Commander Fury

In this installment of our <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/05/08/the-making-of-sorcery-a-heros-journey/">“Making of Sorceryâ€</a> video series, we turn our attention to the music and sound design in this upcoming <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-move/">PlayStation Move</a> title. It was very important to have a Celtic inspired score for this game, but we wanted to do something a bit unusual with Celtic music, almost stretching the use of the instruments where possible in an effort to give the world of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/sorcery/">Sorcery</a> its own unique sound. As you'll notice, we have drums, flutes, and other instruments that give the music somewhat of a medieval feel, but at the same time we didn't want to be limited to that. We wanted to bring in as many other sounds as possible to create a wider palette. The result is a fusion of traditional Celtic music with more contemporary instrumentation and sound effects that boost the feeling of immersion you get by casting spells with the <a href="http://us.playstation.com/ps3/playstation-move/">PS Move controller</a>. Here's a look, and don't forget Sorcery will hit stores in North America on Tuesday, May 22nd! More...

This week, the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/music-unlimited/">Music Unlimited Service</a> welcomes <a href="http://blog.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/2012/05/08/new-releases-on-the-music-unlimited-service-5812/">new releases</a> from Silversun Pickups, Karmin, and Keane. Other featured titles include Pitbull, Dee Snider, Shaggy, M83 and Barenaked Ladies. It’s spring so the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/video-unlimited/">Video Unlimited</a> service gives a nod to love, welcoming The Vow to the Video Store. If you’re not a romantic, head over to Rent Now and experience Kate Beckinsale’s butt kicking Underworld: Awakening. In this week’s Own $5 Films, it’s time to stock up on the thrillers -- for only 5 bucks, own great SD titles including Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction, The Happening, and many more. Plus, catch up on season finale of The Office and Parks and Recreation, and check out our Focus Features’ 10th Anniversary Sale in Collections & Sales. Hurry up though – the sale ends on 5/14! Get the full details on this week’s highlights <a href="http://blog.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/2012/05/08/new-releases-on-the-video-unlimited-service-5812/">here</a>. 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/24_Episode_024__From_Canada_With_Love.mp3">MP3 here</a> (Right-Click->Save As)</li></ul></blockquote> Because our hearts pump not rich salty blood, but sweet, sweet maple syrup, Jeff, Rey and I decided to head to Toronto, Ontario to record this week’s <em>very special</em> episode of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-blogcast/">PlayStation Blogcast</a>. The spotlight is on the Canadian indie development scene in today’s double-stuffed show, and we get first word of Zombie Tycoon 2 for <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a> and PS Vita (and Lights, Camera, Party) from <a href="http://frimastudio.com/">Frima Studio</a>, quiz <a href="http://www.queasygames.com/">Queasy Games</a> wunderkind Jonathan Mak on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/sound-shapes/">Sound Shapes</a> and his origins as a game developer, and discuss recent enhancements to <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a> exclusive <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/papo-yo/">Papo & Yo</a> with Producer Charles William from <a href="http://www.weareminority.com/">Minority</a>, And hey, we even interview Atlus USA legend <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/author/ajabbari/">Aram Jabbari</a> for a deep dive on next week’s PS3 RPG <a href="http://www.gameofthrones-rpg.com/">Game of Thrones: The Game</a>. It didn’t have anything to do with Canada, but hey, we’re cool like that. More...

Hey there PlayStation Assassins! The World Premiere Gameplay Trailer of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/assassins-creed-iii/">Assassin’s Creed III</a> is finally here! We know you’ve been waiting for this since the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/03/05/assassins-creed-iiis-first-trailer/">initial announcement</a> back in March, so go ahead and watch it right now… I’ll be right here when you’re done. Okay, now that you’ve been properly introduced to Connor, our new Assassin, there are a couple of things in this video that I’d like to call your attention to. Firstly, there are the basics of Connor’s character. He is a brutally effective Assassin, taking down his targets with speed and dexterity. Note how he flows across the battlefield, moving from one kill to another in a seamless, unbroken pace until finally finishing his target with vicious grace. There’s also Connor’s Native American/English heritage, which adds complexity and richness to his motivation. More...

Shooter fans everywhere are starting to get excited since we’re now less than a month away from the May 29th release of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/resistance-burning-skies/">Resistance: Burning Skies</a>. Two weeks ago, we introduced the world to Burning Skies’ competitive <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/04/12/resistance-burning-skies-multiplayer-details-revealed/">multiplayer experience</a>, and so far, we’ve been thrilled with how much fans and media have enjoyed playing it! I know many of you are chomping at the bit to get out there and start taking the war against the Chimera online, so you’ll be happy to hear that last week, Resistance: Burning Skies went gold. To celebrate, we’d like to show you our new trailer, which focuses on the game’s unique feature set. Resistance: Burning Skies brings a lot of “firsts†to the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PS Vita </a>– First-ever dual-analog FPS control on a portable device, the first competitive multiplayer shooter experience on the <a href="http://us.playstation.com/psvita/">PS Vita</a>, and the first support for Party voice chat. The real question though, is who is going to be the first to Platinum Resistance: Burning Skies? More...

Excitement around <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/hitman-absolution/">Hitman: Absolution</a> has been building at an impressive rate over the last year. In fact, today it’s exactly one year ago we came out and announced that we were working on <a href="http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/games/hitman-absolution-ps3.html">Absolution</a> and we’ve had a great ride. From sharing the first gameplay at <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/06/08/hitman-absolution-debuts-at-e3-2011/">E3 2011</a> and releasing the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/11/03/hitman-absolution-video-shows-stealth-combat/">full 16 minutes</a> for everyone to see afterwards to showing off the gorgeous <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/01/18/hitman-absolution-qa-io-interactive-goes-for-the-throat/">orphanage level</a>, revealing the fate of 47’s long-time handler Diana, showing off new features like Instinct and introducing exciting new gameplay series of videos called ‘Introducing’, we can safely say the fans have been with us through quite a ride thus far. And now it’s time to kick it up another level. Today, we announce two new things. One is the Hitman: Sniper Challenge pre-order bonus and the other is the release date of Absolution. Let’s start with the release date – November 20th, 2012 is the day the game will hit <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a>. So get your behind to Mars, er, GameStop and <a href="http://www.gamestop.com/ps3/games/hitman-absolution/91072">pre-order the game</a>. Why? Well, that’s where this Sniper Challenge comes in. More...

<iframe src="http://blip.tv/play/h5l4gvbNLgI.html?p=1" width="480" height="303" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://a.blip.tv/api.swf#h5l4gvbNLgI" style="display:none"></embed> <br /> Jack takes us to the ball game in MLB The Show, we finish up the Battlefield 3 "Need to Know" Series and Lt. Leadhead hits the links in Tiger Woods PGA. Visit Blip.tv for more videos

<blockquote>--<strong>PRIORITY TRANSMISSION FROM ADMIRAL HACKETT</strong>-- Attention N7 forces on PS3: We have great news. After working closely with PlayStation we are now able to offer you the multiplayer Commendation Packs for Operation Goliath and Operation Raptor, which were held previously this year. As of <em>now</em>, PS3 users can log in and check out the in-game store for their Goliath and Raptor packs, free of charge. Rally your squad, prepare your arsenal, and get ready to give the Reapers hell.</blockquote> More...

Hey shooter fans! By popular demand, we are bringing you an epic bundle on May 25th, featuring one of the best-selling first person action games of all time. PlayStation is partnering with Activision to pair the blockbuster and record-setting video game franchise Call of Duty along with the best console for core gamers, the PS3. Today we are announcing a Limited Edition PS3 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 bundle which includes a copy of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3/">Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3</a>, the hit title that set a new entertainment launch record upon its release in November, and a 320GB <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PlayStation 3</a> System, for only $299 (MSRP). More...

<a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-the-official-magazine/">PTOM</a> loves shooters, but lately we’ve been yearning for games that go beyond the standard battlefield blastfest. From its unique cel-shaded look to its insane weapons customization to its RPG-esque gameplay elements, our cover-story game, <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/borderlands-2/">Borderlands 2</a>, looks set to deliver that “next step†experience in spades. Join us as we visit developer <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/gearbox-software/">Gearbox Software</a> for the inside scoop on the game that’s aiming to redefine shooter-genre expectations. Our second game feature this month may, perhaps, be even more revolutionary. <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/dust-514/">Dust 514</a> brings PlayStation players into the immersive world of PC MMO <a href="http://www.eveonline.com/">EVE Online</a>. It’s a fascinating concept that has PS3 gamers doing the fighting for, and interacting with, PC gamers as they go about their machinations in their perpetual online universe. More...

If you’re like me, you’ve been watching the recent Prometheus trailers (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1byZkbNB3Jw">spoilers!</a>) over and over, pausing only to wipe the frothy spittle off your chin. If you’re <em>really</em> like me, you’ve also been wondering, “what’s it gonna take for some talented studio to create a killer game based on the Alien films?†Luckily, <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/gearbox-software/">Gearbox Software</a> is building an increasingly compelling case with <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/aliens-colonial-marines/">Aliens: Colonial Marines</a>, an upcoming big-budget <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a> shooter that aims to pick up where James Cameron’s seminal 1986 film Aliens left off. While we know a <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/02/03/randy-pitchford-talks-aliens-colonial-marines-release-date-prometheus-possibilities/">good bit</a> about the game’s tense <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/25/aliens-colonial-marines-qa-not-bad-for-a-human/">single-player campaign</a>, details about its multiplayer component have remained frustratingly elusive. So we took to <a href="https://www.twitter.com/PlayStation">Twitter and posed @PlayStation</a> followers a simple question -- <em>what do you want to know about the multiplayer mode in Aliens: Colonial Marines?</em> More...

All - The <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/littlebigplanet/">LittleBigPlanet</a> community is about to get a very special treat! Very soon, many of you will have the opportunity to participate in the LittleBigPlanet Beta on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PS Vita</a>, where you will get an exclusive sneak peek at Sackboy’s latest portable adventure. We're hoping to get a ton of feedback on the overall experience from the folks who know LBP best – and that means you! For a chance to take part in this exclusive event, head on over to our <a href="http://lbpvitabeta.us.playstation.com/">sign-up page</a> to register. There will be much more info to follow. For now though, dust off your finest analytical hat, and prepare to dive into Sackboy's latest escapade! More...

Hi Everyone - It’s a good day to be a PlayStation gamer. Not only do we get to celebrate the release of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/starhawk/">Starhawk</a> as well as the news that <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/05/08/starhawk-out-today-mlg-tournament-all-map-packs-free/">all future Starhawk map packs will be free</a> (watch this space for when they’ll be dropping), we also see a ton of great content arriving on the PlayStation Store! We start off today’s update with the PSN exclusive <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/datura/">Datura</a>. Playable with <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-move/">PlayStation Move</a> or your DualShock 3 controller, this adventure will get you immersed into the game’s unique experimental narrative and original way of interaction. Experience the world not only visually but also exploration. More...

It's Emmett time. That's Emmett Graves, the new hero of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/starhawk/">Starhawk</a> who kicks off this edition of PULSE as we celebrate the release of this space western from LightBox Interactive and Santa Monica Studio. While many enjoyed the beta earlier this year, it's now time to check out the full Starhawk universe with all the cool vehicles and the innovative Build and Battle gameplay. With next week's release of Max Payne 3, <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/pulse/">PULSE</a> also previews the new multiplayer action along with the new bullet time and 'shootdodge' game play. For <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-plus/">PlayStation Plus</a> subscribers, Trine 2's physics-based puzzles of fire, water, gravity and magic is free. Check out the new <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/trine-2/">Trine 2</a> world that's now enabled with online co-op. PULSE also takes a look at the latest Q-Games. <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/pixeljunk-4am/">PixelJunk 4 AM</a> is very different than any other in the series. More...

Hello again! Last time I was here I talked about the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/02/29/papo-yo-update-monster-evolved/">redesign of Monster</a> - now I want to give everyone an even closer look at the creative and design process for <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/papo-yo/">Papo & Yo</a> in our first-ever dev diary. Please take a look - you'll get a glimpse of Minority's office, some new ways you can interact with Monster, and even see the first prototype I designed for the game! If you've been following <a href="http://www.weareminority.com/papo-yo/">Papo & Yo</a>'s development, you know that the game was inspired by my childhood in South America and my relationship with my father. But I don't want that to be the only thing that people see when they get to play the game. Papo & Yo is also about a child's imagination, and experiencing "fantastic realities" - transforming the real world into a special world that can both help and challenge you. I feel such joy when I play with my boy and see him imagining his toys coming to life - I hope that everyone will feel this when they play Papo & Yo. More...

Hi Everyone, I’m happy to announce that we have an exciting lineup of downloadable content coming your way for <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PS Vita</a>’s Augmented Reality brawler, <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/reality-fighters/">Reality Fighters</a>. Starting today, you’ll be able to login to <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a> and download the Weapons Pack featuring 15 new weapons including a smoke bomb, a jetpack, a cannon and more - absolutely free! On May 15th you’ll also be able to download the new Soccer Pack which gives you access to the brand new soccer fighting style equipped with over a dozen unique battle moves for just $2.99. Then, on May 22th, we’ll be delivering the Ghostbusters Pack which comes with two brand new costumes: the Ghostbusters uniform featuring goggles, a shirt, gloves, pants and boots, as well as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man costume which includes the signature marshmallow head, body, hands, legs and feet. You’ll also pick up three new weapons with this pack including the Ghostbusters proton pack, the Ghostbusters ghost trap, and Ecto 1! You’ll get all of this for only $2.99 when you download the Ghostbusters Pack from the <a href="http://us.playstation.com/psn/playstation-store/index.htm">PlayStation Store</a>. More...

In this installment of our <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/05/04/the-making-of-sorcery-the-magical-technology-of-move/">"Making of Sorcery"</a> video series, we take a look at the fantasy surrounding the spell-casting gameplay and tap a few members of the development team (including myself) to discuss the origins of the story. Our key leads at The Workshop and our <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/santa-monica-studios/">Santa Monica Studio</a> were able to provide some great insight into the relationship between the main characters, the motivation of our villain, and the inspiration for the world we created. As you know, <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/sorcery/">Sorcery</a> brings the world of magic and wizardry to life using the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-move/">PlayStation Move motion controller</a>. To give you a quick refresher on the story and gameplay...the Nightmare Queen has broken the ancient pact with mankind and threatens to cover the land in eternal night. More...

May 8th is finally upon us and Starhawk is now available in stores all over North America! The team has put a lot of work into this game and we hope you all enjoy it! To celebrate the release of Starhawk, here's a look at our launch trailer... Secondly, and this is the announcement that you guys probably were *NOT* expecting…there was a lot of discussion here at LightBox Interactive and Sony Santa Monica on how best to support the community and keep our player base all together as one cohesive group. We really didn’t like how in Warhawk when we released a new map pack, it forced these divisions on our players. And after we released three expansions, our player community was pretty fractured. With Starhawk that ends! We are incredibly excited to announce that all map packs for Starhawk will be free. Yeah, you read that right…FREE. Whenever we release a map pack you won’t have to pay a friggin’ dime! And we’ve already started the early stages of our next map pack for you guys. Check out these very early sketches from the new planet of Cypress! A lush, swampy world that’s home to an abandoned research facility that many years ago was responsible for researching the mysteries of Rift Energy. More...

My name is <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/author/mmorton/">Matt Morton</a>. I'm a Producer at <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/santa-monica-studios/">Santa Monica Studio</a> and I wanted let you all know how excited I am about the release of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/datura/">Datura</a> for the <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a>, which will be available later today on the <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PlayStation Network</a> for $9.99. I can't tell you how fortunate I feel to be working here at Santa Monica Studio. We are constantly searching for titles that bring interesting and unique experiences to the gaming community, and having the opportunity to present Datura to you is yet another huge honor. Datura is the second offering from <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/plastic-studios/">Plastic</a>, a group of amazingly talented developers in Poland. This project started awhile back, after they released <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/linger-in-shadows/">Linger in Shadows</a> for the <a href="http://us.playstation.com/ps3/">PS3</a>, which was an interesting step for us as a studio. We honestly weren't sure how the public would react to an interactive art house project, but our fears were soon laid to rest as our hunch that our gamer were a savvy bunch was proved correct. More...

Tonight, MLG and PlayStation are bringing you an exclusive first look at tomorrow’s <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a> epic <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/starhawk/">Starhawk</a> with the Starhawk Arena Exhibition Powered by PlayStation. Starhawk is the spiritual successor to the PSone classic Warhawk. This third-person shooter allows online combatants to approach the fight in ways never before possible thanks to the all-new Build-and-Battle combat system. This new mechanic adds a layer of complexity to the battlefield that is constantly changing, and allows new tactics to develop as the match progresses. In order to show off all the crazy action, MLG and PlayStation are bringing two pro gamers, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsquared">Tsquared</a> and Hastro, to the MLG Arena studios to get a first look at all the intense action. Tune in to the broadcast as these pros go through each element of the game, including single-player campaign, co-op, and the highly anticipated multiplayer modes. Acting as captains, Tsquared and Hastro will hop online to provide the first true showcase of competitive multiplayer action in all its glory. More...

Hey everyone, it's been awhile since I wrote a Blog entry but today I have a really good reason to. In order to celebrate TEN years of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/q-games/">Q-Games</a> we decided to set up the ultimate BLOWOUT <a href="http://pixeljunk.jp/">PixelJunk</a> sale! The PixelJunk series has been a huge success for us, so to celebrate Q's 10th anniversary (and also PixelJunk’s fifth), for a limited time we are slashing the prices of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/pixeljunk-racers/">Racers</a>, <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/pixeljunk-monsters/">Monsters</a>, <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/pixeljunk-eden/">Eden</a>, and <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/pixeljunk-shooter/">Shooter</a> to just ONE DOLLAR. Yes, you heard correctly! On top of this, we are also slashing the prices for PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe (PSP), <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/pixeljunk-shooter-2/">PixelJunk Shooter 2</a> and <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/pixeljunk-sidescroller/">PixelJunk SideScroller</a> by HALF! You have no choice but to snap them all up the very moment the sale goes live tomorrow afternoon with the PlayStation Store update! Spread the word and let's go PixelJunk crazy for a week! More...

Palloza-mania has hit <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/modnation-racers/">ModNation</a>. Can you feel it? Can you feel the love, people? This is week two of our Anniversary Celebration and this shin-dig is just heating up. Check it out... <strong> The “Moddysâ€: Our Favorite Mods</strong> This week we begin the uber-popular “Moddys†Celebration 2.0. We searched through thousands upon thousands of Mods. Karts, and Tracks to present you with some of our favorite amazing, scary, and wacky creations. More...

This Wednesday, May 9th, is an exciting time to be a member of the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-home/">PlayStation Home</a> community. Look for a new arcade game, another week of exclusive early-access items from x7, a sale from HellFire Games, new Medusa from Lockwood, a sneak peek at Midway 3 and more! Let's begin with the most exciting news: VEEMEE is releasing a new game called Superhero Madhouse! With its side-scrolling 8-bit charm, Superhero Madhouse is sure to please the retro-minded gamer. Head to Indie Park to play, starting Wednesday, or head to the VEEMEE store to pick up your very own cabinet to take home - your Harbor Studio never had it so good. Don’t forget to earn some rewards to round out your collection. More...

<a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/derrick-the-deathfin/">Derrick the Deathfin</a> is the world's very first underwater papercraft game. The action – of which there is plenty - takes place in an irreverent aquatic world full of paper, goofy fish, paper, arcade action, paper, wanton destruction, and paper.* After Derrick’s parents are brutally turned into soup he sets forth on a worldwide rampage of destruction in order to make himself feel a bit better. On his travels he eats all manner of dopey delights for dinner, duels with paper enemies and decimates man-made cardboard monstrosities. Derrick also has a distinct fondness for picking up diamonds and jumping through burning tyres in the sky. Just like a real shark! Derrick journeys through 32 beautiful, vibrant levels set across 11 environments and four continents. He is in a constant battle against his metabolism, needing to constantly eat to stay alive. He must move, groove, jump, race and puzzle his way through increasingly crazy challenges to attain paper-shark certified glory. More...

Our media friends recently got to have a hands-on play of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/littlebigplanet-karting/">LittleBigPlanet Karting</a>. Check out this video to see what <a href="http://www.ign.com/">IGN</a> has to say about Sackboy’s leap into the racing arena! At the same event, <a href="http://www.gametrailers.com/">GameTrailers.com</a> interviewed William Ho, <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/united-front-games/">United Front Game’s</a> Design Director for LittleBigPlanet Karting -- as well as showcase some new gameplay from LittleBigPlanet Karting! Take a look at just what was said about the LittleBigPlanet Karting experience! More...