or join the discussion on the PlayStation Forums hosted by PlayStation Network’s Morgan Haro/mochuuu. Thanks all, and happy gaming!

Here is the weekly PlayStation Store update:

PlayStation Plus

Visit the PlayStation Plus page for more details.

Downloadable Games

inFAMOUS Festival of Blood ($9.99)
inFAMOUS Festival of Blood is a brand new single player game for download via PSN. Vampires swarm New Marais, and revered superhero Cole MacGrath has been bitten. Featuring hours of new gameplay, themed environment settings and new characters/enemies.
ESRB rated T
File size 3.02 GB

PixelJunk Sidescroller ($9.99)
The next chapter of the award-winning PixelJunk series brings a nostalgic retro vibe with PixelJunk SideScroller. Whether solo or local co-op, prepare to dodge flurries of alien bullets and battle your way through stages full of hazardous fluid and endless shooting mayhem.
ESRB rated E
File size 83 MB

Zombie Apocalypse: Never Die Alone ($9.99)
Four unlikely heroes find themselves caught in a fight for their lives when the Zombie Apocalypse hits their Canadian community. Banding together for both humor and survival – and armed with everything from guns to cricket bats – the four must find a way off the island… together.
ESRB rated M
File size 1.19 MB

Daytona USA ($9.99)
It’s time to get revved up with Daytona USA! Based on the classic arcade title, Daytona USA features enhanced graphics, tracks for all skill levels, and the original hit soundtrack!
ESRB rated E
File size 225 MB

Worms Crazy Golf ($9.99)
Worms Crazy Golf is a hilarious mixture of the explosive action of Worms and the puzzle based challenges of crazy golf! All of the trademark Worms humor, comic violence, and cartoon visuals are present, combined with addictive yet accessible golf gameplay.
ESRB rated E10+
File size 393 MB

Call Of Duty: Black Ops ($49.99)
Call of Duty: Black Ops takes you behind enemy lines as a member of an elite special forces unit engaging in covert warfare, classified operations, and explosive conflicts. Access to exclusive weaponry and equipment will tip the balance during the most dangerous time period mankind has ever known.
ESRB rated M
File size 18 GB

Homefront ($29.99)
2027. Join the Resistance and fight for freedom in this gripping, cinematic first-person shooter. Then battle online with up to 32 players in large scale vehicular warfare. Earn and spend Battle Points on a variety of destructive weapons – from drones to tanks.
ESRB rated M
File size 5.28 GB

Mx Vs Atv Alive ($19.99)
Own the competition as you wrestle for position with tightly contested racing in the fifth iteration of the MX vs ATV franchise. Feel the realism of the revolutionary real-world physics engine which has defined the racing genre.
ESRB rated E
File size 4.63 GB

Game Demos (free)

Resistance 3 Single-Player Demo
Experience the beginning of Joseph Capelli’s harrowing journey in the Resistance 3 single-player demo. Fight off the Chimeran attack on Haven, Oklahoma as you attempt to buy enough time for the town’s inhabitants to escape.
ESRB rated M
File size 1.28 GB

Grease Demo
This is Grease for the New Generation, inspired by the 50′s and danced by you! Shake out your hair, turn up your style and release your inner rock and roll party queen. With over 20 familiar songs to sing along to and all your favorite dance routines to learn, Grease combines the movie’s timeless music and memorable choreography with the motion sensor technology to deliver the ultimate sing and dancing Grease ™ experience on PlayStation Move.
ESRB rated T
File size 369 MB

Zombie Apocalypse: Never Die Alone Demo
Four unlikely heroes find themselves caught in a fight for their lives when the Zombie Apocalypse hits their Canadian community. Banding together for both humor and survival – and armed with everything from guns to cricket bats – the four must find a way off the island… together.
ESRB rated M
File size 1.19 GB

Sonic Generations Demo 2
Download the demo to play Classic Sonic through all new, re-imagined 2D Green Hill and Modern Sonic in a completely different perspective of stunning 3D – the ultimate Sonic celebration!
ESRB rated E
File size 665 MB

Elevator Action Deluxe Demo
You are a legendary super spy. Your mission: steal the documents and escape. But this isn’t the same game you remember from the arcades! New bad guys, new traps, and new challenges all await you. Are you good enough to survive ELEVATOR ACTION DELUXE? Download the free demo today and find out!
ESRB rated T
File size 450 MB

Akimi Village Demo
Get swept away to a mysterious, floating island in the sky in Akimi Village, a city-building game from NinjaBee! Help the tiny Akimi build their village and spread light to free their island from the grip of the Gloom’s thick shadow. Put the cheerful villagers to work harvesting and refining resources. Unlock blueprints and piece together dozens of unique buildings! Purify the island, defeat the Gloom and build a beautiful living city!
ESRB rated E
File size 262 MB

Add-on Game Content

Disney Universe – Absolem Costume (free)
Suit up as wise caterpillar Absolem, from Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. Includes costume specific upgradable tool.
File size 1.63 MB

Disney Universe – Daisy Duck Costume (free)
Suit up as classic and delightful Daisy Duck costume. Includes costume specific upgradable tool.
File size 2.12 MB

Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One Online Pass ($9.99)
Thank you for purchasing Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One. Download the Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One Online Pass today to unlock the full online features of All 4 One.
File size 128 KB

Gran Turismo 5 Racing Gear Pack ($2.99)
Expand your Gran Turismo 5 experience with the Racing Gear Pack, featuring racing helmets and suits of famous race car drivers and more, for 90 pieces of gear in all. The Racing Gear Pack is also available as part of the complete DLC bundle, which also includes the Racing Car Pack, Course Pack, and Paint Pack. For more information on how to redeem and add the content to your game, visit http://us.gran-turismo.com/us/products/gt5/store/.

Gran Turismo 5 Racing Car Pack ($7.99)
Expand your Gran Turismo 5 experience with the Racing Car Pack, featuring fifteen vehicles to race and master. Includes: -Red Bull X2011 prototype -11 modified Touring Car editions of fan favorite cars including the Honda CR-Z, Mazda RX-7, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, Nissan GT-R R35, Subaru Impreza, and more -3 new racing karts. For more information on how to redeem and add the content to your game, visit http://us.gran-turismo.com/us/products/gt5/store/.

Gran Turismo 5 Course Pack ($4.99)
Expand your Gran Turismo 5 experience with the Course Pack, featuring two brand new courses to race and master. Includes: -Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, the famous Belgian track known for its rich history and challenging turns and elevation changes. -The indoor Kart Space, designed by Polyphony Digital, with beautiful neon illumination and two track layouts. For more information on how to redeem and add the content to your game, visit http://us.gran-turismo.com/us/products/gt5/store/.

Gran Turismo 5 Paint Pack ($1.99)
Expand your Gran Turismo 5 experience with the Paint Pack, featuring 100 paint colors to breathe new life into your vehicle collection. The Paint Pack is also available as part of the complete DLC bundle, which also includes the Racing Car Pack, Course Pack, and Racing Gear Pack. For more information on how to redeem and add the content to your game, visit http://us.gran-turismo.com/us/products/gt5/store/.

Gran Turismo 5 Complete Pack ($11.99)
Expand your Gran Turismo 5 experience with the Complete Pack, a bundle featuring four pieces of downloadable add-on content at special bundle pricing. The Complete Pack includes the Course Pack, Racing Car Pack, Racing Gear Pack, and Paint Pack. Gift-with-purchase offer available. For more information on how to redeem and add the content to your game, visit http://us.gran-turismo.com/us/products/gt5/store/.

LittleBigPlanet 2 Various Costumes (x5) ($1.99 – $5.99 each)
The best thing about Sackboy is that you can make him look and act exactly how you want. Download this additional costume to really stand out from the crowd! To download this costume, you must already own LittleBigPlanet 2.
File size 100KB – 110 KB

Dead Rising 2: Off The Record: Cyborg Skills Pack ($1.99)
Deal more damage and shock your enemies with the CYBORG skill pack from the future!
File size 8.87 MB

Street Fighter III: Online Edition Match Pack 2 (Evolution Tournament) ($3.99)
Watch matches from an exclusive tournament, featuring the best players from around the world.
File size 36 MB

Street Fighter III: Online Edition Music Pack 2 (Double Impact) ($1.99)
Increase the amount of available music to listen to with these tracks from Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact.
File size 39 MB

Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition – Music Pack 1 (New Generation) ($1.99)
Increase the amount of available music to listen to with these tracks from Street Fighter III: New Generation.
File size 29 MB

Ace Combat Assault Horizon Asf-X Shinden II ($7.99)
The ASF-X Shinden II is an original design created by Shoji Kawamori, a leading Japanese mechanical designer. This is a fictional aircraft whose variable airframe provides stable flight performance and excellent close range combat abilities, allowing it to adapt to any type of strategic operation. This unique multirole aircraft will dominate both air and ground battles!
File size 15 MB

Ace Combat Assault Horizon F-14D “Halloween Pumpkin” ($3.99)
F-14D “”Halloween Pumpkin”” is an aircraft skin with a Halloween theme. Don’t underestimate the Jack-O’-Lantern! This F-14D is known for striking fear with its appearance during low speed battles.
File size 15 MB

Ace Combat Assault Horizon F/A-18F “Red Devils” ($3.99)
F/A-18F “Red Devils” is an aircraft skin based on Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 (VMFA-232), nicknamed the “”Red Devils””. Established in 1925, VMFA-232 is the fighter squadron with the longest history within the United States Marine Corps. Take control of this aircraft with the famous squadron’s crimson symbol emblazoned on its tail.
File size 15 MB

Ace Combat Assault Horizon: Compatibilty Pack 2 (free)
This additional data (free of charge) is required for online matchmaking. Once this data is downloaded, matchmaking with players who have downloaded items in Downloadable Content 1 and 2 will be made possible.
File size 3.62 MB

Dungeon Siege III – Treasures of The Sun ($9.99)
In Dungeon Siege III: Treasures of the Sun, you will travel beyond the borders of Ehb to the Aranoi desert where an all-new adventure awaits. In your quest for a lost Legion hero, you will, travel through new lands, encounter hordes of new enemies, and discover a forgotten abbey that contains a long-lost secret: the greatest treasure of the Azunite faith.
File size 523 MB

Elevator Action Deluxe Additional Character 1 (free)
Free character for ELEVATOR ACTION DELUXE owners!Sayo from KIKIKAIKAI. Use her purification rod and red hakama to steal documents and escape!
File size 11 MB

Yoostar 2 – You Fight Like A Goddamn Ape ($1.99)
Rocky – Mickey laments Rocky’s boxing, calls him a tomato and growls that he’s not running a soup kitchen.
File size 46 MB

Rock Band 3
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

• “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” – The Darkness ($1.99)
• “Living Dead Girl” – Rob Zombie ($1.99)
• “Super-Charger Heaven” – White Zombie ($1.99)
• “Thunder Kiss ’65″ – White Zombie ($1.99)

File size: 19 MB – 26 MB (singles)

Rock Band Network v2.0

• “Caraphernelia” – Pierce the Veil ($1.99)
• “Gymnopédie No. 1″ – Thomas Walker ($0.99)
• “Moonlight Ride” – Free Spirit ($1.99)
• “Very Busy People” – The Limousines ($1.99)
• “Willow of Tears” – Amberian Dawn ($1.99)

File size: 2.99 MB – 40 MB (singles)

Updates

Saints Row 2 – Ultor Exposed Dlc – Sale PS3 (now $6.99, original price $9.99)
Saints Row 2: Corporate Warfare – Sale (now $4.99, original price $6.99)
Call Of Duty: Black Ops Digital – Sale (now $49.99, original price $59.99)
Smash Cars – Sale (now $7.49, original price $14.99)
Auditorium Hd – Sale (now $2.99, original price $9.99)

Avatars

Okabu – Bombbot Avatar ($0.49)

Okabu – Bushybeast Avatar ($0.49)

Okabu – Captain Monkfish Avatar ($0.49)

Okabu – Doza Avatar ($0.49)

Okabu – Kat Avatar ($0.49)

Okabu – Kudu Avatar ($0.49)

Okabu – Picolo Avatar ($0.49)

Okabu – Roki Avatar ($0.49)

Okabu – Uncle Monkfish Avatar ($0.49)

Okabu – Yorubo Avatar ($0.49)

Disgaea 4: Axel Avatar ($0.49)

Disgaea 4: Desco Avatar ($0.49)

Disgaea 4: Emizel Avatar ($0.49)

Disgaea 4: Fenrich Avatar ($0.49)

Disgaea 4: Flonne Avatar ($0.49)

Disgaea 4: Fuka Avatar ($0.49)

Disgaea 4: Valvatorez Avatar ($0.49)

Disgaea 4: Vulcanus Avatar ($0.49)

Saints Row The Third Logo And Genki Avatar Bundle ($2.99)

Saints Row The Third Saints And Sinners Avatar Bundle ($2.99)

Game Videos (free)

The ICO & Shadow of the Colossus Collection Launch Trailer

The ICO & Shadow of the Colossus Collection Bonus Content Video

SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs Demolition Trailer

NBA 2K12 – New Controls Trailer

Dragon’S Dogma 3Rd Trailer

Need For Speed The Run On The Edge Trailer

Absolute Supercars Online And Ai Trailer

The Baconing – Roesha Trailer

Sonic Generations: Genesis Era Trailer

Payday: The Heist – Green Bridge Trailer

Deus Ex: Human Revolution – The Missing Link Launch Trailer

Saints Row The Third: The Wide World Of Genki Trailer

Tom Clancy’S Splinter Cell Classic Trilogy Hd Launch Trailer

Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 – Debut Trailer

Real Steel Promotional Video

Absolute Supercars Tracks Trailer

Sims 3 Pets Trevor Trailer

PS3 Themes

Halloween Dynamic Theme (free)

Worms Arctic Explorer Dynamic Theme ($2.99)

Beat Hazard Ultra – Brutal Theme ($0.99)

Beat Hazard Ultra – Galactic Fire Theme ($0.99)

Beat Hazard Ultra – Ice Burn Theme ($0.99)

The Baconing Premium Theme ($1.99)

Worms Premium Theme ($1.49)

The Walking Dead Static Theme ($1.99)

Abstract: Horizon Light ($2.99)

PlayStation Store for PSP

Add-on Game Content (also available from PS3 Storefront)

Patapon 3 World Map (free)
ESRB rated E
File size: 727 KB

Bundle

Carnivores Bundle ($5.99)
File size: 71 MB

LittleBigPlanet 2: Special Edition = LBP2 + Move + over $35 of bonus goodies

If you’re reading this, we know all/most of you already have LittleBigPlanet 2, but for those of you who don’t, or if you have friends who don’t, this is the perfect time to get your hands on the latest Sackboy adventure. Not just because it’s been one of the most popular games on PS3 in 2011, but because it includes tons and tons of bonus content, including:

• PlayStation Move support: Now you can choose to play LittleBigPlanet 2 with all new Move controls and enjoy the over 6,000 Move games created by fans like you…FOR FREE! Endless Fun!
• LittleBigPlanet 2 Move Pack: Rise of the Cakeling: A whole new adventure in which a rogue cake threatens doom and destruction, and you Sackfolk must once again attempt to restore peace to Craftworld, featuring 5 new levels + 7 mini-levels, and tons of goodies. Plus, all of the cool new Move tools to let you Create and Share your own “Move” games for the rest of the community to Play! This suite of new creative tools give you the power to create your own Move games, record fluid motions, and paint your own stickers, while using a boatload of new stickers, materials, decorations, costumes, music, sound and sequencer objects that will vastly broaden your creative palette, and make your Popit burst at the seams.
• Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story Level Pack– five new levels + two mini-levels + one Alien costume and more goodies.
• Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story Costume Pack – Buzz Lightyear, Slinky Dog, Hamm, and Rex costumes for Sackboy!
• Pets Costumes — The full line of costumes (12) from the Cats Costume Pack, Dogs Costume Pack, and Even More Animals Costume Pack

The LittleBigPlanet 2: Special Edition will be available at select retailers on November 15th, just in time for the holidays. Tell your friends!

LittleBigPlanet 2 PlayStation Move Bundle

It’s everything you need to get Sackboy Moving! The LBP2 PS Move bundle, includes everything you need to enjoy LBP2 in a whole different way, including:

• LittleBigPlanet 2: Special Edition
• 1 PlayStation Move Motion Controller
• 1 PlayStation Move Navigation Controller
• 1 PlayStation Eye Camera

Be on the look out for the LittleBigPlanet 2: Special Edition and LittleBigPlanet 2 PlayStation Move Bundle available at select retailers on November 15th!

UNCHARTED 3 Nathan Drake costume next week

Next week’s release of UNCHARTED 3 is something we’ve all been waiting for. And to keep you in the Nathan Drake mood, next week you’ll be able to download the brand, spanking new, Nathan Drake costume.

The UNCHARTED 3 costume will be available on PSN beginning November 1st.

Birthday Cake costume next week…but for a limited time!

Come celebrate LBP’s third birthday with us with some FREE cake! Next week download the FREE re-release of the “Sackboy in cake” costume, but hurry, it’ll only be on the PS Store for a limited time. The LittleBigPlanet Birthday Cake costume will be available on PSN from November 1st through November 8th.

Let the awards season begin!

Looks like the 2011 awards season is ramping up and we’re honored to be recently nominated by the following organizations:

• Best Game by 2011 British Academy Children’s Awards – After winning a BAFTA in 2009, we’re once again honored to have this prestigious nomination.
• Best Song in a Video Game by 2011 Hollywood Music in Media Awards – The original song created by Winifred Phillips for “Victoria’s Lab” in LittleBigPlanet 2 has always been one of our favorites and glad it’s getting the recognition.

This week on the PlayStation Store

• LittleBigPlanet 2 inviZimals Pack
• LittleBigPlanet Halloween Costume

Community Corner: Must Play Move games

Castle of Infinite Sunset by DiOxi

Timber Ridge by codibear8383

Also, thanks to SilverScorp91 and LittleBigRussia on capturing these levels for our online viewing pleasure. Keep it up!

Hello Zombie aficionados! I wanted to let you know that Zombie Apocalypse: Never Die Alone will be available on PSN later today! Now for those of you who played the first Zombie Apocalypse (released in 2009) welcome back to Konami’s take on the world of the undead. For those of you who are new to this whole experience, I’m here to give you a few brief and yet thoroughly engrossing (emphasis on “gross”) tips about a world that’s near and dear to my heart.

At its core, the game is an overhead twin stick shooter which places a focus on more of a fast-paced arcade type feel. You’ll deal with thousands of zombies throughout the game, all of which are trying their absolute hardest to eat your brain and steal your soul. That’s the bad news. Your job is to use every arsenal at your disposal to fend off the zombie wave and get the hell off this godforsaken Canadian island.

Zombie Apocalypse: Never Die Alone was developed by our good friends at Backbone Entertainment. Believe me when I say, Backbone and I are proud of the work we’ve done on this little game so please do me a favor and check it out. When you finally get your hot little hands on the game, here are a few tips and tricks to keep you alive and well.

Fools Rush In!
Do not play this game as if you were playing the very first Zombie Apocalypse! Meaning – don’t think you’re going to survive solely on blasting zombies left and right. What’s worse, if you try and rush through the traversal levels you’re gonna get pwned! That said, take your time. Use some strategery. Make sure to use your secondary weapons as often as possible. However, my recommendation is that you try and keep some of your Pwnage Powers handy until you’re in a jam. ESPECIALLY, Father Bill’s. Keeping Father Bill’s Pwnage Power handy at all times will definitely mean the different between beating the level and seeing the “reload the level” screen. Sorry people. No mid-level save points here!

Don’t Get Too Fond of Jeremy
Most players will probably try and focus on Jeremy due to the fact that he carries around a fast shooting Sub Machine gun. But ignore your other characters for too long and your skills will absolutely, positively not improve. This will, of course, make the game tougher than it really needs to be. The ONLY way to upgrade any of your characters abilities is to use them and use their abilities. Keep in mind that someone like Alma may not seem as powerful at first (due to her slow shooting Sniper Rifle) but upgrade her skills and you can take out multiple zombies with just one shot making her a bit of a heavyweight out there!

Konami Code
Will you get a bit of an advantage if you use the Konami Code somewhere in the game? Hm… maybe!

A final thought… be on the lookout for Downloadable Content (Pure Pwnage pack!) coming sometime in mid-to-late November. You’ll get a chance to play as the missing character, FPS Doug, and possibly be reacquainted with some old Zombie Apocalypse friends.

Enjoy the game when it hits PSN later today for $9.99.

It’s a tale of souls and swords, eternally retold. And on January 31st, 2012, that tale comes full circle on the PS3 with Soulcalibur V. Set 17 years after the events of Soulcalibur IV, Soulcalibur V is a return to the fast, furious feel that marked earlier entries in the series. I was able to put a pre-release version of Soulcalibur V through its paces to get a feel for the new gameplay tweaks and refinements. After a few intense bouts, I noticed that Soulcalibur V moves at a slightly faster clip than SCIV, and that the Soul Gauge gem has evolved into a full-blown Edge meter that powers Brave Edge attack enhancers and the ultra-damaging Critical Edge finisher. I also spotted new defensive maneuvers, such as the Quick Step evasion and a Just Guard parry. The fighter roster is getting a shakeup as well, with a core group of classic characters being supplemented by a large cast of mysterious new combatants (read more here), headlined by guest character Ezio Auditore from Assassin’s Creed.

After going hands-on with the game, I discussed Soulcalibur V’s gameplay evolution with “Filthy” Rich Bantegui, community manager for Namco Bandai Games and a serious fighting game competitor in his own right. Read on for deeper details on how SCV is carving out its own niche in the crowded console fighting area.

And remember: Leave your questions in the comments!

PlayStation.Blog: How did Ezio Auditore from Assassin’s Creed find his way into the Soulcalibur universe?
Rich Bantegui: As far as the story goes, we haven’t revealed anything yet. In terms of his fighting style, his flow, and his weapons, Ezio fits in perfectly. Ezio should’ve been in this series a long, long time ago! In general, I think that guest characters have taken a bit longer to evolve in terms of gameplay; Darth Vader and Yoda took a little more time for players to master in a competitive setting. I don’t think you’ll see that with Ezio. He’s straightforward. You’ll be able to hop right into it, and he’s got one of the easier Brave Edges. And hey, he’s got a crossbow. You can’t beat that!

Our relationship with Ubisoft has been good; I’ve heard that they’re very happy with how he’s turned out. You’ve never seen him at this close a range with this many moves. Controlling him in Soulcalibur V lets you see him in a new light.

PSB: If you had to compare Ezio’s fighting style to an existing Soulcalibur character, who would it be?
RB: He’s very much his own character, but his closest comparison is probably Mitsurugi in terms of his range and his damage. He hits like a dump truck! He’s not a super fast character, though, so he’s not going to stand toe-to-toe with his opponents — you’ll want to space him out. He’s got cool techniques that enable him to sidestep around incoming attacks and manipulate 3D movement to evade his opponents. His ranged crossbow attacks are quite powerful as well.

PSB: Since Soulcalibur IV came out in 2008, there’s been something of a fighting game renaissance. Has SCV taken any cues or inspirations from the new generation of fighters?
RB: Absolutely. Things like Brave Edge and Critical Edge, the comeback system – these are really appealing to people who play fighting games. The fact that Soulcalibur is set on a 3D arena and it’s a weapon-based fighter…Soulcalibur is a game that everybody knows, but now they have all these new tools and more people to play with. We’re trying to keep our hardcore fans happy but also balance it for people who have never played Soulcalibur.

PSB: Speaking of Critical Edge, it seems to have a big impact on the flow of gameplay. How does this uber-attack change your tactics in a fight?
RB: You’re managing all these different things: Your life bar, your opponents’ life bar, and now your Critical Edge meter. You can divvy it up however you want: you can rush in and use half your bar to perform a Brave Edge attack, or save it up for one Critical Edge finisher. Everything that affects the Edge Meter is completely dependent on the player: The Guard Impact, Brave Edge, and Critical Edge all take away from it.

The Critical Edge and Brave Edge add to the diversity of the game. They let you develop habitual defensive patterns for when your opponent notices you’re conserving your Edge meter [in preparation for a Critical Edge or Brave Edge]. I think it’s really healthy for this series, even though it’s different from what Soulcalibur players are used to. But I know they’ll enjoy it because the depth of the game is going to be taken to a new level.

PSB: I noticed a major shift in Guard Impact from Soulcalibur V – the command has changed and it’s harder to perform. What sparked this change?
RB: We really want to test the guys who play these games in and out. You mentioned earlier that you were able to use Guard Impact in Soulcalibur III and SCIV to effortlessly parry blows. The more you play SCV, the more you’ll understand how to use Guard Impact and Just Guard. When you use Just Guard, you just tap block right before you get hit and you’ll parry the attack and you can interrupt your opponent.

The Guard Impact is more intended for somebody who’s newer to Soulcalibur. It’s the same concept, and you get guaranteed damage but it costs a bit of your Edge Meter. I think Guard Impact will help newcomers will work like a stepping stone to get them into the world of Just Guard.

PSB: Soulcalibur V is said to be the fastest game in the series. What inspired the faster speed?
RB: The EVO crowd and hardcore fans tend to prefer the faster pacing of the earlier games, which forced you to play at close range. SCIV played well, but we wanted to turn it up. Speed is only one element: you need to use your brain, too. There’s been a desire to return the pacing to the series’ roots and, with SCV, I’d say that the speed and pacing is closest to Soulcalibur II. But with the new Quick Step maneuvers, it’s its own beast. The Quick Step lets you sneak behind your opponent if you time it correctly, even moves that you can’t normally dodge using the sidestep or eight-way run.

PSB: I’m hearing that the Character Creator has gotten a massive overhaul for SCV. How does it enhance what we’ve seen before?
RB: You start by choosing which existing character’s move list you want to work with. You’re able to adjust a ton of new variables, including the size of your character’s limbs, physical height, voice, and gender. But those are just the base configurations in SCV. You can layer details on your character, and even completely change the appearance of items you’ve earned. You can really make your character your own. Even if you and your buddy both used “Pants Type B,” there’s absolutely no way that your pants will look alike.

The character creator is a great way to reach new fans, too, players who want to expand their creative mindset. According to the development team, we’ve increased the character creation options by 130% percent. We hope to see tons of crazy creations online when SCV hits this January!

PSB: There are an awful lot of empty slots on the current character select screen. Can you give us any hints?
RB: Absolutely…not! [laughs] It hurts to see the character list that we have internally and not be able to share. I’m so excited for the character roster that we’ll be releasing as time goes on. There are fan favorites in there but also characters that I don’t think anyone will expect. Stay with us! There’s always a lot of excitement over who will make the final character roster, and we don’t want to detract from that.

That said, we’re all about listening to our community. If you like or don’t like a particular character, we want to hear about it. Don’t push your thoughts under the rug. We’re working hard and we listen to our fans. If you have any suggestions, just let us know!

Available beginning today for $39.99, inviZimals: Shadow Zone opens up a secret world around you that is full of hidden creatures that only your PSP can see. There are over 100 inviZimals to search for to build out your collection. Once you start collecting them, you can battle other opponents online or make trades with your friends to get those really hard-to-find creatures!

New to the series is a cooperative capture mode that allows two players to hunt down monsters together. You can also enter tournaments to unlock the ability to mutate and customize your inviZimals as well.

For those looking for a bit of story to go with their monster-hunting, you can travel the world and embark on a new adventure in campaign mode.

To help get PlayStation.Blog readers started, here is a special “Secret” inviZimal to kick off your collection.

First, you will need a PSP 3000, a PSP camera, a copy of InviZimals: Shadow Zone and you’re all set!

On the world map, hold down the Select button and then press the directional buttons in this order: Up, Right, Down, Left. You will hear a sound if done correctly. A new Club location will open up on the map. Enter the wave and aim your PSP camera at the special code on this Blog post to receive a special Invizimal. Don’t forget to press X to capture it!

inviZimals: Shadow Zone is a great game for the younger set offering up a lot of fun in hunting and collecting these magical creatures around your home, garden or wherever!

It’s been a long time since my last PlayStation.Blog post, and today’s entry is a little….different. I’ll start with the marketing facts (inFAMOUS: Festival of Blood available now!!!! $9.99!! Only $7.99 if you are a PlayStation Plus member!!!) but really, I thought I’d give you a little insight into why and how we ended up making a vampire based spin-off of inFAMOUS.

For us, we’d been working for two projects and five-plus years on the main storyline of inFAMOUS. We wanted the DLC to be a chance to take all that art and technology and do something fun and different for players. We knew we couldn’t just release some more missions or a skin pack, so we took a bunch of pitches from all the departments here at the studio for what we might do. We wanted something that fit the world of inFAMOUS, would be fun to work on, and ideally would be unexpected, too.

One of the strong pitches we got was originally called “Vampire City” (a play on “Empire City” from inFAMOUS). The pitch was that Zeke was trying to impress a girl with a tall tale about Cole, Vampires, and the origins of Pyre Night. There was a lot to like about this pitch, some important ones were: finally getting to add flying to inFAMOUS, the strong “Pyre Night” set dressing we could add to New Marais, a solid supernatural basis for new powers, and of course having a launch date in the days before Halloween didn’t hurt, either. So it was decided, and work began!

About the same time, we had some promising PlayStation Move prototypes running. We’d initially thought we would use Move to support UGC authors–but as we progressed, we became convinced we could make the game fully playable with Move. So Move shifted to become a core gameplay feature, and our UGC team decided to tackle our next big wishlist item – “speech bubble” cutscenes. Like making narrative missions? Now you get set-up camera shots and add speech bubbles to characters!

So that’s the story behind “Festival of Blood”… We all hope you enjoy this little “what if” detour in the inFAMOUS universe… From all of us at Sucker Punch, Happy Halloween!!

P.S. I can also confirm the new cutscene tool and PlayStation Move support will appear in the main inFAMOUS 2 game any day now!

Hey everyone! The team at DICE is super excited to get Battlefield 3 into the hands of our PS3 fans. And, if initial reactions are anything to go by, you are equally excited….

Don’t forget: you will be able to purchase, download and play the upcoming expansion pack Battlefield 3: Back to Karkand one week early exclusively on PS3. And hey, don’t miss your chance for everlasting fame and glory – or at least being included in the in-game credits for Back to Karkand. All you have to do to be in the running is to enter our Name it and Claim it! Challenge and submit your suggestion for our new control point on the redesigned Gulf of Oman map. But don’t wait – the challenge closes on October 28th!

But today is all about the launch of the base game. Before I leave you, I just wanted to let you know what Trophies are lying in wait for the skilled and dedicated gamers we know you are. And with that, I hope you enjoy the game. Looking forward to hear from you, here or on Battlelog!

Battlefield 3 Trophies

Not on my watch
Bronze
Protected Chaffin from the soldiers in the street in Operation Swordbreaker.

Roadkill
Bronze
Kicked the car and killed the soldiers in Uprising.

Involuntary Euthanasia
Bronze
Killed the 2 soldiers before the building fell on them in Uprising.

You can be my wingman anytime
Bronze
Completed Going Hunting in a perfect run.

The Professional
Bronze
Completed the street chase in All Russian in under 2 minutes 30 seconds without dying.

Scrap Metal
Bronze
Destroyed 6 enemy tanks before reaching the fort in Thunder Run.

Army of Darkness
Bronze
Shot out the 4 lights in 4 bullets in Night Shift.

Twofor
Bronze
Took down 2 enemies in 1 bullet in Night Shift.

What the hell *are* you?
Bronze
Took a Russian Dog Tag in the forest ambush on Rock And A Hard Place.

Float like a butterfly…
Bronze
Took down the jet in one attempt in Rock And A Hard Place.

Practice makes perfect
Bronze
Headshot each of the targets in the gun range in Kaffarov.

Between a rock and a hard place
Bronze
Beat Soloman, flawlessly, in The Great Destroyer.

Ooh-rah!
Silver
Completed the campaign story.

Semper Fidelis
Gold
Completed the campaign story on Hard.

Push On
Bronze
Reached the garage without going into man-down state in Hit and Run.

In the nick of time
Bronze
Disarmed the bomb in under 20 seconds in The Eleventh Hour.

Car Lover
Bronze
Completed the mission without losing a humvee in Operation Exodus.

Untouchable
Bronze
Completed the mission without using the fire extinguisher in Fire From The Sky.

Bullseye
Bronze
Saved the hostages without alerting any enemies in Drop ‘em Like Liquid.

Ninjas
Bronze
Reached the VIP without setting off the alarm in Exfiltration.

Lock ‘n’ Load
Silver
Unlocked all unique co-op weapons.

Two-rah!
Silver
Completed all co-op missions.

Army of Two
Gold
Completed all co-op missions on Hard.

Vehicle Warfare
Bronze
Recieved all 3 vehicle warfare ribbons.

Support Efficiency
Bronze
Recieved all 4 support efficiency ribbons.

Infantry Efficiency
Bronze
Recieved all 4 weapon efficiency ribbons.

Decorated
Gold
Received one of each ribbon we have in the game.

M.I.A
Bronze
Took your first enemy dogtag.

It’s better than nothing!
Silver
3rd MVP in a ranked match.

1st Loser
Silver
2nd MVP in a ranked match.

Most Valuable Player
Silver
MVP in a ranked match.

Colonel
Gold
Rank 45 achieved!

FlashForward
Bronze
Hidden Trophy

Shock Troop
Bronze
Hidden Trophy

Rad Loot
Bronze
Hidden Trophy

SacreBOOM!
Bronze
Hidden Trophy

Wanted: Dead or Alive
Bronze
Hidden Trophy

No Escape
Bronze
Hidden Trophy