In other news this week, we learned how the ever-intriguing Sumioni: Demon Arts will help you master PS Vita, Evolution Studios revealed a March 6th release date for the adorable PS3 and PS Vita racer MotorStorm RC (complete with a new gameplay trailer), the PlayStation Home team revealed a way to win a trip to E3 2012, Starhawk’s multiplayer beta opened wide for all PSN users, and SCEI’s President and CEO Andy House shared his thoughts on PS Vita’s historic launch. Also, be sure to keep reading today’s Recap to see some important UNCHARTED 3 multiplayer news.

What are you playing this weekend?

• I’m playing: Tekken 6, Rayman Origins and Lumines: Electronic Symphony for PS Vita
• I’m watching: The Wire Season 1, The Walking Dead Season 2
• I’m reading: Not much, I’m afraid. With PS Vita successfully launched, I’ll kick back into my reading schedule this week!
• I’m listening to:: Official PlayStation Blogcast Episode 013: Jack Tretton and the Case of the Colossal OLED Screen

Most-Watched Video of the Week: The Launch of PlayStation Vita

The 10 Most-Viewed Posts of the Week

Courtesy of Arne Meyer

Flashback Map Pack #2 Released and Co-Op Shade Survival Mode Announced – This week marks the release of the Flashback Map Pack #2 for UNCHARTED 3 multiplayer. We posted a new trailer showing off the new maps which you should check out. We also announced a brand new game mode that is coming soon – Co-Op Shade Survival!

UNCHARTED 3 – Patch 1.05 Notes – Patch 1.05 was deployed for UNCHARTED 3 this week, these are the details on what was updated.

UNCHARTED 3 – Flashback Map Pack #2 Fixes – We’ve pushed out a couple of live fixes to Flashback Map Pack #2 to the Plaza map in Competitive and Co-operative modes. In addition, players from the US and EU playing in the same match have sometimes seen some anomalies, which we’ve fixed as well. EU players, you should re-download Flashback Map Pack #2 from the PS Store. US players, you’re good.

Earlier in the development cycle, considered expanding this concept further still with unique characters. However, that idea ended up on the cutting-room floor for several reasons. When presented with too many choices, players tend to fall into an “analysis paralysis” worse than prom night. Too much time spent “mini-maxing” skill trees can take the player out of what we want to be a fast-paced experience.

When you’re playing a single-player game, it’s natural to want to make your character your own. But with Wheels of Destruction we’re interested in creating a visceral online game with solid matchmaking based on raw skill. You boot the game, choose your class and game mode, and in no time you’ll be in the middle of a vehicular battle royale. To support this tempo, you need to be able to make quick choices.

This mindset of on-the-fly decision making led us to another conclusion altogether. Much like the multiplayer shooters we all know so well, players will be able to change their class on the fly like a weapon loadout — a key feature, as the battlefields in Wheels of Destruction are constantly evolving with different needs.

Our class-based system also enables players to experiment and never become too embedded in any one play style, as each car boasts different stats in areas such as speed, rate of fire, and armor. There’s also a separate vehicle class that sets itself apart with exclusive tactical functionality — we’ll be announcing more details on that soon.

Watch the new trailer to see how our Heavy vehicle class bullies his opponents on the battlefield, or catch our with our previous video showing off the nimble Scout class.

This week, the Video Unlimited service adds J. Edgar, starring Leonardo Di Caprio. Plus, Justice League: Doom hits Movies a week before it’s available on DVD and Blu-ray, and find great adventure movies like Commando, Dragonball: Evolution, Top Gun, Cliffhanger, and Shooter in Own $5 Films . See this week’s update here.

The Music Unlimited Service welcomes new releases from Fun., Tyga, and Sleigh Bells, as well as featured titles from Sinead O’Connor, Imagine Dragons, Damien Jurdo, Skrillex & The Doors, B.o.B, and Katy Perry.

If you’ve picked up PS Vita then you’ve probably been too busy plowing through the dense launch line-up to have spent much time browsing the Settings menu. Luckily, you don’t need to – we’ve spent plenty of time with PlayStation’s new crown jewel and we’ve put together a few favorite tips and tricks we wanted to share. Of course, this is just a start: We want your tips, too!

If you’ve discovered any favorite PS Vita functions, please share them in the comments for all to enjoy this weekend.

1. Order in the court! By now, you’ve probably figured out how to move your game and app bubbles around the Home Menu by pressing and holding one using the front touchscreen, enabling you to drag it around into different frame. You can even change the background color or image by tapping the theme icon in the bottom right of each frame. Get creative and design your own background images (which you can transfer to your PS Vita via PS3) like James Gallagher from the EU PlayStation Blog did here.

2. Let there be light. You can adjust your PS Vita’s OLED screen brightness mid-game without the hassle of jumping into the Settings menu. Just hold the PS button to bring up a quick-access menu that enables you to adjust brightness and your custom music options. Wanna listen to the soundtrack to Armageddon while carving through Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus? Don’t miss a thing, baby.

3. Call for backup. Let’s face it: electronic devices have an uncanny affinity for toilets. We can’t prevent that, but we can help ensure you don’t lose your precious saved game data. Simply connect your PS Vita to your PS3 via the USB cable, open up the Content Manager on your PS Vita, and select the the Back Up option to back up all your PS Vita’s game data and gain a little extra peace of mind.

4. Say cheese! PS Vita comes equipped with a simple but game-changing new feature: The ability to snap screenshots of your in-game exploits. Just press the PS button and Start at the same time: You’ll see a white flash and hear the snap of a camera shutter and the resulting image will be saved and neatly categorized in your Photos gallery. You’ll be able to take screenshots in the vast majority of games, though not every game.

5. Prettier PSP games. PS Vita currently supports more than 275 legacy digital PSP games and more are on the way. You can also improve the way those lower-resolution PSP games look on the PS Vita’s screen by pressing and holding the front touchscreen to bring up a Settings menu where you can activate several options. Checking “bilinear filtering” and “color space” seems to yield consistently smoother results, but experiment with your PSP games to find your favorite combination.

6. Slip into something more comfortable. PS Vita enables you to adopt a custom panel to add a little flair to your PSN presence. To change your PSN panel, navigate to Settings, PSN, Account Information, and Panel to choose from a wide assortment of artwork from first and third-party games.

7. Remote Play renaissance. Ever wish you could log into your PS3 remotely to access a video or initiate a PlayStation Store download? This handy feature isn’t technically new — it was supported on PSP — but thanks to PS Vita’s monstrous OLED screen and more powerful processors, it’s more useful than ever. Protip: Remote Play is compatible with any PSone games you may have on your hard drive, along with a handful of classic PSN games such as PixelJunk Monsters, PixelJunk Eden, and Peggle.

8. Bluetooth bliss. PS Vita supports high-quality stereo Bluetooth for audio output, so if you’ve got a nice pair of Bluetooth headphones (ahem), you can pipe in your game audio without restricting wires. In the Settings menu, touch Network and Bluetooth Settings and you’ll be able to pair your headphones to your new PS Vita. If you get stuck on the pairing code, try “0000.” If that doesn’t work, check the manual that came with your headphones (or look it up online) to find the proper four-digit code. Now enjoy a better life — a life without wires!

9. Silence is golden. Some people like soft jazz, others prefer silence. If you want to turn off PS Vita’s toe-tappin’ menu music, you’ll find the option in Settings > Sound & Display > System Music. While you’re there, you’ll notice an AVLS option. This limits the maximum volume when using headphones — perfect if you share your PS Vita with a little one.

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Now that gamers are livin’ la Vita loca (wince), today’s episode is dedicated to tips, tricks, and interviews focused on the newest member of the PlayStation family. During PS Vita’s big launch bash in New York City, our own Jeff Rubenstein caught up with SCEA President and CEO Jack Tretton to discuss early reactions, what’s in store for the next six months — even Tretton’s favorite strategies for boosting his Hot Shots Golf leaderboard placement.

We also spoke with Funbits Interactive to discuss Escape Plan’s use of PS Vita’s dual touchscreens and unusually detailed stat tracking. Then NetherRealm Studios described their experiences in translating Mortal Kombat from PS3 to PS Vita, the importance of hitting 60 frames per second on a handheld console…and even first word of an upcoming playable demo.

We also share first word of next week’s PlayStation Store game lineup (including a surprising turn for a celebrated multiplayer shooter), answer a slew of user questions, pass along a mildly creepy new user tip, and serve up a farm-fresh PSN Gem of the Week.

Give it a listen and let us know what you think. And if you picked up PS Vita, tell us what you’re playing in the comments!

Action Items

• PS Vita User’s Guide (interactive and quite cool)
• PS Vita: Your 3G Questions Answered
• Rayman Origins for PS Vita
• SSX: Mt. Fuji Details and Reviving a Genre
• The Last Guy Review
• The Last Guy is Here to Rescue You

The Cast

• Sid Shuman – PlayStation Sr. Social Media Specialist
• Jeff Rubenstein – PlayStation Sr. Social Media Manager
• Nick Suttner – PlayStation Sr. Product Evaluator

Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music. Special thanks to Astro Gaming headsets for providing audio gear.

[Editor’s note: PSN content release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

Check out the following FAQ regarding the 3G compatibilities of the PS Vita and how to best take advantage of the features it offers.

How can I activate my 3G data service on my PS Vita?
Activating the 3G data service doesn’t require going to an AT&T store or even being at a computer. From right on the PS Vita’s home screen, touch the icon entitled “Network Operator” to launch into the process.

Once you’ve initiated the process, you’ll automatically drop out of any WiFi signal you’re attached to and begin syncing with the AT&T 3G service to pull up the activation site.

You’ll be prompted to purchase a DataConnect Pass, which is month-to-month with no contract.

Continue the process by filling out basic information into the website in order to activate your service. Do NOT hit the PS button to back out of this process or let your PS Vita go to sleep while filling out this form, or you’ll lose all progress and have to start from the beginning.

What are the benefits of a 3G-enabled PS Vita?
With the 3G-enabled PS Vita, you can game with real-time connection and immediately socialize with your community through news feeds and turn-based multiplayer game sessions. You won’t miss a beat since you can stay up to date with continuous scores and game ranking news feeds with LiveArea, compete for in-game Trophies, cross-game text messaging with Party, and connect through popular social apps like Facebook and Twitter, all while on the go. Don’t forget that you can also login to the PS Store over the 3G network to download add-ons for some of your favorite titles and browse new games and content.

What are the different sizes and prices of the data plans offered for AT&T’s 3G service?
Data plans can be purchased month-to-month with no contract (see step-by-step instructions above). The plans come in 250MB ($14.99), 3GB ($30), and 5GB ($50) varieties.

How do I access the Free 250MB 30-Day Promo from AT&T?
Here is how you can gain access to your free 250MB DataConnectPass once you’ve paid for and activated your 3G data package (250MB or larger before 3/31/2012):

1. Login with your user ID and password
2. Expand the “My Devices and Plans” in the account overview
3. Select the Vita device
4. Select “Add a Plan”, and then select “You have earned coupon(s), would you like to redeem?”. The redeemed coupon will be stacked – meaning after the initial purchased session is consumed/expires, then the earned coupon plan will go into effect.

What free game do I get with the AT&T promotion?
Along with the free 250MB DataConnectPass, purchasers of a 3G data package will also receive a digital copy of the newly released Super Stardust Delta Bundle, featuring the full game plus DLC for PS Vita ($14.99 value). This redemption code will be sent to you in an email within 30 days from the date of purchase of a DataConnect Pass.

If I have a DataConnect Pass with AT&T for my iPad, can I login with the same credentials?
No. You will need to create a new account using a different email address for your PS Vita.

If I travel internationally, will my 3G unit still work?
The 3G / WiFi unit will still be able to pick up a 3G signal even when outside of the country. However, additional data packages will need to be purchased in order to cover your data usage during these scenarios. These plans can be purchased on the PS Vita just like your standard 3G data packages.

1. $24.99 for 50MB in over 100 select countries*
2. $49.99 for 125MB in over 100 select countries*
3. $99.99 for 275MB in over 100 select countries*
4. $199.99 for 800MB in over 100 select countries*

*see www.att.com/datconnectglobal for a list of countries. Countries in the Global Data Connect plans may change at AT&T’s discretion.

Who can I contact if I run into service issues with the 3G service?
The AT&T customer care contact info and hours are as follows:
AT&T technical support hours: 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM Monday through Friday, 9:00AM to 9:00PM Saturdays, closed on Sundays (Local Market Time)
AT&T Customer Service number: 800-331-0500

How can I view my current data usage?
From the PS Vita, go into the Network Operator application. Once there, selecting “My Devices and Plans” will bring up a list of all of the 3G activated devices under your account. Upon selecting a device, the current data usage will be displayed.

How can I cancel my data plan?
From the PS Vita, please go into the Network Operator application. Once there, selecting “My Devices and Plans” will bring up a list of all of the 3G activated devices under your account. Upon selecting a device, there will be an option to cancel the data plan.

I have a very specific 3G PS Vita and/or AT&T question, is there a place where these answers might be?
For more granular questions pertaining to the 3G / WiFi PS Vita or AT&T’s service, please refer to our detailed FAQ — http://us.playstation.com/psvita/att/faq/

So PS Vita is officially out! Many of you are probably holding it in your hands right now, basking in that “new system smell” and lovingly polishing that beautiful screen to a glossy sheen. I know I am!

Still, PS Vita is dauntingly new and different from what I’m used to as a gamer. The touchscreen and the rear touch pad are like strange creatures to one such as I, having played mostly PSP titles since 2006. Even brief stints with other touchscreen devices couldn’t have hoped to prepare me for the subtle sensitivities and nuances of PS Vita – to say nothing of the way it harmoniously mixes its multi-touch functionality with traditional analog stick and button controls.
As more and more PS Vita games utilize these unique features (and game designs get more and more complex and challenging in the process), learning to switch between analog controls and touchscreen actions on the fly, or learning when and how to get the most out of the rear touch pad, will become absolutely essential to your gaming survival.

And that’s where Sumioni: Demon Arts comes in.

Due for release in North America next month, Acquire and XSEED Games’ Sumioni: Demon Arts is a 2D action/platformer with a classical Japanese setting and a general theme of using ink to thwart your enemies’ nefarious plans. And although your main character is controlled primarily through the left analog stick and action buttons, Sumioni also makes use of PS Vita’s touchscreen and rear touch pad in ways quite unlike any other title currently available or planned. And let me tell you, it really is a gratifying experience to walk with the left analog stick upon platforms you’re literally painting into existence on the fly, or to stand still for a mere moment amidst hellish chaos to restore vast quantities of “ink power” by furiously stroking the rear touch pad with every available finger. And don’t even get me started on how fun it is to set enemy pagodas ablaze with your pointer finger alone!

Sound a little too complicated for you? Well, take it from someone who’s always shied away from touchscreen gaming in the past: it’ll become second nature to you in no time, and you’ll have an absolute blast with it to boot. Not only will Sumioni: Demon Arts help get you used to the feel of Vita gaming in general, it may just help you get really good at it, too! In my opinion, no other game in PS Vita’s launch window library combines traditional and new control schemes quite so effectively. If any game can make a PS Vita master out of you, surely this is the one.

So make sure you’re ready for action next month! And if you don’t have PS Vita yet… well, what are you waiting for? It’s a truly amazing system, and you won’t be able to play Sumioni: Demon Arts without it!

With PS Vita’s launch week in full effect, we wanted to give PlayStation.Blog readers just one more slice of Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen. Have any of you elite assassins picked up both PS Vita and this stealth-action game?

My good friend from Acquire, Hiroshi Watanabe, wanted to share his experiences in developing Shinobido 2 for PS Vita. Fans are important to us and to this industry; even Mr. Watanabe started out as a student and was a BIG fan of the first Shinobido game for PS2. In his role as programmer, Watanabe put a lot of work into making the gameplay pop — and with the new trailer, and the game now out in the wild, you can see for yourself.

Check out our trailer and screens in the update below. Oh, and newfound PS Vita owners: let us know what you think of Acquire’s latest (and bloodiest!) adventure!

Hello. I’m Hiroshi Watanabe, a programmer for Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen. Like some of the other development team members, I was also once just a student who spent my fair share of playtime on the Shinobido series. I was already a huge fan when the PS2 game Shinobido: Way of the Ninja launched. So you can imagine my excitement when I got to join the development team for the game’s newest iteration on a new handheld console, PS Vita.

Anyway, as fans of the previous Shinobido titles know, I believe that the one of the most attractive features of the series is the “Harakiri engine.” It immediately responds to the situation between the three daimyo (warlords), allowing for a variety of stories, and of course missions. And let’s not forget the game’s fast-paced action. Without a doubt, the newly added “Fukurou” and “Zankoku” definitely make this game special.

Shinobido 2’s many various objects in the game are actually what make the game stand out so much from other stealth titles — and I personally prepared them! These interactive objects provide extra spice to the world of feudal Japan, and mean that swordplay is not the only way to dispatch your enemies. The interactive objects provide new strategies, whether it’s making a pile of logs collapse on an enemy, you throwing a bucket to create a distracting sound, slashing right through sliding doors, throwing tiny Buddha statues at an enemy’s head, or detonating stacks of buckets using explosives. Of course, it was no small feat creating and adjusting so many objects.

Now that Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen is officially out in North America and Europe, we couldn’t be happier to finally have fans (just like I was and still am) getting their hands on the final product.

The most talked about demo on PSN finally arrives in its full glory and with exclusive access to Mount Fuji, when SSX returns and performs a “front-side switch ollie” onto your PS3.

The unique multiplayer experience of Killzone 3, sheds the single-player campaign and arrives solo onto the PlayStation Store. PS Vita demos come in fours this week, with Touch My Katamari and Reality Fighters leading the pack. And PlayStation 2 classics brings Primal to PSN.

Enjoy this week’s The Drop.

PlayStation 3

SSX – Redefining the franchise, SSX pits riders against both mountain and man. Players explore the story of a team who seek to be the first to descend the faces of the most treacherous mountain ranges on the planet. The team travels the world to face the worst that Mother Nature can throw at them. From the peaks of the Himalayas, where the air is so thin that riders have to descend through the death zone at breakneck speeds to keep from blacking out, to the solid ice ranges of Antarctica, where a sunlit line is the only survival option when temperatures drop 50 degrees centigrade in the shade. And the mountain isn’t the only danger players will face. In SSX the first goal is to survive. The second, in true SSX fashion, is to look good doing it.

Binary Domain – Binary Domain puts players in the middle of a fast paced and intense battle for humanity in a robot-invaded 2080 Tokyo. Fighting through the derelict lower levels of the city, players control an international peace-keeping squad that soon starts to question their surroundings and the choices they make. Are the robots becoming more human, or are humans becoming more like machines?

Hyperdimension Neptunia Mk-II – Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2 is a sequel to Hyperdimension Neptunia and contains brand new main characters, as well as returning characters, and the gameplay has been updated so as to remove the random encounter feature. New maps and a brand new world feature as well, and the cut scenes have been upgraded to 3D from the old 2D visual novel style cut scenes.

Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition – After centuries of Mortal Kombat, Emperor Shao Kahn has finally defeated Raiden and his allies. Faced with extinction, Raiden has one last chance to save Earthrealm. To undo the Emperor’s victory, he must strike Shao Kahn where he is vulnerable…the Past. The pumped-up Komplete Edition of this blockbuster fighter includes a variety of add-on packs, including four additional characters and 15 bonus character skins.

PlayStation Network

Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest (Full PS3 Digital / PS Move Support) – From the same team that brought you Sports Champions, one of the best selling Move titles, Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest is a fantasy, action adventure game that is played with PlayStation Move that uses a unique set of motion control functionality, allowing players to seamlessly transition between throwing projectiles, sword fighting and archery for an intuitive and immersive gameplay experience.

Killzone 3: Multiplayer – In the wake of Visari’s death, Helghan has devolved into a world of political scheming, rapid infighting, and murder. Now, the two most powerful men on Helghan are fighting for complete and utter dominance while Visari’s vision of Helghan is in jeopardy. With limited supplies and no re-enforcements, the ISA must now fight not to win a war, but to survive a lost one.

Storm – This is a puzzle game in which players grow seeds into trees by guiding them through nature-themed levels. Players can use wind, lightning, and rain to transport seeds past obstacles while reaching various checkpoints.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Full PS3 Digital) – To save his life, the fundamental choice of whether or not to become augmented with cybernetics has been removed from Adam Jensen’s life. Driven by the conviction of never having a choice taken from him again and using his newfound power, his need for answers will unravel the truth behind a conspiracy rooted in the foundation of the world around him as it incites a new revolution.

PS3 Demos

• Major League Baseball 2K12
• Top Gun: Gunlock
• FIFA Street
• The Simpsons: Arcade Game

PS Vita Demos

• Touch My Katamari
• Dynasty Warriors Next
• ModNation Racers: Road Trip
• Reality Fighters

minis

• Ducati Challenge
• Trailblazer

PlayStation 2 Classics

Primal – Primal lies in a dark, fantastical realm between the mortal world and the afterlife, where an eternal struggle between order and chaos rages. Abaddon (Chaos) has tired of his personal conflict with Arella (Order) and is breaking the rules. It’s up to you, as half-demon Jennifer Tate, to team up with Scree the Living Gargoyle to bring Abaddon down and set things right again. Boasting state-of-the-art motion captured animation, advanced AI routines, and integrated cutscenes, Primal offers players four diverse realms and four unique demon forms to toy with. The ability to switch between Screen and Jen on the fly should prove invaluable for solving puzzles and the dynamic loading technology keeps disc access to a minimum.

[Editor’s Note: The following dates are subject to change. Game details are gathered from Press Releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

The PS.Blog weekly reading list (Week of February 13, 2012)

• Super Stardust Delta Review – Vivid Gamer
• Uncharted: Golden Abyss Review – Vivid Gamer
• Plants vs. Zombies Vita Review – PlayStation Vita Review at IGN
• MLB 12 The Show Interview with CC Sabathia – Gamerfitnation
• So last night I had one of the most amazing gaming experiences of my life – GamesRadar
• The Launchies: PlayStation Vita launch awards – GamesRadar
• The A-Z of PS Vita: 26 words you should learn – GamesRadar
• Impressions: PS Vita’s free AR games -Destructoid
• Review: Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack -Destructoid
• Persona 3, Tactics Ogre, and other PSP RPGs that will live on my Vita – Joystiq
• Guess Who’s Back? – SEGA Blog
• Q&A;: Sony’s Game Design Chief Talks PlayStation Vita – Wired.com
• Rayman Origins Reviews – GameSpot.com
• Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus Reviews – GameSpot.com
• Lumines: Electronic Symphony Reviews – GameSpot.com
• Twisted Metal Review – GameSpot.com
• PlayStation Vita Roundtable – Game Revolution
• New Tricks: An Interview With Naughty Dog’s Co-Presidents – www.GameInformer.com
• Review: Vita sets new standard for portable games – Yahoo! News
• Sony’s Jack Tretton Talks PlayStation Vita – PS3 Feature at IGN
• PlayStation Vita Review – Business Insider
• PS Vita Review – Super Stardust Delta – PlayStation LifeStyle
• Escape Plan Review for PS Vita – PlayStation LifeStyle
• Plants Vs Zombies PS Vita Review – PlayStation LifeStyle
• Uncharted Comes of Age With Golden Abyss – Forbes
• Sony’s PlayStation Vita: The little console that could? – latimes.com
• Sony Playstation Vita is a Win for Fans and Tech Creators – Rolling Stone
• MotorStorm RC Review – PlayStation Vita Review at IGN
• CC Sabathia talks ‘The Show,’ love for PlayStation – Page 2 – ESPN
• PlayStation chief on the Vita and how it will defy the odds – The Verge
• Sony’s Jack Tretton Talks PlayStation Vita – IGN
• Twisted Metal review – Shacknews.com
• The Vita offers portable gaming with no compromises, and we’re smitten – The PA Report

Between DICE taking place last week and Tim Schafer successfully turning to Kickstarter to fund a Double Fine-developed graphic adventure, there has been a lot of talk recently about the role publishers serve in the videogame industry. There is the belief among many people that publishers do little more than stifle innovation, a suggestion Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg takes issue with.

During a panel at DICE, Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter made the case that today’s publishing model isn’t good for for the industry. Publishers are opposed to risks and many shy away from bringing out games unlikely to sell millions of units, he said, also adding, “We are getting fewer choices as consumers because financial guys are taking over. Financial guys are making the decisions.”

When I first downloaded God of War creator David Jaffe’s PSN game, Calling All Cars, I didn’t quit playing until my thumbs literally grew too sore to continue. The game borrowed heavily from NBA Jam despite its cops & robbers aesthetic, and like that arcade classic, my friends and I fought down to the wire in every round. Though Jaffe has in the past referred to the game as a “mistake,” I would place it above the original God of War as my favorite game of his. I know it seems strange to value a forgotten PSN downloadable title above one of the best PS2 games of all time, but I’ve come to a point where I prefer experiences that don’t aspire to tell a grand story, and I’m thankful that game creators like Jaffe feel the same way.

Jaffe explained his feelings to other game makers in a presentation recorded by Gamespot at last week’s DICE summit, “My talk is actually a warning about why we shouldn’t tell stories with our video games. I think it’s a bad idea. I think it’s a waste of resources and time and money and more importantly I think it actually stunts, and has stunted over the last ten years or so, the medium of video games.”