Commander Fury

On August 7th, <a href="http://us.playstation.com/psn/playstation-plus/">PlayStation Plus</a> members will get Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead Episodes 1& 2 added to their Instant Game Collection. That’s not all – in the next few weeks PlayStation Plus members will also receive significant discounts on the latest and best PSN games a part of PSN PLAY event, beginning tomorrow, July 31st. <h4>The Expendables 2 Video game</h4> <strong>20% off for PlayStation Plus Members (PSN Price: $14.99, PS+ Price: $11.99)</strong> The 2012 PSN PLAY event kicks off with a first week discount on one of the most intense co-op shooters on PSN. Grab a friend (or three) and join four of the Expendables (Barney, Gunner, Caesar and Yin Yang) in a mission to rescue akidnapped billionaire. More...

This week sees the release of Disney Princesses Pack 1 -- after <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/07/23/sack-it-to-me-announcing-the-disney-princesses/">last week's big announcement</a> -- on the PlayStation Store. This first pack contains Jasmine, Cinderella, Aurora and Snow White. Each Disney Princess is also available for individual purchase, but anyone who purchases the full pack will receive a bonus collection of Disney Princesses themed stickers! For full information on the contents of Disney Princess Pack 1, head on over to our <a href="http://www.littlebigplanet.com/en/game_guide/ps3/downloadable_content/disney_princesses_pack_1/">LittleBigPlanet DLC Catalogue</a>. <h3>LittleBigPlanet Karting Beta Videos</h3> The LittleBigPlanet community has always been fantastic, but the creations published so far in our on-going <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/littlebigplanet-karting/">LittleBigPlanet Karting</a> Beta have been especially brilliant. More...

Back in March, you may have heard about our <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/uncharted-3/">UNCHARTED 3</a> make.believe contest, when we invited UNCHARTED fans to participate in a contest to win the opportunity of a lifetime -- the chance to become their very own character in the game. Today, I'm going to share with you the winner and his incredible journey. Sony make.believe is about fans using their creativity and imagination to do something amazing, and bringing their dreams to life. Earlier this year, Sony gave fans the opportunity to be a part of one of the most popular game series ever, by becoming a character in UNCHARTED 3's multiplayer mode. They were sent to “Training Camp†to compete in a series of three online challenges, held in the US and Europe. More...

We’ve just released the first all-gameplay trailer for <a href="http://www.darksiders.com/age-gate/enter?destination=home">Darksiders II</a>, which sees the most feared of the horseman of the apocalypse, Death, going up against some of the creatures from the game. The Ancient. The Corrupted. The Holy. The Damned… Death comes for all. The trailer shows off several key characters from the game, but we wanted to provide additional context as the game marches towards its August 14th release date. <strong>Death</strong> Like his fellow Horsemen, Death is of a race known as Nephilim – among the most powerful beings in the Universe. More...

It's a big weekend for San Francisco Bay Area gamers - <a href="http://www.caextreme.org/">California Extreme</a> has kicked off in the Santa Clara Hyatt Regency. Jeff and I are planning to swing by Sunday to get some hands-on time with the show's <a href="http://www.caextreme.org/games2012">extensive lineup</a> of classic arcade and pinball games. If you see us at the show, be sure to say hi! It's summertime, which means a slower game release schedule and fewer big announcements. On the bright side, it's the perfect chance to catch up on your gaming backlog. I've been checking out Dyad and finishing up Spec Ops: The Line. What are you playing this weekend? More...

<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">For PS3</a>, with an expanded setting, a fresh story and characters as well as an all-new technical foundation, Risen 2 expands on the success of this popular RPG franchise. Set several years after the end of Risen, the game drops players into a cataclysmic world where raging titans have devastated the planet and pushed humanity to the brink of existence.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">On PSN</a>, two PlayStation 2 classics return this week. Grand Theft Auto 3 and War of the Monsters are new to PSN. Enjoy this week’s The Drop.</p> More...

I won't pretend I was super excited for the Summer Games to start. But what happened this weekend? My butt, parked in front of the TV, watching Archery, Volleyball, and Fencing. No idea what I was looking at (especially with Fencing), but I really like the <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/19/this-diy-daft-punk-helmet-is-way-cooler-than-your-diy-daft-punk/">Daft Punk helmets</a> they wear. I also put in something like 10 hours into <a href="http://www.atlus.com/p3p/">Persona 3 Portable</a> on my PS Vita during that time. The more I play P3P, the more excited I'm getting for <a href="http://www.atlus.com/p4arena/">Persona 4 Arena</a> and <a href="http://www.atlus.com/p4g/">Persona 4 Golden</a>. If you like RPGs <em>at all</em> and haven't experienced the Persona series, I'm finding Persona 3 to be a great place to start. Speaking of Persona 4 Arena, find a link about it below, an update on Skyrim's Dawnguard DLC, and a recently announced new PS Vita game. Now, off to watch some... Badminton? Sure. More...

It’s the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/psn-spotlight/">PSN Community Spotlight</a>! We open up the PlayStation Blog for PSN gamers to tell their unique PlayStation story/experience/thoughts as submitted to this special section in the new and improved <a href="http://community.us.playstation.com/t5/PSN-Community-Meets-the-PS-Blog/bd-p/22802">PlayStation Community Forums</a>. Those that find their way to the PlayStation Blog will find a $50 PlayStation Store voucher in their inbox. With last week’s release of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a> Game <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/dyad/">Dyad</a>, we wanted to hear your thoughts on this unique experience. While it might be tough to look at screens and video of Dyad and ‘get’ what’s going on, PSN gamer phzzt breaks down what exactly it is about the game that hooks you. More...

Hello Craftworld enthusiasts! Today, we're announcing a contest for the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/littlebigplanet/">LittleBigPlanet</a> community, where you'll have the chance to <strong>create this year’s <a href="http://prime.paxsite.com/">PAX Prime</a> <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/littlebigplanet-karting/">LittleBigPlanet Karting</a> T-Shirt</strong>! We're constantly amazed by the unique levels you all come up with, and we can’t wait to see your creative talents put toward this T-Shirt design. The rules are simple; the shirt can be any color and must: <ul><li>Contain a Classic (non-costumed, knitted) Sackboy</li> <li>Include a Kart</li> <li>Use only 1-3 colors</li> <li>Utilize up to 3 areas on the template</li></ul> More...

Good news: We’ve finished our award-winning rhythm/shoot'em up, <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/retrograde/">Retro/Grade</a>! The game will be released on August 21st exclusively on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a>, and will provide hours of mind-bending rhythm-based gameplay as you fight through reverse-timed space battles. We’ve gotten many requests to make Retro/Grade's soundtrack available, so I'll go ahead and confirm that we'll be selling it on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a>. If you want the game <em>and</em> the soundtrack, there will be a discounted bundle -- we'll have more details on pricing soon. For those who aren’t familiar with Retro/Grade, it's similar to a classic Shoot 'Em Up... in reverse! At the beginning of the game you stop a massive alien invasion, but all the destruction damages the space/time continuum, causing the flow of time itself to reverse. More...

This week, the <a href="https://music.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/">Music Unlimited</a> service features <a href="http://blog.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/2012/07/24/new-releases-on-the-music-unlimited-service-72412/">new releases</a> from <a href="http://www.passionpitmusic.com/home">Passion Pit</a>, <a href="http://www.thegaslightanthem.com/">The Gaslight Anthem</a>, and <a href="http://jenniferlopez.com/">Jennifer Lopez</a>, as well as new albums from artists including <a href="http://www.slipknot1.com/">Slipknot</a>, <a href="http://www.loveandtheft.com/us/home">Love and Theft</a>, <a href="http://sugarman.org/">Rodriguez</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thejackamobfigaz">The Jacka</a>, <a href="http://kaninerecords.com/eternalsummers/">Eternal Summers</a>, and <a href="http://artistwiki.com/reks">Reks</a>. Also this week, check out the new <a href="http://www.zacbrownband.com/">Zac Brown Band</a> – Artist Picks Premium Channel! In celebration of their latest album <a href="https://music.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/#album/e4d6858a456845f195796a5be0efb19e/Zac_Brown_Band/Uncaged">Uncaged</a>, Zac and the band have compiled an eclectic list, including many of their hit tracks alongside favorite songs ranging all the way from Bonnie Raitt to Jay-Z. You can hear the whole thing now in the <a href="https://music.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/#channel/921baaf835adeb42e040007f01002bdf/Premium">premium channels section</a> of the Music Unlimited service. On the video side, we’re helping you celebrate the 25th year of Shark Week by bringing you up close and personal to the ocean’s deadliest predators through the Shark Week Sale on the Video Unlimited service! More...

<blockquote><strong>Subscription Links:</strong> <ul><li>Subscribe via <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-official-playstation-blogcast/id483223024">iTunes</a> </li> <li>Subscribe via <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheOfficialPlaystationBlogcast">RSS here</a></li> <li>Download the <a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/playstation/35_Episode_035__The_Unfinished_Assas.mp3">MP3 here</a> on PS3, PS Vita or PC (Right-Click->Save As)</li></ul></blockquote> Thanks to Jeff, Nick, and Rey, the Blogcast thrived during my absence <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/07/19/playstation-blogcast-034-beyond-borderlands-2/">last week</a>. But I’ve returned from the exotic lands of the East Coast bearing priceless gifts! First, I speak with Ian Dallas, the creative director of upcoming PSN knockout <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/the-unfinished-swan/">The Unfinished Swan</a>, to learn what <em>really</em> inspired this distinctive game -- and why those monochromatic ink-blot levels are only the beginning of what’s in store. Then I catch up with Steve Masters, lead game designer for <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/assassins-creed-iii/">Assassin’s Creed III</a>, to get the inside scoop on those <a href=" ">jaw-dropping naval battles</a> that blew us away during PlayStation’s E3 press conference. More...

Nation of PlayStation(.Blog), We’re way-fairly convinced you’re going to find this post way-fairly awesome, and no, not just because it’s about Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time, the upcoming <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psp/">PSP</a> strategy RPG from, well... <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/atlus/">us</a>. As for why we’re so convinced, it’s becau—wait, what? Oh, no, you heard right; we said “PSP.†Look, folks, it’s still an immensely popular system with a huge user base and an amazing library of RPGs and SRPGs. More...

Hello everyone, Pawe More...

The <a href="http://us.playstation.com/psnplay2012/">PSN PLAY</a> event starts this week with preorders beginning for the first title in this summer’s lineup: The Expendables 2 Videogame! Available for a limited time exclusively on PSN, this explosive game offers co-op shoot’em up action based on the upcoming movie, The Expendables 2. Pre-order The Expendables 2 Videogame starting today for $14.99 ($11.99 for PlayStation Plus members) and get ready for it’s official release next Tuesday, July 31st. The more games you buy, the more cash vouchers you will get back as part of the PSN PLAY event! <a href="http://us.playstation.com/support/answer/index.htm?a_id=4615">Check out this FAQ</a> for the answers to all of your questions about PSN PLAY. Two awesome new PS Vita games are coming your way as part of this week’s PlayStation Store update! More...

Hey everyone, Shawn here again. I'm dropping by the PS.Blog to let you know the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/dyad/">Dyad</a> Demo launches <strong>today</strong>! Yay! Mare Sheppard of Metanet Software, David Kanaga (Dyad's composer) and I worked tirelessly through the night to create a new trailer announcing the launch of the demo. It's a playful take on the <a href=" ">first Dyad trailer</a> and other game trailers. I got to star in my very own trailer; that's pretty neat! I hope everyone has a good laugh, and yes, that's my real hair! If the (overwhelmingly positive) reviews are correct, then Dyad is a game you have to play to fully understand -- now's your chance! Check out Dyad's first 5 levels and see if you groove with it. If you do, the PlayStation Plus discount continues this week. More...

<a href="http://us.playstation.com/psnplay2012/">PSN PLAY</a> is just starting to heat up, and starting today, you can pre-order the first game in <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/07/10/psn-play-returns-this-month-with-four-great-games-for-the-summer/">this year’s line-up</a>. <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/the-expendables-2/">The Expendables 2</a> is the first title available for PSN PLAY, and it’s launching first exclusively on PS3! The Expendables 2 is a co-op arcade-style shoot ‘em up, and takes place just before the events of the upcoming movie of the same name. Up to four players can join up to take part in an action-packed rescue mission spanning a number of exotic locales. If you missed the announcement trailer, be sure to check it out below. The Expendables 2 hits <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a> on July 31 for $14.99, and PlayStation Plus members can nab the game for $11.99 (20% off) during launch week. Pre-order the game now for a free theme based on The Expendables 2. More...

By popular demand, this Wednesday, July 25th, Street Fighter Total Game Integration event returns as its own dedicated game. On top of that, The Casino offers new collectible freebies to the community, Lockwood releases some awesome dinosaur companions, and more! Here’s the weekly must-do and get list. <strong>1. Street Fighter Total Game Integration returns to PlayStation Home this week as its own dedicated game space.</strong> Square off against friends and foes, and brawl using your avatars! Kick your way over there, starting Wednesday. <strong>2. Magnus presents the latest episode of his Virtual Item Showcase.</strong> From dinosaurs to insect-inspired tattoos, there’s tons of great collectibles coming to the PlayStation Home Mall this week. Check it out! More...

Malicious is available on PlayStation Network today! If you’ve had a craving for an addictive, fast-paced action game, this is exactly what you’ve been waiting for. In <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/malicious/">Malicious</a>, you have the ability to jump right into boss battles, acquire new skills by defeating them, and eliminate Malicious to save the kingdom of Santville. Developed by <a href="http://malicious.alvion.jp/">Alvion</a> and exclusive to <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PlayStation 3</a>, Malicious will be available for $9.99 when the PlayStation Store updates today. If you are a PlayStation Plus member, you’ll nab the game at a 20% discount (until August 7th). Also, as promised in the previous post, we’re also releasing a ton of avatars and dynamic themes today -- be sure to check them out! More...

<a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/author/jmikyska/'>http://blog.us.playstation.com/author/jmikyska/">Jakub</a> from <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/grip-games/'>http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/grip-games/">Grip Games</a> here! Today is a great day for our small indie studio -- <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/foosball-2012/'>http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/foosball-2012/">Foosball 2012</a> is out today on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/'>http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a>! I'm stopping by the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/">PS.Blog</a> today to answer a few questions about the game. Foosball 2012 is another entry in the line of not-so-typical-for-a-console-game sports, like darts, bowling, pool, or golf that we have seen recently on the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-store/">PlayStation Store</a>. If you weren't sure which platform to get the game on, we think you'll appreciate that when you buy the game for <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a>, you'll get the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PS Vita</a> version for free and the other way around! A lot of people ask us “Why foosball?†and we keep telling them “Why not?†Other games that wouldn't seem to be well-suited to a console experience managed to capture the essence of those games, and we hope to do the same with Foosball 2012. More...

Calling all golf fans! Update 1.04 for <a href="http://us.playstation.com/psvita/games-and-media/psv-hot-shots-golf-world-invitational.html">Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational</a> on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PlayStation Vita</a> has arrived! Here’s what to expect the next time you hit the fairways: <h4>Invite friends to play in private tournaments</h4> Whereas before you could only play in Real Mode tournaments that were open to all, now you can create private tournaments for you and up to seven friends, as well as private rooms in the online lobby space. Out on the course, you’ll be able to see your opponent’s ball after each shot, and between holes you can also use text chat to communicate with your friends, on the scorecard screen. More...

<a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/littlebigplanet/">LittleBigPlanet</a> will soon be graced by the presence of eight very special ladies, with our upcoming Disney Princesses Costume Packs. Belle, Aurora, Tiana, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jasmine, Snow White and even little Ariel will all be ready for the LittleBigPlanet Ball when the packs release next month. To celebrate the release of the Disney Princesses Costume Packs, we have this rather lovely wallpaper of our princesses to share with you. Next week will see the release of Disney Princesses Costume Pack 1, which will contain Aurora, Cinderella, Jasmine and Snow White. The remaining Princesses will be part of the Disney Princesses Costume Pack 2, just a couple weeks after that. Stay tuned to Sack it to Me for more news on the Disney Princesses Costume Packs! More...

One of the worst ways to realize you're getting old is when something you hold dear reaches a certain age. That being said, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Gear">Metal Gear</a> celebrates its 25th anniversary this month. The Metal Gear series, although not originally created for PlayStation consoles, began to reach its current level of popularity in 1998 when Metal Gear Solid was released on the original PlayStation. We met with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hideo_Kojima">Hideo Kojima</a> to talk about his thoughts on the series' landmark games, and to discuss what's in store for the future's franchise. <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Gear_(video_game)">Metal Gear</a> -- 1987 (MSX2)</strong> <strong>Hideo Kojima:</strong> This is the year I began working in the video game industry, as a game designer and planner. I was very young -- among the first generation in the industry in Japan. More...

<p style="text-align: justify;">Coming to <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a> this week, Adidas MiCoach brings the popular miCoach interactive athletic training system to the PlayStation 3. Many of the world's most well-known adidas athletes are featured in the game, including Dwight Howard, Kaká, Tyson Gay, Jessica Ennis, Ana Ivanovi More...

We're at the end of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/dyad/">Dyad</a> launch week here on PlayStation.Blog. If you've already read creator Shawn McGrath's <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/07/17/dyad-will-blow-your-mind-today/">launch post</a> and heard him on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/07/19/playstation-blogcast-034-beyond-borderlands-2/">this week's Blogcast</a>, you can find reviews from a myriad of gaming sites below. Spoiler alert: people like it. <strong>The PS.Blog weekly reading list (Week of July 16th, 2012)</strong> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/17/dyad-review/">Dyad review: Where is my mind? - Joystiq</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/7/16/3162881/dyad-review">'Dyad' review: light cycle - The Verge</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.destructoid.com/ni-no-kuni-ninostarter-adds-extras-to-wizard-s-edition-231680.phtml?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Destructoid+%28Destructoid%29&utm_content=Google+Reader">Ni no Kuni 'Ninostarter' adds extras to Wizard's Edition - Destructoid</a></li> <li><A HREF="http://www.gamespot.com/dyad-2012/reviews/dyad-review-6388172/" ADD_DATE="1342977856" PRIVATE="0" TAGS="">Dyad Reviews - GameSpot.com</A></li></ul> More...