Commander Fury

Today we began previewing a completely redesigned <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-store/">PlayStation Store</a> for <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PlayStation 3</a>. We’ve listened closely to you and have incorporated your feedback to build a new PlayStation Store with a stunning new user interface, including simple search and powerful content discovery for an in-store experience that is more streamlined and accessible than ever before. PlayStation Store now offers more than 20,000 pieces of game-related content including downloadable games, add-ons and themes and over 100,000 videos and TV shows. With so much to choose from, the redesign offers easier navigation and improved discovery to locate the perfect game, video or application. Product pages will deliver in-depth information about games and videos, while providing an amazing visual experience similar to the advanced high-definition games found only on PS3. More...

The loyal PlayStation.Blog readers amongst you might have noticed that we’ve been unusually quiet in recent times, but no longer, today we come bearing gifts! For all our RPG-loving fans, we’re excited to bring you the world’s first screenshots of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/final-fantasy-xiv/">Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn</a> on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a> (Chocobos included)! In our first PlayStation 3 reveal, we wanted to give you a guided tour around the game's interface and menus. With a wealth of different options and commands at your fingertips at any time, it was important for us to create an elegant UI that is easy to read and navigate. Taking inspiration from previous games, the look and feel of the new Final Fantasy will be instantly familiar to long-time fans of the series. More...

God of War fans -- a ton of you have already <a href="http://www.godofwar.com/teaser/en_US/">pre-ordered</a> God of War: Ascension, and those of you that haven’t are probably waiting to see just exactly what's included in that Mythological Heroes Pack you get for pre-ordering. Or maybe you’re stuck deciding between the standard edition or the Collector’s Edition? Either way, feast your eyes on the Collector’s Edition content below, all of which you get for $79.99. And if you pre-order <link> either the Collector’s Edition or the Standard Edition today, you’ll receive the incredibly badass Mythological Heroes Multiplayer Pack below, so you can play as your favorite Greek hero in Multiplayer! More...

Hey PlayStation Nation! We're launching <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PS Vita</a>’s all-new social brain training game, <a href="http://us.playstation.com/psvita/games-and-media/psv-smart-as.html?CMP=soc_us__ac_sm_05_21_12">Smart As</a>, on October 30th in North America. We’ve been hard at work loading Smart As with fun and engaging puzzle games to put your mental might to the test with challenges in four key areas: Logic, Arithmetic, Language and Observation. As we <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/08/13/john-cleese-is-the-voice-of-ps-vitas-smart-as/">recently announced</a>, Smart As also features the voice talent of Monty Python’s John Cleese; so as you train, you’ll receive his encouragement and cheeky commentary. Better still, as you play and improve your scores, you’ll get to share your stats with Smart As fans from around the world via the online leaderboards, as well as on Facebook and Twitter. More...

The <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PS Vita</a> version of 2007's <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PlayStation 3</a> dice ‘em up Ninja Gaiden Sigma was satisfying evidence of just how comfortable a full, lightning-fast console action game can feel on a handheld. Duly, Team Ninja’s announcement last month that a sequel – Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus – is currently in development came as very welcome news. PlayStation.Blog sat down for a quick chat with Team Ninja boss Yosuke Hayashi to find out what it has in store with its new Vita game, as well as mysterious new project Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z and recent release <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/dead-or-alive-5/">Dead or Alive 5</a>. More...

<a href="http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/games/the-unfinished-swan-ps3.html?CMP=soc_us__ac_sm_05_21_12">The Unfinished Swan</a> is an unusual game with an unusual history. We wanted to give you an exclusive look into its history before it lands on PSN October 23rd -- as well as some secrets you'd never guess. Find out where we came up with the idea, who helped make it happen, and some techniques we used to make the game feel just right. <strong>Virtual reality:</strong> The Unfinished Swan started as a student project in the University of Southern California's Interactive Media program. Originally it was meant to be played with a head-mounted display. Over time, the game eventually became a PS3 exclusive. <strong>Showing our roots:</strong> The pond, which is the opening area of The Unfinished Swan, hasn't changed since we entered the game into the Independent Games Festival in 2009. The reasons were partly to keep a homage to the area that got us started, and also because it's a successful level layout. More...

Howdy, doods! I’m dropping by today to briefly talk about our upcoming RPG title <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/03/30/nis-talks-ps3-rpgs-legasista-mugen-souls-the-witch-and-the-hundred-knights/">Mugen Souls</a>, developed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idea_Factory">Idea Factory</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compile_Heart">Compile Heart</a>. Mugen Souls is set to release next Tuesday, October 16th, so I’d like to go over a few of the game's awesome features and game mechanics. Afterwards, I'll recap a few of the announcements we made at Tokyo Game Show 2012 a few weeks back. Here we go! Story-wise, in Mugen Souls you can expect the typical humor and zaniness you've come to expect from NIS America titles. You'll enter a small galaxy in the universe containing seven worlds, shimmering in seven colors... These worlds exist and act independent of one another. This has allowed them to develop and nurture rich, unique cultures. One day, a decree was sent out... “I'm gonna make <em>everything</em> in each of these worlds bow to me!†This reckless statement came courtesy of the egotistical, yet strangely cute, “Chou-Chou.†As Chou-Chou, it's your mission to travel to these seven worlds, conquer them, and make everything and everyone on them your peon! Worldly domination for the win, dood! More...

At its core, <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/the-unfinished-swan/">The Unfinished Swan</a> is about the joy of creation and self-discovery. These themes revolve around two central characters: one young, who has dealt with great loss and loneliness, and one old, who must reconcile his current stage of life as well as his fate. One of the initial conversations I had with Peter Scaturro, music supervisor at the Santa Monica Studio involved using the key components of the score to offset the melancholy of the story. I consciously steered away from anything that felt too sad, stark or desolate. Instead, I focused on crafting a mood that was lush, curious, and warm. We wanted the music to serve as a companion for Monroe and the player as they explored the world of the game. More...

By now, you may have already picked up <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/dishonored/">Dishonored</a>, Arkane Studios’ well-reviewed stealth-action PS3 game that’s now available on Blu-ray <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/10/09/playstation-store-update-260/">and PSN</a> as part of PlayStation Store's <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/09/25/psn-day-1-digital-get-these-8-ps3-games-digitally-on-release-day/">Day 1 Digital program</a>. Dishonored is a complex, nuanced game that empowers players to make important decisions -- not the least of which is who lives and who dies. To ease the learning curve, I’ve put together some helpful (and spoiler-free!) tips to get you sneaking smoothly on day one. If you picked up a copy of the game, share your own strategies in the comments below. <strong>1. Playing lethal is easier, but nonlethal is more fun.</strong> One of Dishonored’s fundamental charms is that a properly motivated player can progress through the entire game without killing a soul. More...

Hello God of War Fans! Sony Santa Monica is very excited to be teaming up with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to get you some exclusive hands-on time with <a href="http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/games/god-of-war-ascension-ps3.html?CMP=soc_us__ac_sm_05_21_12">God of War: Ascension</a> on December 18th. For a limited time, when you purchase the Director’s Cut Total Recall Blu-ray and Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack you will receive the E3 2012 God of War Ascension <a href=" ">Single Player demo</a>. Both Blu-rays feature the Extended Directors Cut, which includes 20 minutes of new footage not shown in theaters, including an alternate ending and over 1.5 hours of special features and Blu-ray exclusive content. The God of War: Ascension Single Player demo is available with this special offer on the Blu-ray hybrid disc. More...

<a href="http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/games/dishonored-ps3.html?CMP=soc_us__ac_sm_05_21_12">Dishonored</a> is available today on the PlayStation Store, and if you pre-ordered it you should have received your dynamic theme. There are a few other PS3 full games out today, including Birds of Steel, Naughty Bear, The Testament of Sherlock Holmes and a Devil May Cry HD Collection (complete with Trophy support). Another fine addition to the PS Store is the next installment of The Walking Dead episodic adventure. Fans of the series will be happy to hear that Episode 4 – Around Every Corner, is now available. The latest game to hop on the Cross-Buy trend, if you purchase <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/retro-city-rampage/">Retro City Rampage</a> on PSN or PS Vita, you’ll be able to download the other version at no additional cost. Although there are only a few PSone classics being added to the PS Vita store this week, there are several other PS Vita titles releasing today including <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/doctor-who-the-eternity-clock/">Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock</a>, Spy Hunter and <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/sunflowers/">Sunflowers</a>. More...

<a href="http://www.atari.com/warlords">Warlords</a>, one of Atari's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warlords_(1980_video_game)">original and celebrated arcade titles</a>, is launching in updated form for the PlayStation Network today! We have a never-before-seen, exclusive launch trailer to show PlayStation.Blog readers right now. Enjoy! I'm sure there are readers out there who’ve spent many hours in the arcades playing Warlords and other Atari games back in the 80s. With this new PSN version, we wanted to capture all the fast-paced, multiplayer fun that made the original a hit in its day. But as you'll see, Warlords has been completely overhauled with a new identity for modern consoles, yet we really felt it important to keep it as true to the original as possible. As Nolan Bushnell used to say, Atari games are "simple to play, difficult to master.†I think you'll find that to be the case with Warlords. More...

In an updated release of rules found here. Microsoft addresses the many users out there that make money by creating videos or live streaming their game content: You may post your Item to a page or website that has advertising, but only if you do not earn any money from that advertising. *For example, if [...] <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/LbNv_-IKzMMr4S6kb01W7AerNlc/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/LbNv_-IKzMMr4S6kb01W7AerNlc/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/LbNv_-IKzMMr4S6kb01W7AerNlc/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/LbNv_-IKzMMr4S6kb01W7AerNlc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/UrgentFuryUnleashed?a=776CVrTClOg:h8tf5ixuJNQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/UrgentFuryUnleashed?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/UrgentFuryUnleashed?a=776CVrTClOg:h8tf5ixuJNQ:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/UrgentFuryUnleashed?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/UrgentFuryUnleashed?a=776CVrTClOg:h8tf5ixuJNQ:Ly1H5S7uc7A"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/UrgentFuryUnleashed?d=Ly1H5S7uc7A" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UrgentFuryUnleashed/~4/776CVrTClOg" height="1" width="1"/> More...

In an updated release of rules found here. Microsoft addresses the many users out there that make money by creating videos or live streaming their game content: You may post your Item to a page or website that has advertising, but only if you do not earn any money from that advertising. For example, if you post your video on Youtube or Vimeo and there happens to be an advertisement next to it, then as long as you don’t get paid for that advertisement, the fact that there is an advertisement on the page doesn’t break these Rules. But enrolling in the Youtube partner program (or other similar programs), where you are entering into an agreement to get paid, is not allowed. On a similar note, if you create and distribute a free app, then you can’t earn any money from advertising in that app. Previous language (UPDATE): Except as described here, you can’t sell or otherwise earn any compensation from your Item, including through advertisements in the Item. We will let you have advertising or optional donation requests on the page hosting the Item, but that’s it. That means you can’t sell your Item, post it on a site that requires subscription or other fees, or post it on a page you use to sell other items or services (even if they have nothing to do with Game Content or Microsoft). You may use the Item to enter a contest or sweepstakes as long as the contest organizers agree to follow these rules. Where someone is trying to promote their commercial venture (even just a commercial website) with your Item, they need our permission to do this. If they’ve got our permission you’ll know. Source web.archive.org Now what that is saying in shorthand, If you earn money from being a partner with YouTube, Blip.tv, and pretty much any other service that offers a revenue share on ads, you cannot use content from the following: Halo (all versions) Forza Motorsport (all versions)* Fable (all versions) Kinectimals Kinect Adventures Kinect Joy Ride Age of Empires (all versions) Flight Simulator (all versions)* Kameo Perfect Dark Zero Project Gotham Racing (all versions)* Shadowrun Viva Piñata So for all of you guys out there getting ready for the launch of Halo 4, looks like your dreams of making it rich off of YouTube or Twitch are going to fall short. Update As posted by Stinkles on NeoGAF As I mentioned in the Halo community thread, these rules actually haven’t really changed, and even the updated and clarified text has been up there for months. I assume somebody just noticed this and posted this morning because it sort of blew up. This has always been the Legal status for the IP (and MOST IPs in fact), and as you also already know, nobody is being sued, or in jail, etc etc etc. The language isn’t designed to stop kids streaming their games, or covering their costs, it’s designed to stop big companies from using somebody else’s IP to run a business. We’ll put together some language that will help community people navigate this easily, and give people workarounds. I am curious as to who the Big Companies are… seeing as how it clearly states if you are a YouTube Partner you are not allowed to monetize the content Update 10:55 pm cst As you may see with a little research on previous versions of these terms, at no time was there such a direct mention of YouTube and other services as such. In previous versions it was even ok to have ads on the site hosting the video. So this is clearly a major change in their stance in compared to previous terms. View the full article

At the best of times, being a teenage shark constructed entirely of paper isn't easy. For Derrick, having just witnessed the brutal soupification of his parents, this was the worst of times. Derrick the Deathfin is available on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a> right now for $7.99, and <a href="http://us.playstation.com/psn/playstation-plus/">PlayStation Plus</a> subscribers get a 30% discount for a limited time! Join Derrick on his demented rampage through an insane paper world! Consume, collect, fight, jump and race your paper face through 32 levels of challenging cutout craziness! Meet, greet and eat all manner of goofy paper characters! Decimate man-made mega structures in an orgy of corrugated destruction! Duel to the death with big brittle baddies! Propel yourself into the air like a penguin strapped to a rocket! More...

It’s been two weeks since we released <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/tokyo-jungle/">TOKYO JUNGLE</a> and we‘re thrilled with the comments we’ve received from players. Thanks to everyone who is enjoying the game! Today, we are releasing four additional animal characters (Crocodile, Giraffe, Kangaroo, Panda) and giving away more costumes, so please be sure to check out PlayStation Store this afternoon. In other news, we’ve received many questions about TOKYO JUNGLE’s premise and gameplay, so we asked Game Director Yohei Kataoka from <a href="http://www.crispy.co.jp">Crispy’s</a> and Producer Masaaki Yamagiwa from Japan Studio to elaborate on the game’s concept and inception. More...

This Wednesday, October 3rd, The Casino gets a new game, lots of Halloween goodies from Heavy Water, Lockwood and Hellfire Games hit just in time to help you celebrate the holiday, Granzella brings even more to the beach, and more. Here’s what you can enjoy this week. Don’t forget! Today is Canadian Thanksgiving. Visitors of The Casino will all get a very special, uniquely Canadian reward in honor of the holiday, but you have to get in there TODAY! (Read: it will be gone tomorrow!) Everyone from Heavy Water wishes the Home community an early “Happy Halloween!†There’s everything from apparel to furniture, and even an enchanting companion! Are you going for the festive and natural setting? Try the Pumpkin Patch, Spooky Stump, Wrought Iron Fence and Animated Harvest Moon Window. More...

After months (years?) of anticipation, the big moment is almost here: <a href="http://www.vblank.com/">VBlank Entertainment</a>'s long-gestating 8-bit open-world homage <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/retro-city-rampage/">Retro City Rampage</a> comes to <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a> and <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PS Vita</a> tomorrow on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a>, complete with the ever-coveted Cross Buy and Cross Save features. Let's give the freshly released launch trailer a looksee! If you've never heard of Retro City Rampage, a) shame on you and I scarcely know where to begin! Imagine jamming all your favorite 8-bit games into a sprawling open world ala Grand Theft Auto and you'll have a rough sense of this game's special brand of pixelated magic. Retro City Rampage has more than 60 Story missions that span driving, stealth, platforming, shooting, swimming, and questing (just to name a few) as well as 40 Arcade challenges if you're in need of a quick release. More...

Once again, we’re here to brighten your Monday with the weekly update on incoming Plus content this week. So far in October, NFL Blitz joined the Instant Game Collection and Plus members received some discounts on Alex Kidd and Spelunker. This week, please join us in thanking our friends at Atlus for delivering the legendary King of Fighters XIII, free for Plus members! These updates will take effect with the October 9th (that’s tomorrow!) PlayStation Store update. Also, we’ve got another poll for you. This time, we’re curious to know what you would be most interested to see in PS Plus on PS Vita. The service is scheduled to arrive this November, and we’ll have more concrete information as we lead up to launch. And remember, it’s all one Plus subscription whether you get Plus now, or later. Don’t forget to also rank this post in the upper right corner too; we use all that data. More...

Why, hello again <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/the-walking-dead/">The Walking Dead</a>. We seem to see you top these charts every time one of your episodes releases -- in this case Episode 3: Long Road Ahead. Maybe it’s your emphasis on great characters and story telling? Or maybe it’s the crazy outcomes of your in-game choices and how they affect later episodes. Either way, congratulations once again on Episode 3: Long Road Ahead and its dominance of the charts in September! Other respectable debuts include Jet Set Radio, Borderlands 2, and Tokyo Jungle. <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PS Vita</a> had a great September as well, with amazing games like LittleBigPlanet PS Vita and Madden 13 hitting hard, and August’s Sound Shapes rounding out the top three. Check out the full results below and let us know what your predictions for the charts are for October! More...

In one day, we will release <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/dishonored/">Dishonored</a>, our new first-person action game developed by the talented team at <a href="http://www.arkane-studios.com/uk/index.php">Arkane Studios</a>. Dishonored puts you in the role of Corvo Attano, bodyguard of the Empress of Dunwall. A pretty good gig... until you're falsely accused of killing her, kidnapping her daughter, and subsequently imprisoned and tortured by the sinister Lord Regent. Despite this, you remain the best hope for saving Dunwall, where plague is rampant and the city is on the verge of dystopia. Early in your adventure, you will receive "The Outsider's Mark" -- a mysterious tattoo on your left hand that grants you supernatural abilities. As you progress through the game, this mark will allow you to unlock new abilities, each of which can be upgraded to a second level for improved functionality. More...

Following our LittleBigPlanet Cap Challenge last week to tweet <a href=" http://twitter.com/LittleBigPlanet" >@LittleBigPlanet</a> with a screenshot of your Sackperson wearing the Launch Spacesuit in <a href="http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/games/littlebigplanet-2-ps3.html?CMP=soc_us__ac_sm_05_21_12">LittleBigPlanet 2</a> or <a href="http://us.playstation.com/psvita/games-and-media/psv-littlebigplanet-playstation-vita.html?CMP=soc_us__ac_sm_05_21_12">LittleBigPlanet PS Vita</a>, we put the word out that we would award further LittleBigPlanet Caps for anything tweeted our way that catches our eye. And <a href="http://twitter.com/lasselund">@LasseLund</a> did just that! Presenting the LittleBigPlanet Nursery. We were so blown away by the sheer awesomeness of this nursery that not only was Lasse awarded the LittleBigPlanet Cap, we also sent a Rare Prize Crown his way to commemorate this wonderful nursery that’s waiting for their new arrival! More...

<a href="http://ibbandobb.com/">ibb and obb</a> is a cooperative puzzle-platformer with a gravity twist that will launch on PSN next spring. In the earliest stages of development, the game was called Brothers. Looking back at that now, it means a lot more than I thought it did. My fondest memories of games are those that I played together with my brother or close friends. It has always surprised me how few games are really designed around two-player interaction. With ibb and obb we’ve tried to do just that. The gameplay revolves around a world with two directions of gravity, but even more so it’s about the interaction between the players. All elements in the game are designed for two, ranging from the way you solve puzzles to handling enemies. For example, when one player takes out an enemy the other tries to be ready on the other side of the split to fetch the reward. More...

<p style="text-align: justify;">On <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a> this week, Dishonored is an immersive first-person action game that casts you as a supernatural assassin driven by revenge. Creatively eliminate your targets as you combine the supernatural abilities, weapons and unusual gadgets at your disposal. Pursue your enemies under the cover of darkness or ruthlessly attack them head on with weapons drawn. The outcome of each mission plays out based on the choices you make.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">XCOM: Enemy Unknown also comes to PS3 this week. Threatened by an unknown enemy, the Earth's governments unite to form a secret paramilitary organization, known as XCOM, to combat this extraterrestrial attack. As the commander of XCOM, you control the global defense team and its resources in a battle against the terrifying alien invasion.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">On <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a> and <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PS Vita</a>, Retro City Rampage offers a unique parody of the open-world action genre that takes modern game mechanics and mashes them into an authentic 8-bit experience. Tackle over 50 story missions featuring driving, shooting, platforming and more.</p> More...

While you’re reading this, I’m either sleeping or cooking bacon. Ah, Saturdays. Anyway, it’s time for the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/psn-spotlight/">PSN Community Spotlight</a>. For the unfamiliar, this is where PlayStation gamers tell their unique stories/experiences/thoughts, as submitted to this section in the <a href="http://community.us.playstation.com/t5/PSN-Community-Meets-the-PS-Blog/bd-p/22802">PlayStation Community Forums</a>. Those that make it all the way to the PlayStation Blog will receive a $50 PlayStation Store voucher. Last week we asked about your PlayStation stories, and gamer <a href="http://us.playstation.com/publictrophy/index.htm?onlinename=ScreamAimFire999">ScreamAirFire999</a> wrote in to tell us about how he grew up loving the brand. More...