Commander Fury

If you enjoy casual, pick-up-and-play puzzle games, then get ready for an experience, because Mercury Hg is going to rock – and roll! From the developers of <a href="http://www.eiconic.com/Projects.html">Polar Panic and Arctic Adventures</a> comes an update to this <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psp/">PSP</a> classic. First, a bit of history about the periodic table of the elements. Mercury is metal that has a peculiar trait: it’s a liquid at room temperature! It’s also a highly toxic substance to play with -- unless it’s done digitally, of course. In Mercury Hg, the core premise is to guide a blob of mercury around a tilting puzzle maze while collecting bonuses, reaching the finish as quickly as possible with as much of the blob left as you can. Mercury was first released on the PSP in 2005, and updated again in 2006 as Mercury Meltdown. This Tuesday, we’ll be releasing it in HD for the first time as Mercury Hg – pun intended! When <a href="http://us.utvignition.com/">UTV Ignition</a> approached us to develop a PS3 version of their popular IP, we wanted to update the franchise to appeal to today's gamer. We designed an entirely new look for the game, drawing inspiration from the visual style of Apple and games such as <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/wipeout/">wipEout</a> and Mirror's Edge. More...

This is Tommy Rydling from <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/dice/">DICE</a>, and I’ve got two exciting pieces of news to share with PlayStation.Blog readers. First, we are very happy to announce the dates for the eagerly awaited <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/battlefield-3/">Battlefield 3</a> Open Beta on PSN. The Beta is open to all and will run from September 29th to October 10th. You can join it by simply going to the going the <a href="http://us.playstation.com/psn/playstation-store/">PlayStation Store</a> and navigating to the “View All By Title†section, then selecting Battlefield 3 – within there you’ll see the download for the Battlefield 3 demo! Alternatively, if you have redeemed a <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/medal-of-honor/">Medal of Honor</a>: Limited Edition or Tier 1 Edition Online Pass, you will receive early access via a personal email invitation from DICE that includes 48-hour early access, which will allow you to start playing on September 27th. More...

You know, zombies have to take a lot of heat from the living. I mean, is it their fault that they are doomed to roam the earth, lurching from brain to brain in a murderous rampage? They’re doing the best they can with the hand they’ve been dealt. That’s why I’m asking you, the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a> community, to welcome some zombies into your home this weekend. The Rezurrection DLC pack comes out today for <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/call-of-duty-black-ops/">Call of Duty: Black Ops</a>, and it contains five maps that many will approach as a thrilling first-person horror experience – or maybe, just maybe, it could be a very special chance to connect with the dearly departed. More...

This year’s most highly anticipated game is only 41 days away, and like many of you, I’m counting down the time until it gets here! To coincide with the launch, we’re bringing you the PlayStation 3 UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception Bundle. This limited edition bundle brings together the action and adventure of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/uncharted-3-drakes-deception/">UNCHARTED 3</a> with a 320GB PlayStation 3 system. On top of that, we’re giving you a month of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-plus/">PlayStation Plus</a>, our premium subscription service that offers added features including automatic downloads and online storage for game saves, free games, huge discounts, great exclusives, early access to demos and priority beta invites, and full game trials. More...

Calling all members of the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-home/">PlayStation Home</a> Community! Great news: This Thursday, September 22nd the eagerly-awaited Granzella “Southern Island Hideaway†game space will be released in PlayStation Home! This tropical locale includes a variety of free games – such as a jet ski racing game and the Ocean Floor Treasure Hunt. Of course, these games come with a wide range of rewards (additional Granzella clothing and furniture items will also be available for purchase), so all you reward hunters out there take note. We’ve snagged a trailer from Granzella to whet your appetite – check it out Heads up: Lockwood will be releasing their Showcase public space this week! Visit “Caramel†in the Central Plaza this week to receive a Lockwood Emote reward, available for a limited time only. Afterwards, head over to the Showcase Lobby and pick up five limited-time rewards! More...

With the lauch of Gears of War 3, one of the most anticipated games of 2011, BradyGames wants to hook up a lucky few with a free Limited Edition Gears of War 3 Strategy guide, along with three runners-up getting the Signature Edition. All you have to do is, go to www.urgentfury.com/blog/gow3/ and sign up. If you have not liked the BradyGames Facebook page or Subscribed to their YouTube channel then you’re in luck, because after you do that you will already have enough points to qualify for the Signature Edition drawing. It is free to enter and only US residents or APO/FPO addresses may enter to win. Good Luck! Ohh and if you are in the contest, you even get 25 points for commenting on this blog post! Score: 0 (0 votes cast) More...

The latest update for SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs is now available for download. Version 1.05 brings with it a number of changes, including numerous stability enhancements for the Party and Clan Challenge systems as well as a handful of important gameplay enhancements. The patch is available now for download, and players will be automatically prompted to update. SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs v1.05 September 21, 2011 | TPPS: 42 MB, DLS: Variable Gameplay - Using the knife no longer silences footsteps - Classic mode mic system has been changed from Tap-to-Talk to open chat - Fixed Classic Bomb Squad double round win bug - Reduced the accuracy of SMGs at long distance - Grenade launchers no longer kill the user when fired at long distances or over a wall - Reinstated weapon accuracy when quickly tapping fire button - Several level collision issues have been adjusted Party and Clan Systems - Party leaders may now optionally allow party members to invite in other players - Numerous Party system stability enhancements - Numerous Clan system stability enhancements Interface - Player counts on map voting screens are now accurate - Fixed round transition freezes - Numerous UI element bugs have been fixed More...

Since the launch of the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/09/13/sack-it-to-me-littlebigplanet-2-move-pack-hits-psn-today/">LittleBigPlanet 2 Move Pack</a>, our community has gone crazy playing, creating, and sharing with a whole new <a href="http://us.playstation.com/ps3/playstation-move/">Move</a> perspective. And with all the new <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/littlebigplanet-2/">LBP2</a> activity, we've been getting a lot of questions, so we figure we'd put together a quick FAQ to answer all your pressing Move Pack questions: <h4>LittleBigPlanet 2 Move Pack: Rise of the Cakeling FAQ</h4> <strong>Q: Is there a list of everything I get with the LBP2 Move Pack?</strong> A: Yup, head on over to <a href="http://www.littlebigplanet.com/en/">LittleBigPlanet.com</a> to learn more (or just click <a href="http://www.littlebigplanet.com/en/game_guide/ps3/downloadable_content/littlebigplanet_2_move_pack/">here</a>. Also, here's a preview of all the new costumes: More...

Hey Canadians, have you ever wondered what it’d be like to follow in the footsteps of Nathan Drake? Well now’s your chance to join an action-packed treasure hunt through the Arabian Desert inspired by <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/uncharted-3-drakes-deception/">UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception</a>! <a href="http://www.playstation.ca/">PlayStation Canada</a> would like to offer one lucky winner and a guest the opportunity to become real-life treasure hunters. Taking place in the dramatic backdrops featured in <a href="http://www.playstation.ca/ps3/gameDetail.aspx?id=21253">UNCHARTED 3</a>, our Canadian winner will be competing against adventurers from across Europe, the Middle East and Australasia to win the title of UNCHARTED Treasure Hunter, with $10,000 worth of prizes to be won along the way. The action-packed quest will take place in the Arabian Desert, following in the footsteps of Nathan Drake as he picks up the trail of Sir Francis Drake and T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia). More...

This week, we help celebrate the 15th Anniversary of Resident Evil with a ton of new releases and specials around the network! Least of which is the release of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/09/16/resident-evil-4-hits-psn-on-tuesday-plus-subscribers-get-50-off/">Resident Evil 4</a> on PSN. The modern classic has been revamped with a visual upgrade, full Trophy support, and the same harrowing gameplay that helped this title redefine action games. If you’re a PlayStation Plus subscriber, you’ll also have access to the 50% discount, day 1 for 1 week only, so don’t wait! While you’re looking at new PSN releases, keep an eye out for Burnout Crash! and <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/09/15/cubixx-hd-coming-to-psn-with-7-player-multiplayer/">Cubixx HD</a>. Burnout Crash! brings the arcade racer’s attention fully focused on, well…the crashes! With the Autolog feature integrated, you’ll have a blast piling up wrecks and comparing them with your friends. On the other hand, there’s Cubixx HD, the beautiful puzzle game that will have you analyzing your tactics in all 3 dimensions. Cubixx HD features 50 levels of arcade action playable in both single player and seven-player co-op. More...

Story by Brian Crecente @ Kotaku.com. Battlefield 3′smuch-anticipated open beta starts on Thursday, Sept. 29, the publisher said this morning. The beta will run until Oct. 10 and will give players a chance to check out the game and the social platform Battlelog, according to the post on the official website for the game. The beta is set in Paris on the Operation Metro map playing the game’s Rush mode. If you pre-order the PC digitial version of Battlefield 3 on EA’s Origin store before Sept. 25, or if you bought Medal of Honor: Limited Edition/Tier 1 Edition, you will get 48 hours early access to the Beta, meaning you can start playing Tuesday, Sept 27. For Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, the open beta will be visible on the consoles’ digital marketplaces under Battlefield 3. For PC, you need to install Origin and download the Open Beta from within the Origin application. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) More...

Tune in tonight as <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/gran-turismo-5/">Gran Turismo 5</a> makes its primetime television debut on <a href="http://www.speedtv.com/programs/nissan-gt-academy">Speed Channel</a> with <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/gt-academy/">GT Academy</a>, a five-part reality show featuring GT Academy and the fierce competition that gave the nation’s top 16 Gran Turismo drivers a chance to become a professional race car driver. The first episode airs tonight at 10 pm EST, followed by new episodes airing every Tuesday on Speed Channel during the same timeslot (please check your local listings for timing and updates). Take a look at the video above to catch a glimpse as to what's in store for you on Speed Channel. More...

By now you should have heard about the new game from our studio, <a href="http://www.criteriongames.com/CRASH/">Burnout CRASH!</a> and I am sure some of you are scratching your heads a little wondering what we’ve been up to. Burnout CRASH! is a spin-off from our much-loved <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/burnout-paradise/">Burnout series</a>, but this time focusing solely on the Crash Mode gameplay which you may remember from previous Burnout games. A lot of games take themselves too seriously, sometimes all you really need is to just kick back, relax, and blow stuff up. With that in mind, we designed Burnout CRASH! with a tongue-in-cheek style, harking back to the arcades we all used to hang around in. Our inspirations were manic pinball gameplay, over-the-top game show-style presentation, all tied up with our favorite music tracks from yesterday. More...

Hey there PlayStation Assassins! We have something exciting to share today: thanks to a special partnership with <a href="http://us.playstation.com/">PlayStation</a> and the incredible storage space offered by Blu-ray discs, we are offering a full version of the original <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/assassins-creed/">Assassin’s Creed</a> for free if you’re one of the first to buy <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/assassins-creed-revelations/">Assassin’s Creed Revelations</a>! Supplies are somewhat limited, however, so you’ll need to act quickly (pre-ordering might help ;D) in order to get a copy of the original Assassin’s Creed included on your Assassin’s Creed Revelations Blu-ray disc. As you know, Assassin’s Creed Revelations will see Ezio follow in the footsteps of the legendary Assassin Mentor Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad on a quest to understand the true nature of what it means to be an Assassin. More...

With the release of The <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/ico-and-shadow-of-colossus-collection/">ICO & Shadow of the Colossus Collection</a> just a week away, I’m still in awe over how awesome the remastered games look and sound. If you’re on the fence about the collection, know that, so far, it has an average score of 91 out of 27 <a href="http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/the-ico-shadow-of-the-colossus-collection/critic-reviews">reviews</a>. <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/ico_and_shadow_of_the_colossus_collection/b/ps3/archive/2011/09/08/review-time-can-t-touch-team-ico-s-classics.aspx">Game Informer</a> gave it a 9.75, <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/ico_and_shadow_of_the_colossus_collection/b/ps3/archive/2011/09/08/review-time-can-t-touch-team-ico-s-classics.aspx">Destructoid</a> a 9.5, <a href="http://www.gamesradar.com/ico-and-shadow-colossus-collection-review/ ">Games Radar</a> a 9.0, <a href="http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/222701/review-the-ico-shadow-of-the-colossus-collection-ps3/">GamePro</a> a 4.5 out of 5, and <a href="http://ps3.ign.com/articles/119/1193190p1.html">IGN</a> an 8.5. More...

The September 20th edition of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/pulse/">PULSE</a> is available in HD later today when the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-store/">PlayStation Store</a> updates. Join Christina Lee for a look at the<a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/ico-and-shadow-of-colossus-collection/"> ICO & Shadow of the Collection</a>, check out the remastered <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/god-of-war-origins-collection/">God of War: Origins Collection</a> and preview the upcoming PlayStation Network exclusive <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/rochard/">Rochard</a>. And with the new TV season getting underway, don't miss our top 10 returning TV series lineup. Watch the full episode of PULSE right here, and in <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-home/">PlayStation Home</a>, or download in HD to your PS3 (SD to your PSP) when the PlayStation Store updates later today. More...

A new PS3 system software update, v3.72, will be released soon. With this minor update, system stability during use of PS3 format software and network services has been improved. More...

Story by Greg Miller @ IGN.com. Save the world without spending a dime. If the proposition of buying DC Universe Online and then paying a monthly fee has been keeping you away from Sony Online Entertainment’s MMO, prepare to enter Gotham City next month. In October, DC Universe Online goes free to play. Both PlayStation 3 and PC players will be able to download and play the game for free. Three tiered levels will act as the game’s revenue source from there along with in-game microtransactions. Here’s the official breakdown from SOE. Free New players will now have access to the current gameplay in DC Universe Online (including Gotham City, Metropolis, and all current raids and alerts), with the ability to create two characters, join a league and many other benefits. Free level players will be able to purchase downloadable game packs/updates, additional character slots, powers and more through microtransactions. Premium Any player who has spent at least $5 (including former paid subscribers and new players who have purchased $5 of in-game items) will qualify for the Premium access level. Premium level players will have more benefits available to them than the Free level player, including additional character slots, additional inventory slots, and higher cash limits. Downloadable adventure packs, additional character slots, and more can be purchased in-game. Legendary Maximum features and benefits are included at this level. Loaded with enhanced additional features, Legendary access will be available for a $14.99 monthly fee and includes all DLC packs at no cost, more than 15 character slots, more than 80 inventory slots, the ability to form unrestricted-sized leagues, and many other benefits. If you’ve already paid for a PC lifetime subscription or a PS3 plan, that deal still stands when this switch happens in late October. This event also marks the end of DCUO’s mandatory auto-renew feature. In the past, the game would automatically resubscribe you when your subscription lapsed. That’s still an option, but it’s no longer mandatory — a result of the more than 40 percent of people who quit EverQuest II and complained about the auto-renew in a SOE survey. “We decided ‘Let’s listen to them’,” said John Smedley, SOE president. “I don’t know about you, but my credit card statement every month is this amalgam of s*** of MMOs that I’m too lazy to cancel. What we want is to offer people a way to not worry about that.” The announcement of the free to play move comes just seven months after SOE released DC Universe Online. SOE wouldn’t go into the exact number of subscribers currently playing the game, but Smedley said numbers are up since the move to megaservers and that free to play was not in response to subscriber numbers. “In terms of ‘Is it a result in a drop in subs’ – absolutely not,” he said. “This is the right business model. If I can be honest, the game ended up costing a lot more than we thought it would, and this was our preferred business model from day one.” If you’re a stickler for fair play, SOE said you don’t have to worry about microtransactions breaking the game. Super-powerful items such as Superman’s raid suit will not be purchasable and experience won’t be for sale in October. The experience will be similar to Free Realms’ free to play model, SOE said, and you can expect to see it in games that are out now and future releases. “We are really seeing the benefits of free to play, and we’re really liking it,” Smedley said. “Needless to say we’re paying close attention to it and maybe looking to make some surprise moves a little later.” Score: 0 (0 votes cast) More...

Story by Fahed @ MP1st.com. I don’t think we can wait any*longer*for the Battlefield 3 Beta, and DICE has just hinted at a big announcement coming tomorrow. After weeks of denying many beta rumors, DICE has stirred up the pot with 3 hints. On the official*Italian*Battlefield page, DICE teased “guys, tomorrow follow us, there is news*about something*you have been waiting for a long time.†However, the teasing didn’t stop there. Dainel Matros, Battlefield’s global community manager, tweeted*<em>“this week is going to be off the hook BF3 More...

Read MoreRecently, Dylan Jobe detailed LightBox Interactive’s plans for Fantastic Fest 2011, Austin’s independent sci-fi/horror/fantasy film and gaming festival. He also showed off some badass new Starhawk space footage. You should watch it. Today, we can reveal the full truth: PlayStation will serve as Fantastic Fest’s exclusive videogame company, and we’ll be holding court at The <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/09/19/hey-texas-fantastic-fest-playstation-blog-meet-up/"></a> More...

Today Team 17 announced the release of Worms Ultimate Mayhem on Steam for the PC, which is scheduled for release on 28th September 2011. Worms Ultimate Mayhem will allow Worms fans a level of customisation like never before, there are over 100 items available including a huge selection of silly hats, hands, gloves, moustaches and glasses. Another great feature is ‘Wormpot’ which allows even more game style adjustments, with over 1,000,000 possible combinations. If you want to take a look there is an official trailer showing the customisation on Team 17 YouTube channel. Courtesy of Team 17 If all that wasn’t enough, there will also be a Weapons Factory that allows you to build your very own*weaponry so you will have endless possibilities for fancy dress and destruction. More information about the multi-player content and other improvements in the game will be released by Team 17 soon.*Fans can pre-order Worms Ultimate Mayhem for the PC from Steam now. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) More...

Climb the leaderboard and get as many hits as you can to win a<strong> $250 <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/index.jsp">MLB.com </a>gift card</strong>. Week #29 begins on Monday September 19nd at 5:30am PDT and ends September 26th at 4:30am PDT. To play, simply select the Challenge of the Week option in the main menu. This week kicks off the final monthly prize period (October) - <strong>$2000, cold hard cash</strong>. Every 4 weeks a monthly prize will be awarded to the player with the most Challenge of the Week points. Each user can only win each type of prize ONCE. Complete Leaderboards for Weekly, Monthly and Grand Prizing, along with the official rules can be found at the home of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/mlb-11-the-show/">MLB The Show </a>at <a href="http://www.TheShowNation.com/">www.TheShowNation.com</a>. Stay tuned to the comments section of the weekly Challenge of the Week blog, as we will be giving away some free voucher codes for Challenge of the Week! More...

A recent scientific study out of ModNation Laboratories Research and Development department (located in sunny San Diego, CA) reveals that 75% of ModNation creators are eagerly looking to further their Mod and Kart design education. Now you (yes you!) have the opportunity to learn and work with the best that ModNation has to offer. <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/modnation-racers/">MNR</a>’s Community College is now in session (or MNCC as we like to call it). Enrollment starts this week for “Modnation Kart Posse Challenge 101â€, the first of many Mod & Kart creation courses here at MNCC. Here is how it works… MNCC students register (for free!) for “MKPC101â€<a href="http://community.eu.playstation.com/t5/ModNation-Racers-News-Updates/Modnation-Kart-Posse-Challenge-101/td-p/13576025">HERE</a>. The faculty will randomly place students into high-energy lab teams of at least three members who will put their creative minds together in designing their team’s karts “Posse†style. Teams’ names could look like “Team Too Many Stickersâ€, “Team Big, Bad & Uglyâ€, “Team Chicks Rule, Boys Drool†or maybe even “Team Color-Blindâ€, who knows? This is a great opportunity for you to learn and collaborate on the kart creating process with creators of all skill levels. More...

Images by: CritiKiL So. You’ve seen the video’s of the game but you might be upset at the price for being able to play Multiplayer. You need an uplifting in spirit to get you to fork up the cash to make that happen. You’ve been*skeptical as to who to trust because you’ve been dished out games that don’t add up to your expectations and are incapable of a refund ~ Well these images should put you ‘back’ on track as to how awesome this game is going to be, not to mention that your friends are going to be revived-in-spirit once they’ve had a peak at the New screenshots of the game. Here ya go: Score: 0 (0 votes cast) More...

What could possibly be better than battling with thousands of other players online in the first, and only, action MMO on the PS? How about battling FOR FREE? That’s right, <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/dc-universe-online/">DC Universe Online</a> will soon be free to download from the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-store/">PlayStation Store</a>, and free-to-play with no monthly fees required. So what’s the catch? There is none. The entire game will be open for you to play for free. We have gotten a lot of feedback from gamers asking for an opportunity to play without a subscription requirement. So, that got us thinking about how to offer access to the game in a way that allows gamers to play their way. We wanted something that would give players options. We know different types of gamers are playing - and want to play - DCUO, and we want each person to be able to play in a way that best fits their style. That’s why we’ve created three levels of access to the game: More...