Commander Fury

We’re about two months away from the release of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/uncharted-3-drakes-deception/">UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception</a> and what better way to get caught up with the series than to play Nathan Drake’s first two adventures – <a href="http://www.naughtydog.com/games/uncharted_drakes_fortune/">UNCHARTED: Drake’s Fortune</a> and <a href="http://www.naughtydog.com/games/uncharted2_among_thieves/">UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves</a>. To help you do just that, we’re announcing the UNCHARTED Greatest Hits Dual Pack. Launching in North America on September 6th (that’s less than a week away!), the pack includes the Greatest Hits versions of both UNCHARTED: Drake’s Fortune and UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves - Game of the Year Edition for only $39.99. The Dual Pack is also packed to the brim with bonus content, including a “Super Voucher†containing all of the DLC content from the UNCHARTED 2 GOTY Edition, as well as two DLC items from UNCHARTED 3 - the UNCHARTED 3 Announcement Nathan Drake <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a> Avatar and the UNCHARTED 3 Announcement Dynamic Theme! More...

Hi everyone! Shawn here <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/06/20/introducing-dyad-for-psn/">again</a>, and I brought along <a href="http://www.dyadgame.com">Dyad</a>'s composer, David Kanaga. We're going to talk a bit about Dyad's interactive music system, how it works and what makes it unique. We're also treating you to a free 3 song EP consisting of linear mixes of Dyad's interactive music and some new screenshots! When you hear the term "interactive music" you might think of "rhythm games" such as <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/guitar-hero/">Guitar Hero</a>, <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/rock-band/">Rock Band</a>, Frequency, or others of that nature. Dyad's music system is very different from those games. There's no beat matching or imposed rhythm in the game. The music doesn't dictate play, nor does it judge you. Dyad's music is reactive, meaning it's mixed dynamically on the fly, based on the current game state and how you're interacting with it. Each time you play a level, the music is different -- playing Dyad can be viewed as a "performance" in a sense. More...

Hi all! Having just come back from a great <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/gamescom11/">gamescom</a> show in Germany, here’s your chance to learn all about the co-op campaign in <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/battlefield-3/">Battlefield 3</a> that we showed off on PS3. We designed co-op to be the perfect blend between the strong narrative from single player and the open-ended action from multiplayer. We are fusing the replayability of multiplayer with a pick up-and-play mentality to create a totally new flavor of Battlefield. Co-op follows the same philosophy as our award-winning multiplayer game mechanics. Teamwork is practically never <em>forced</em> upon you, but working together will make things much easier and -- more importantly -- lead to victory. For the most part, the missions in the co-op campaign are asymmetric. This means that one mission can have you piloting a helicopter while your friend is the gunner, for example. Other situations have one player disarming a bomb and the other one defending him. Or (as you could see in our press conference playthrough at gamescom) you can do tandem kills to avoid detection. There are also other mechanics requiring teamwork, such as spotting enemies to make large firefights easier, or the essential concept of reviving one another to avoid ending up at the game over screen. More...

Have you ever played <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/uncharted-3-drakes-deception/">UNCHARTED</a> and thought, “Hey, I could be a better adventurer than Nathan Drake!†Here’s your chance to prove it. This Fall, Spike TV in partnership with Naughty Dog and Sony Computer Entertainment, are celebrating the breathtaking cinematic action in UNCHARTED 3: Drake's Deception with a blockbuster TV special that brings the game to life. And it might just star you as a contestant! The winner will receive an incredible UNCHARTED-themed prize package including the ultimate Sony home theater system valued at over $12,000. If you're a die-hard UNCHARTED fan who wants to prove your adventuring skills both in the game and in the real world, head on over to <a href="http://unchartedcasting.gametrailers.com">unchartedcasting.gametrailers.com</a> to download the casting application for the show. We're looking for real gamers who can prove why they should be selected as the ultimate UNCHARTED fan. More...

The second week of PlayStation Network PLAY is upon us with the release of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/12/the-baconing-sizzles-on-psn-play-august-30th/">The Baconing</a>! This comical action RPG continues the story of Deathspank, this time with a sci-fi twist. As part of PSN PLAY, if you purchase The Baconing before 9/19/2011, you’ll receive a free DLC co-op character in the form of Roesha – One Bad Mutha. If you’re on the fence, download The Baconing demo which is also in today’s Store update. The following week’s PSN PLAY titles are still available for pre-ordering on the Store including <a href="http://bloodraynebetrayal.com/">BloodRayne: Betrayal</a> and <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/15/renegade-ops-lets-talk-about-upgrades/">Renegade Ops</a>. For fighting game fans, you’ll want to check out the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/26/mortal-kombat-memories-development-tales-from-netherrealm-studios/">Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection</a>. Experience the original trilogy in an entirely new light featuring online play, leaderboards, and trophies. While the visuals have come a long way, the gameplay in these classics (klassics?) is still razor sharp and fun as ever. More...

Not content with simply revealing the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/01/house-of-the-dead-overkill-naked-terror-revealed/">first exclusive level</a> for the PS3 release of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/house-of-the-dead-overkill/">The House of the Dead: OVERKILL – Extended Cut</a>, I’m back to give you the scoop on the second one too. Set in the cosy confines of an slaughterhouse taken over by a meaty disease of sorts, Creeping Flesh delivers you more of the additional awesome content we’ve lovingly added to the extended, and definitive, edition of OVERKILL. We pick up the story with Varla and Candy again, and this time circumstances lead them to the local slaughterhouse. I’m not going to spoil any of the story or the details around what leads them there, but let’s just say it’s the standard House of the Dead fare; there are guns, motives of revenge and mutants galore, all wrapped up with grindhouse styling. As you can see from the above image, there is something of a meaty infestation starting to take hold inside the building, and internally we’ve affectionately referred to this as the meat wall (there is also a meat tunnel later in the level, so that’s something to look forward to). Varla and Candy find themselves fighting amongst this meat wall, and as they proceed through the ‘meat factory’ they’ll be forced to take action against the new mutants shown above too. These mutants take the expression ‘meat shield’ to a new level, seeing as the additional flesh they’re lugging around makes them slightly more impervious to gunfire than your standard mutants. More...

Story by Johnny Cullen @ VG247.com. Rockstar’s released two brand new screenshots of Max Payne 3, the first that have emerged since it started emerging from underground and a blowout from Edge earlier this year. You can get the two shots below. Rockstar says that it’ll begin dishing out more news on the game, being made by its Vancouver studio, in the “next few months.†It’ll launch on PS3, 360 and PC. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) More...

Story by Johnny Cullen @ VG247.com. Did you think it was the end? This is Kevin Butler we’re talking about here. SCEA’s launched a brand new marketing camapaign for PlayStation 3 following the $249 price-cut given to the machine at gamescom two weeks ago, seeing the return of Kevin Butler after taking up the presidency of his uncle’s flooring company.. According to VP of product marketing Scott Steinberg on the US PS Blog, Long Live Play is “designed to celebrate gamers from all walks of life and recognize you for making us who we are today.†You want to see the video, don’t you? Here it is. He still has his little man-crush on Tretton, for the record. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) More...

Combat Wings: The Great Battles of WWII lands on <a href="http://us.playstation.com/ps3/">PS3</a> this November with aerial combat campaigns set amidst the bloodiest air battles of World War II. Not long ago, I tried out a pre-release version of the game under the watchful eye of <a href="http://www.majewscy.net/jakub/about_jm.html">Creative Director Jakub Majewski</a>, focusing on the game’s use of the <a href="http://us.playstation.com/ps3/playstation-move/">PlayStation Move</a> motion controller. Before I grabbed the stick for a test flight, I was curious what made Majewski want to support PlayStation Move in the first place -- WWII air combat isn’t exactly a genre that leaps into my mind when I ponder the potential of motion-controlled gaming. “Move makes this game better,†Majewski said with conviction. “It’s a much more natural form of steering than using an analog stick and it makes a huge difference to the gameplay. Playing a flying game with a controller can be clunky; you have to make a lot of fine movements in order to change direction and aim. PlayStation Move is great - you just point where you want to go.†Based on just 30 minutes of play time, I’d have to agree. More...

I'm wicked excited to share some details about our new game, <strong><a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/the-baconing/">The Baconing</a></strong>, DeathSpank's greatest and most delicious adventure EVER! The game will be available to download today from <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PlayStation Network</a>. <a href="http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/games/the-baconing-ps3.html">The Baconing</a> is part of the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/psn-play/">PSN PLAY</a> promotion so if you purchase the game before September 19th you will also receive co-op character DLC, Roesha – One Bad Mutha. Also, if you are PlayStation Plus subscriber, you can still get 20% off the full game price! When we started developing <a href="http://www.thebaconing.com/">The Baconing</a> we didn't want gamers to feel like they HAD to play through the previous DeathSpank games before taking on The Baconing. We decided to make this game accessible for anyone to jump straight into, ensuring that new players and returning fans alike can both equally enjoy this game. Those familiar with DeathSpank will certainly experience just as much familiar fun plus a bucket-load of improvements too. More...

PlayStation Nation, Two years ago we introduced you to our resident Vice President of just about everything, <a href="https://twitter.com/thekevinbutler">Kevin Butler</a>, in the inaugural “Dear PlayStation†ad which was timed with the introduction of our “It Only Does Everything†campaign. Since then, the campaign has helped make the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3 </a>a household name in 50 million homes worldwide. Today, I’m excited to introduce you to a new brand campaign “Long Live Play†– designed to celebrate gamers from all walks of life and recognize you for making us who we are today. PlayStation has always been about the gamer and the <a href="http://us.playstation.com/ps3/">PS3 </a>is the ultimate portal to a land of infinite experiences and accomplishments. PlayStation is reaffirming our commitment to gamers like yourselves with “Long Live Play†– mixing humor and a little good, clean fun with the kind of entertainment content you crave. More...

Back in the 80s, it wasn’t uncommon for restaurants to have a lone arcade cabinet sitting by the entrance. I’ve got fond, but hazy memories of a suburban Philadelphia diner where I discovered an innovative title called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elevator_Action">Elevator Action</a>. I also recall a bacon cheeseburger... In the 80s, most games confined you to a simple side-scrolling plane -- it was akin to being on rails. Elavator Action enabled you to traverse a building vertically. It was a revelation. It was true freedom. It was, well, a different time. So when I learned that Elevator Action Deluxe was on its way exclusively to the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PlayStation Network</a>, my nostalgia was inflamed. With the game available tomorrow, <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/square-enix/">Square Enix</a> offered me the chance to ask a few questions of Producer Yosuke Tsuda. More...

About 20 years ago, Midway was at the cutting edge of arcade game development using a unique method of creating very realistic images. By digitizing live actors, shot in front of a green screen, a number of games were developed that had a photorealistic look not found in any other games. Games like Narc, Smash TV, NBA Jam and Terminator 2: Arcade all used this technology. This approach was applied to a number of game categories including sports, gun games, and shooters. One genre, however, had not yet been attempted - the fighting game. In 1991, a small team of four decided to try making a fighting game using digitized graphics. The goal was to make something bold, shocking, and as realistic looking as possible. The game would eventually become <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/mortal-kombat/">Mortal Kombat</a>, the first in a series that have sold over 30 million games. Mortal Kombat was the “bad boy†of fighting games. It unapologetically depicted blood and had a much more hard-edge presentation than its tamer competition. Mortal Kombat’s bold presentation wasn’t without its controversy, but that only fueled the game’s unstoppable popularity. In addition, Mortal Kombat introduced a deep story and unique characters that also set it apart from other fighting games. More...

Sports fans – Before I get to this week’s Challenge of the Week, I wanted to let everyone know that <a href="http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/games/mlb-11-the-show-ps3.html">MLB 11 The Show</a> is now available for $39.99! So, if you haven’t picked up MLB 11 yet, now is the time, especially with the MLB season kicking into high gear as we get ready for the playoffs. Here’s a quick video reminding you why The Show is the most authentic and true-to-life baseball experience out there… <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/mlb-11-the-show/">Challenge of the Week #26</a> is an Inter-league match-up. The Rangers 13 game winner, and ace, faces the last year’s NL MVP and Reds 1st baseman. Climb the leaderboard and get as many hits as you can to win your choice of signed jersey, from one of six MLB stars: Cabrera, Kershaw, Sabathis, Soriano, Posey, Ellsbury. Week #26 begins on <strong>Monday August 29th at 5:30am PDT</strong> and ends <strong>Monday September 5th th at 4:30am PDT</strong>. More...

Read MoreFellow Spartans! We are now just over two weeks away from the September 13th launch of God of War: Origins Collection—an epic compilation of two of the most critically acclaimed PSP titles of all time, God of War: Chains of Olympus and God of War: Ghost of Sparta. Since I know many of you can’t <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/29/god-of-war-origins-collection-demo-on-psn-this-week/"></a> More...

The PlayStation 3D Display we <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/06/06/new-3d-display-and-ps3-accessories-debut-at-e3/">unveiled at E3</a> has been getting plenty of buzz, and I wanted to let you all know about a special pre-order offer that’s now available at retailers nationwide: If you pre-order the bundle – which includes the 24-inch 3D Display, one pair of universal PlayStation 3D glasses, <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/motorstorm-apocalypse/">MotorStorm Apocalypse</a> on Blu-ray, and an HDMI cable – you’ll also receive a copy of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/resistance-3/">Resistance 3</a> on Blu-ray. We’re excited to offer all of this for $499.99, and you’ll need to place your pre-orders by Sept. 30, 2011. More...

Go ahead slap on those shades because the upcoming months the Blu-Ray supernova known as <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/modnation-racers/">ModNation Racers</a> becomes brighter and brighter. I watch day after day, week after week as the <a href="http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/games/modnation-racers-ps3.html">ModNation</a> community create amazing Mods, Karts and Tracks that makes the development team wonder, "how did they do that?" This is one case where the students have truly become the teachers. One of my roles as community specialist is to not only share with you the evolution of <a href="http://www.modnation.com/en_us/index/index.htm">ModNation Racers</a> but the evolution of the Play Create Share vision. Each day I experience something (or somewhere) new that I never could have imagined and, if that's not enough, in just a few months we will be able to hold all of those gems in the palm of our hands with the introduction of the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/06/15/modnation-racers-ps-vita-modding-with-your-fingertips-2/">PS Vita</a>. Aren't we fortunate to have a game that gives us dozens of new and fabulous "toys" every time we play? More...

Two of gaming’s franchised titans return for this week’s new releases, when Madden NFL 12 and the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/26/mortal-kombat-memories-development-tales-from-netherrealm-studios/">Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection</a> arrive on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a>. Both sport large rosters, arenas and the occasional broken limb. Bodycount, Shock Troopers, The Baconing and a Apocalypseageddon await you in this week's <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/the-drop/">The Drop</a>. Did Sub-zero just spike Scorpion's torso in the endzone? More...

Our thoughts are with those on the East Coast that are withstanding Irene today (including our families - Rey, Sid, and myself all have our family back east). Having lived in Florida for some time, I've boarded up my fair share of windows, from Andrew to Wilma. When I was little, I remember Gloria coming up to coast and hitting us in Philly, but things were all right then. Here's hoping you get off as lucky as we did in those days. So, um, videogames! <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/pax11/">PAX</a> wraps up on the other end of the country today, and some great new impressions and stories are coming out of Seattle. Find some top links below. <strong>The PS.Blog weekly reading list (Week of August 15, 2011)</strong> <ul> <li><a href="http://ps3.ign.com/articles/119/1190968p1.html">Does PlayStation 3's Price Cut Matter? - IGN</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/team-ninja-will-consider-vita-game-following-ninja-gaiden-3/">Team Ninja will consider Vita game following Ninja Gaiden 3 - Joystiq</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.destructoid.com/dungeon-defenders-is-bloody-good-stuff--210006.phtml">Dungeon Defenders is bloody good stuff! - Destructoid</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.destructoid.com/music-makers-will-dig-ps-vita-s-sound-shapes-209983.phtml">Music makers will dig PS Vita's Sound Shapes - Destructoid</a></li> <li><a href="http://kotaku.com/5834740/elevator-action-deluxe-adds-much-needed-dancing-pompadour-to-arcade-classic">Elevator Action Deluxe Adds Much Needed Dancing, Pompadour to Arcade Classic - Kotaku</a></li> More...

The <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/24/pax-2011-playstation-passport-and-swag-guide/">Penny Arcade Expo</a> is in full swing in Seattle -- and <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/deus-ex-human-revolution/">Deus Ex: Human Revolution</a> is calling to me -- so I'll be keeping this week's missive short. Though the week was dominated by a sneak peek at <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/23/the-next-evolution-for-playstation-home-coming-fall-2011/">PlayStation Home's upcoming revamp</a> and the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/25/uncharted-3-drakes-deception-collectors-edition-unboxed/">UNCHARTED 3 Collector's Edition unboxing</a> starring Nolan North, the week was marked by a flurry of smaller news and announcements. Community voting opened up for <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/24/the-tester-season-3-casting-now-open-for-voting/">The Tester: Season 3</a>, Sega announced that <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/23/virtua-fighter-5-final-showdown-pummels-psn-summer-2012/">Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown</a> will debut on PSN next summer, and the Starhawk team revealed its <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/24/starhawk-space-battles-at-pax-mlg-and-more/">plans for PAX</a>. If you're enjoying <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/pax-11/">PAX</a> this weekend, be sure to try out <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/25/closures-mind-bending-puzzles-hit-psn-next-spring/">Closure</a>, <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/08/30/retrograde-playable-at-pax-prime-win-a-chance-to-be-in-the-credits/">Retro/Grade</a>, and other <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/25/pax-2011-must-play-psn-games/">upcoming PSN games</a> that you'll be able to play months before their PlayStation Network release. And check out our <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/24/pax-2011-playstation-passport-and-swag-guide/">full guide to the PAX freebies</a> you'll find at the PlayStation booth. More...

I’m really happy to see the upcoming release of the Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection, which hits <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a> next Tuesday, August 30th. The MKAK is a great way to relive the classic <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/mortal-kombat/">Mortal Kombat</a> arcade games right in your own living room, but I’m also excited that players who enjoyed this year’s new <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/mortal-kombat/">Mortal Kombat</a> will soon have the opportunity to play the first three games that set the foundation for the entire fighting-game franchise. I was introduced to Mortal Kombat on April 20th, 1992. I was fresh out of art school and starting my career at Williams/Bally/Midway. I remembered being overwhelmed that I was actually walking into the building where some of my favorite games were created: Narc, Robotron, Defender, and Smash TV just to name a few. Mortal Kombat was yet to be released. However there were a few Mortal Kombat prototypes lining the halls of Midway that we could test out. I remember being just blown away by my first experiences with Mortal Kombat. What first struck me was the size of the digitized characters on the screen. They were huge! I remember selecting Kano as my first character: I was a big Terminator fan at the time, so the choice was obvious. I also remember how in awe I was working (and playing) along side of the guys that created the game. A few days after that, I met the actors that were filmed for the game. More...

Hi guys! I’m happy to share that <a href="http://www.boolat.com/news/">Boolat Games</a> has partnered with <a href="http://www.playrix.com/">Playrix Entertainment</a> to bring 4 Elements HD - packed with of PS3-exclusive content - to the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-store/">PlayStation Store</a> on August 30th. Exciting news! The story takes place in a vast and ancient kingdom where evil forces have corrupted the balance between the four elements causing the altar of life to run dry. You have to unlock four ancient books of magic, collect 16 mysterious cards and restore this kingdom to life. Here are few things you’ll appreciate about 4 Elements HD. Imagine the addictive Matching gameplay where you freely draw the chains of same-colored pieces instead of just moving one piece next to another. It feels and plays like an arcade game and it works great on PS3! More...

Now that you know Twisted Metal is confirmed for February 14th 2012, just in time for a bloody Valentine's Day, we wanted to share the latest gameplay video with PlayStation.Blog readers. This new video features Dollface in all her creepy glory, and you also get a taste of some new vehicles such as the Juggernaut, as well as weapons like Meat Grinder and the Murder Balls. Enjoy! More...

<em>New Releases</em> welcomes the Fox Searchlight critically acclaimed film <strong>Win Win</strong> this week starring Academy Award winner Paul Giamatti (Sideways). A struggling attorney moonlights as a wrestling coach to help turnaround a school’s failing program and his failing family. Amy Ryan (The Wire), Bobby Cannavale (Cold Case) and Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development) complete the cast. The <em>Movies </em>section welcomes two lovable brothers and a secret agent platypus. That’s right. <strong>Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension</strong> follows those delightful summer vacationers and Perry as they are trapped by the 2nd Dimension Heinz Doofenshmirtz. Isabella, Buford, Baljeet, Candace and even the original Doofenshmirtz all pitch in to break the shackles of a 2D world. Plus, check out episodes from Seasons 1, 2 and 3! <strong>99¢ Movie Rents</strong> continues this week in <em>Rent Now</em>. This week, find great titles like The Great Debaters starring two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington (American Gangster) and School for Scoundrels starring the hilarious Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite) for only 99 More...