Commander Fury

Just four days into the start of spring and my allergies are already in full bloom! With my nose dripping like a leaky faucet and my throat feeling like extra-coarse sandpaper, I plan to keep a low profile this weekend and catch up on my backlog. Gaming news was light this week, headlined by first official news of LittleBigPlanet Karting and other top stories you can find below. And we saw smattering of other big news with the announcement of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/03/23/epic-mickey-2-warren-spector-explains-the-power-of-two/">Epic Mickey 2</a>, a <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/03/20/the-tester-3-episode-7-major-league-trivia/">new trivia-themed episode</a> of The Tester 3, and a <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/03/20/bioshock-infinites-heavy-hitters-the-boys-of-silence/">new enemy</a> for the BioShock Infinite menagerie. What are you playing this weekend? More...

When Epic Mickey launched in 2010, <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a> owners could be forgiven for feeling a <em>wee</em> bit left out. The game was an ambitious, passionate love letter to decades of rich Disney history, casting a newly assertive Mickey Mouse in a bittersweet tale set against a backdrop of decaying Disney lore. But sometimes patience pays off. <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/epic-mickey-the-power-of-two/">Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two</a> is coming to PS3 this fall with extensive support for <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-move/">PlayStation Move</a>, vastly improved HD graphics, and a host of much-requested improvements. I spoke with Creative Director Warren Spector to learn more about Epic Mickey 2, his work on the Deus Ex series, and his early thoughts on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PS Vita</a>. For more, listen to our full conversation on the latest episode of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/03/23/playstation-blogcast-017-warren-spector-slips-us-an-epic-mickey/">Official PlayStation Blogcast</a>. More...

Today’s show is a wee bit late...but for good reason! With full details on Disney’s Epic Mickey: The Power of Two rolling out wide <em>right this very moment</em>, we <del>cajoled</del> <del>threatened</del> convinced veteran game designer and Epic Mickey creative director <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Spector">Warren Spector</a> to join us on our <del>humble</del> <del>slipshod</del> industry-leading podcast. In my youth, I saw Spector as a god given his key role developing legendary games such as Deus Ex, Thief, Wing Commander and many more. Warren describes his work on Epic Mickey: The Power of Two -- out this fall on PS3 with <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-move/">PlayStation Move</a> support -- as well as his thoughts on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/deus-ex-human-revolution/">Deus Ex: Human Revolution</a> and <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PS Vita</a>, working with cartoon mice instead of cyberpunk assassins, and much more. Today’s show also welcomes Sean Hollister, West Coast Editor of sexy new gadget website <a href="http://www.theverge.com/">The Verge</a>. We have a grand ol’ time talking <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/journey/">Journey</a> (spoilers!), <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/mass-effect-3/">Mass Effect</a> 3’s ending (OMG moar spoilers!), and our favorite game of all time. And, per usual, we also reveal next week’s <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a> lineup and serve up a slew of new user questions and user tips. Don’t forget: Submitting helpful user tips or good user questions might net you a free PSN game, so don’t hold back! More...

This week, the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/music-unlimited/">Music Unlimited</a> Service welcomes <a href="http://blog.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/2012/03/20/new-releases-on-the-music-unlimited-service-32012/">new releases</a> including the soundtrack from one of 2012’s most anticipated movies, The Hunger Games, in addition to new albums from The Shims and Melanie Fiona, as well as featured titles Odd Future, Esperanza Spalding, Diggy, Lucius, and Anti-Flag . New to the <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/video-unlimited/">Video Unlimited </a>Service this week is the big screen adaptation of bestselling novel The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, which stars Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, The Muppets continue their adventures and antics this week in Movies, while this week’s “Own $5 Films†features Comedy movies including “Ghostbusters,†“White Chicks,†“year One,†“Adventureland,†“Clerks,†“Zach and Miri Make a Porno,†“Stuck on You,†and “Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day†all available for just $5 in SD. More on this week’s update <a href="http://blog.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/2012/03/20/new-on-the-video-unlimited-service-this-week-320/">here</a>. More...

Hi everybody! This is Jakub from Grip Games, the folks who brought you The Impossible Game, MiniSquadron and One Epic Game. We are back to present you our newest creation – <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/foosball-2012/">Foosball 2012</a> for <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>. As you have probably guessed – it is a table football (“foosballâ€) game. The very first one for <a href="http://us.playstation.com/ps3/">PlayStation 3</a> <em>and</em> <a href="http://us.playstation.com/psvita/">PS Vita</a>, so we made sure that we packed it up with lots of features and game modes, like various kinds of tables (American style, European style), customizations, ball types and trick shots to keep you entertained and experimenting for hours. More...

Earlier this year, we cut some cake and popped some champagne to celebrate <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/media-molecule/">Media Molecule</a>’s sixth birthday! We’ve had an awesome time during the last six years, seeing how the experiment we started here in Guildford has grown, giving rise to a thriving <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/littlebigplanet/">LittleBigPlanet</a> community. This year will be no different, filled with DLC, plus new experiments from the LBP family for you to play with. You already know about the fantastic LBP work that Tarsier Studios and Double Eleven Studios are doing on <a href="http://us.playstation.com/psvita/games-and-media/psv-littlebigplanet.html">LittleBigPlanet</a> for <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PS Vita</a>, and now we are delighted to announce today a new LBP collaboration with the hugely talented team at <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/united-front-games/">United Front Games</a> who will be leading a new project called <strong><a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/littlebigplanet-karting/">LittleBigPlanet Karting</a></strong>! We’ve all seen that UFG has a wealth of racing experience and they’re also intimately familiar with LBP's cornerstones of "Play, Create, Share." With LBP's powerful and diverse toolset in their capable hands, LittleBigPlanet Karting is sure to be an adventure that both LBP fans and kart-racing fans alike will enjoy! We are eager to see what you think of this union and especially excited to see what happens now that you can create in a 3D environment -- it’s the start of a whole new LBP world! Have a look at the debut trailer to see for yourself. More...

Last month was a big one for <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PlayStation Network</a> games! Not only did we see a ton of great new downloadable <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a> titles, but the launch of <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PS Vita</a> saw PSN flooded with new digital offerings. Starting this month, we’re introducing a new list to show what games topped the digital PS Vita charts. On PS3, our hats are off to <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/the-simpsons-arcade-game/">The Simpsons Arcade Game</a> for debuting at the top spot! This long-awaited <a href="http://us.playstation.com/ps3/">PS3</a> port of the coin-op co-op classic delivered nostalgic beat em’ up action peppered with obscure Simpsons references. More...

The creators of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/heavy-rain/">Heavy Rain</a> didn't come empty handed to this year's <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/gdc12/">Game Developers Conference</a>. The celebrated studio debuted a powerful new video called "<a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/kara">Kara</a>" to show off their new animation and performance-capture technology; If you've seen <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/kara/">Kara</a>, then you know that the results speak for themselves. Rendered in real time on PS3 hardware, Kara chronicled the activation of a self-aware synthetic organism, but this making-of feature is impressive in its own right as it shows how <a href="http://www.quanticdream.com/">Quantic Dream</a> assembled several different performances to create a seamless, believable virtual character. The future is now, you guys. Once you've watched the video feature, let us know what you think in the comments! And as a reminder: Kara is absolutely, positively not Quantic Dream's next game. More...

Ahoy there <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/starhawk/">Starhawk</a> fans! As most Warhawk players know, there's nothing quite like "couch gaming!" That is to say, playing video games on the same TV with a friend. Lots of games have it: Games like Dance Today, Dance Forever, Dance 2 Dance, Dance Dancy Dance, or even Dance Your Self Esteem Away. Dancing is fine and all, but there's nothing that can quite replace the thrill of fragging the buddy sitting next to you - especially if he's being a lame hillbilly (deep, deep love of shotguns). More...

<iframe src="http://blip.tv/play/h5l4gvDAdwI.html?p=1" width="480" height="303" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://a.blip.tv/api.swf#h5l4gvDAdwI" style="display:none"></embed> <br /> This week on Urgent Fury's UFreqTV, we dive into EA's Mass Effect 3, then Newb Toob returns with a break down of Battlefield 3's Multiplayer Modes and back by popular demand Kill House Returns as PSN Member TheGremlinKlown shows off his killing skills showing no mercy as even Lightbox Interactive's President Dylan Jobe and Senior Producer Harvard Bonin both meet their match in the Starhawk Public Beta. Visit Blip.tv for more videos

<a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/03/12/psn-spring-fever-2012-new-games-discounts-call-of-duty-sale-this-week/">Spring Fever</a> kicks off its second week with Rayman 3 HD! This cult classic comes with new features, upgrades and a high-definition makeover. It’s the third opus of the million-selling platforming series, created by visionary game designer Michel Ancel, the father of Beyond Good & Evil, Rayman Origins, and other award-winning video games. <a href="http://us.playstation.com/psn/playstation-plus/">PlayStation Plus</a> subscribers get this new release at 20% off! You’ll also find this week’s Spring Fever franchise sale for the venerable Final Fantasy series this week! Many of the best Final Fantasy content across PS one Classics and PSP Games (including last year’s definitive <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/03/23/takashi-tokita-talks-final-fantasy-iv-the-complete-collection-rpgs/">Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection</a>) are on sale for 30% off. PlayStation Plus subscribers get the edge with a 50% discount on these titles as well. More...

Well, the day has finally come. We’ve talked about <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/01/12/sumioni-demon-arts-for-ps-vita-combines-classic-japanese-art-modern-platforming-action/">the many ways to play Sumioni: Demon Arts</a> and gone into great detail on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/02/23/master-ps-vitas-many-inputs-with-sumioni-demon-arts/">how the game perfectly complements the PS Vita’s many unique features</a>, but now it’s time to see for yourself just how addictive it truly is. <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/sumioni-demon-arts/">Sumioni: Demon Arts</a> is an exclusive <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PS Vita</a> action platformer from <a href="http://eng.acquire.co.jp/">Acquire</a> and <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/xseed/">XSEED Games</a> that taps into <a href="http://us.playstation.com/psvita/">PS Vita’s</a> powerful touchscreen. Using your finger, you’ll be able to draw bridges to cross dangerous obstacles, summon thunderclouds or sacred lions to attack enemies, and much, much more. More...

We’re down to only four gamers in this season of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/the-tester/">The Tester</a>. With no more team competitions, each person is completely on their own. That was glaringly apparent in last week’s episode, when all were forced to reveal brutally honest opinions about their fellow competitors. If you missed last week’s <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/starhawk/">Starhawk</a>-inspired ‘build and battle’ challenge, you can watch it right <a href="http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/shows-and-tv-series/thetester/episode/2012-thetester-episode-6.html">here</a>! Before we get into Episode 7, we wanted to remind you that the extra scenes from previous episodes are all still available to watch. We’re once again hosting Episode 7 in its entirety, so check it out above! (Please do not post spoilers!) More...

With <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/resistance-burning-skies/">Resistance: Burning Skies</a> marching steadily towards its May 29th release date on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PS Vita</a>, you may have been wondering who Tom Riley is and where his story fits into the grand scheme of the Resistance universe. Today we’re clearing up that question with a new story trailer you can watch right now! Resistance: Burning Skies is, at its core, a story about an everyday hero becoming a legend. On August 15th, 1951, New York City fireman Tom Riley is called away during a seemingly routine fire call and finds himself thrust into the midst of the brutal Chimeran invasion (Resistance 2 fans: this parallels the period when Nathan Hale returns from Europe). Riley is possessed with a singular determination to find his wife and child, but along the way he’ll be embroiled in a far larger conflict that will determine the fate of New York and leave him a key inspirational hero of the Resistance. More...

If you've been watching <a href="http://irrationalgames.com/">IrrationalGames.com</a>, you may have seen a series of videos debuting <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/bioshock-infinite/'>http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/bioshock-infinite/">BioShock Infinite</a>'s unique BioShock Infinite antagonists you’ll be facing in the city of Columbia -- we've dubbed them Heavy Hitters. We wanted to make sure <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/">PlayStation.Blog</a> readers were looped in on the fun as well, so today we're stopping by to debut the third installment of Heavy Hitters. It’s time to cover your ears: Here come the Boys of Silence! More...

This Wednesday, March 21st will see the arrival of tons of awesome new content in <a href="blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-home">PlayStation Home</a> – from Juggernaut Games’ MiniBots: Battlebox game to Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker collectibles. That’s not all – we have two very special events planned for this week as well. First up is the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/dust-514/">DUST 514</a> live event on Thursday, March 22nd. Later that day, we’ll launch this year’s Disposable Film Fest in PlayStation Home! Here’s your to-do list for this week in PlayStation Home: <strong>DUST 514</strong> – Come watch CCP Games' first public unveiling of its upcoming sci-fi shooter DUST 514, exclusive to PlayStation 3 as we stream the DUST 514 keynote of the annual EVE Fanfest live into the special “Backstage Pass†event space in PlayStation Home this Thursday, March 22nd at 9:00am PT (12:00pm ET). More...

Starhawk Fans! Recently, the PlayStation.Blog paid a visit to our good friends and partner LightBox Interactive in Austin, Texas during SXSW. While there, we unlocked the vault and loosened the chains on Mr. Dylan Jobe, LightBox President and CEO. That can be a very dangerous prospect as we never know what we're going to get, it's also fun to hear about all the details on the Starhawk front, including how the public beta affected the game’s development. The teams at LightBox and Santa Monica are working incredibly hard to make sure the Starhawk experience is everything the fans deserve. To give you some insight into that process, Dylan has some thoughts about "crunch time,†fans, and game-typy stuff. Starhawk is headed in for a landing and this is a cool look into the mind of a developer at the peak of his game. Check it out! PS. While you’re at it, check out this blast-from-the-past Behind the Scenes vid about the team. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgY87WVmMBU More...

I was pleasantly surprised by how a half hour walk at lunch provided “fodder†for my first batch of Mod Postcards. A quick jaunt outside the campus revealed unexpected photo opportunities: A putting mini-green? High-rise window washers? I couldn’t have planned it better! Of course, I knew at least one of the stops on my mini-Road Trip would be well… ummmmm, a restroom*. Shortly after snapping a few shots in the “loo†I found myself being escorted back to my desk by security, where I began to fiddle with my new favorite feature of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/modnation-racers-road-trip/">ModNation Racers: Road Trip</a> – Mod Postcards! As you can tell from the images below, I had a good time unleashing my mod-creativity (read: insanity) and must admit I had a difficult time holding back a few dozen chuckles, snorts and smirks! If my co-workers didn’t already think I am a doofus, they do now! You really have to give Mod Postcards a try. Get up, get out and you’ll be surprised what you’ll come up with. It’s very simple (yet surprisingly powerful) and it’s another great way to express your Mod creativity. More...

<p style="text-align: justify;">For gamers of my generation, Silent Hill 2 for PS2 stands as a giant in the survival-horror genre. Sadly, I completely missed out on the Silent Hill phenomenon. But thanks to the*advancements*of modern <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a> and <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a> technology, I can now experience both Silent Hill 2 and 3 in glorious HD this week with the release of the Silent Hill HD Collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">And speaking of classics, Ninja Gaiden 3 joins the fray this week with a new story, <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-move/">PlayStation Move</a>-enhanced gameplay and new multiplayer modes. Shooter fans should take note of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/resident-evil/">Resident Evil</a>: Operation Raccoon City, which delivers a third-person team-based action set within the dark and sinister Resident Evil universe.*Enjoy this week's <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/the-drop/">The Drop</a>.</p> More...

In this week's reading list, find the last of the stories from <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/gdc12/">GDC 2012</a>, some <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/mlb-12-the-show/">MLB 12: The Show</a> reviews, and lots and lots of stories on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/thatgamecompany/">thatgamecompany</a>'s Journey. Have you played it yet? <strong>The PS.Blog weekly reading list (Week of March 12, 2012)</strong> <ul> <li><a href="http://vita.ign.com/articles/122/1220772p1.html">Gravity Rush: On Cats and Comics - IGN</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.delicious.com/redirect?url=http%3A//kotaku.com/5894035/dyad-is-part-mind%2Bbending-racer-part-soaring-video-game-drug%2Btrip">Dyad is Part Mind-Bending Racer, Part Soaring Video Game Drug-Trip - Kotaku</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.critical-distance.com/2012/03/16/uncharted-2/">Critical Compilation: Uncharted 2 - Critical Distance</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.delicious.com/redirect?url=http%3A//www.siliconera.com/2012/03/17/take-a-look-at-mortal-kombats-vita-touch-screen-controls/">Take A Look At Mortal Kombat's Vita Touch Screen Controls - Siliconera</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.delicious.com/redirect?url=http%3A//www.siliconera.com/2012/03/16/ninja-gaiden-3-free-dlc-includes-ninja-gaiden-2-weapons/">Ninja Gaiden 3 Free DLC Includes Ninja Gaiden 2 Weapons - Siliconera</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.destructoid.com/canabalt-runs-away-to-psn-223997.phtml">Canabalt runs away to PSN - Destructoid</a></li> More...

It’s Saint Patty’s Day! Rather than prop up the bar at my local watering hole, I’ll be sprawled out on my couch in a last-ditch effort to save all sentient life from the Reapers — call it a (possible) sign of maturity (yeah, right). Given all raging debate over Mass Effect 3’s ending, I’m dead [...] More...

<a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/journey/">Journey’s</a> much-celebrated launch on <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a> this week served as a powerful reminder of the importance of fresh perspectives and bold risk-taking in video game design. But it also begged the question “what’s next?†Enter <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/closure/">Closure</a>, the grand-prize winner of the DICE 2012 Indie Game Challenge and the climactic final release in this year’s Spring Fever PSN showcase. Much like its starkly rendered characters, <a href="http://www.closuregame.com/">Closure</a> stands out in an indie game development field dominated by esoteric art styles and quirky gameplay choices. The game merges elements both old and new, fusing puzzle-based platforming with a light-and-dark twist. If you want to learn more about Closure’s gameplay (and why you’ll want to collect as many Silver Moths as possible), read Jeff’s in-depth <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/09/23/closure-at-fantastic-fest-2011-new-challenges-new-visuals-for-psn-launch/">hands-on report</a>. More...

Many people dream of visiting Tokyo and a few lucky ones actually get to go. If the long flights, heavy suitcases and language barriers just aren’t in the cards for you, don’t fret. You can still see some actual real-life Tokyo sights, restaurants, amusements and more in <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/yakuza-dead-souls/">Yakuza: Dead Souls</a> -- which is out now on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a>, by the way. Just like any good tourist guidebook, here’s a map of Kamurocho (a city inspired by the famous red light district in Tokyo), with a numbered list of restaurants, advertising and more that are actually real-life things. We’ve also added the location of the first three zombie bosses*. We’re just nice like that. More...

This week, the Music Unlimited Service welcomes <a href="https://blog.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/2012/03/13/new-releases-on-the-music-unlimited-service-31312/">new releases</a> from One Direction, The Ting Tings, and Lee Fields and the Expressions as well as featured titles from Delta Spirit, Electric Touch, Dave Barnes, and The Decemberists . New to the Video Unlimited Service this week is “The Descendants,†starring George Clooney, and the swashbuckling adventures of “The Three Musketeers†arrives in Available in 3D. With March Madness upon us, this week’s “Own $5 Films†features sports movies including “BASEketball,†“Happy Gilmore,†“A League of Their Own,†“The Karate Kid,†and “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby†all available for just $5 in SD. More on this week’s update here. More...

With <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/gdc12/">GDC 2012</a> is officially in the books, it’s time we turn our attention to the next generation of PSN superstars -- beginning with VBlank’s 8-bit love letter Retro City Rampage. On today’s show, we speak with developer Brian Provinciano to learn more about Retro City Rampage’s lengthy journey from fan project to a full-blown <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> release. Retro City Rampage is a quirky, charming game that mashes up modern gameplay conventions (open-world missions, cover-based shooting) with a retro presentation and a slew of nostalgic references, and our interview We also peer deeper into the secret world of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/datura/">Datura</a>, the intriguing upcoming <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a> game that casts you into a mysterious forest and leaves you to fend for yourself. Our chat with Producer Matt Morton sheds light into the game’s focus on choice and consequence, its tight integration with the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-move/">PlayStation Move</a> motion controller, and a hint at the game’s upcoming release window. More...