Commander Fury

The August 9 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 sharp look at the new Freddy Krueger downloadable guest character for <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/mortal-kombat/">Mortal Kombat</a> and celebrate the fast approaching NFL season with the Madden NFL 12 demo. The Top 10 is back with a look at the most popular downloads so far this summer. And check out the Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition available for pre-order as part of the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/05/psnplay/">PlayStation Network PLAY</a> promotion kicking off today. As for new video releases, comedy adventures are featured with Natalie Portman and Danny McBride in Your Highness and the Simon Pegg/Nick Frost comedy, Paul. More...

My name is Steve Hunt and I’m excited to talk about my PSN game Beat Hazard Ultra, which hits the PS3 this September. I wrote the game from scratch on my own, in my bedroom! <strong>About the Game</strong> Beat Hazard Ultra is a twin stick arcade shooter that is entirely powered by YOUR music! Just copy some music on to your PS3 hard drive, or use the built-in songs, choose a track, and be dazzled by the eye-bleeding visuals as you blast away at enemy ships to the sound of your favourite pumping tunes. More...

It's always a pleasure to speak with <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/iglevine">Ken Levine</a>, creative director for the award-winnging <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/bioshock/">BioShock</a> and the PS3 dystopian epic <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/bioshock-infinite/">BioShock Infinite</a>. Ken's been good enough to drop by the PlayStation.Blog before, bringing news of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/06/06/bioshock-infinite-to-support-move-ps-vita-game-in-the-works/">PlayStation Move support</a> as well as an upcoming <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PS Vita</a> BioShock game, but we've never been able to immortalize him in crisp HD video. Until now. In <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/author/rgutierrez/">Rey</a>’s lovingly produced video feature, Levine lays out his plan for Infinite domination, starting with creating a convincing relationship between lead characters Booker and Elizabeth as they seek to escape the crumbling city of Columbia. More...

If you’ve been following <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/resistance-3/">Resistance 3</a> coverage over the last few months, one of the cool features of our game is that many of our main multiplayer maps take place outside of the United States (where the single-player campaign focuses on Joseph Capelli’s harrowing journey from Haven, Oklahoma to New York City). In the multiplayer beta, you will find the Trainyard map, set in sunny Bogota, Colombia, as well as the Seaside map set in Glamorgan, Wales, UK. Earlier this year, we revealed the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/12/07/resistance-3-the-story-so-far/">Prison MP map</a>, which is set in Fort Lamy, Republic of Chad in Africa. More...

If you haven’t heard, we at San Diego Studio are proudly bringing the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/modnation-racers/">ModNation</a> franchise to the much anticipated <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PlayStation Vita</a> and we would like to tap into the brilliant minds that have conceived over two million amazing MNR creations by asking for your input. What do YOU think the title of the upcoming release should be? To help your creativity here are some details about the upcoming game. <ul> <li>All PS3 user creations will be available on day one for the vita.</li> <li>Create a track in only seconds by drawing it with your finger. </li> More...

Many of you have probably heard about <a href="http://www.myresistance.net/global/">Global Resistance</a> by now. If you haven’t yet, now is the time! I wanted give you more details about what Global Resistance is as well as explain some of the tweaks we’ve made since launch (I’m looking at you “guy who stopped playing because the humans always wonâ€). Global Resistance is a massive online strategy game developed by Soap Creative. Here’s the official definition: Global Resistance is a free-to-play online strategy game set amidst mankind's final stand in the Resistance universe. You enlist as a Chimera or Human commander and take over the world to unlock exclusive Resistance 3 multiplayer skins, in-game titles and XP boosters. Customize your base, build and deploy your personal arsenal alongside thousands of other players, or attack your rivals directly in head-to-head skirmishes. But what does all that mean? How do you play Global Resistance? More...

<a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/mlb-11-the-show/">Challenge of the Week</a> #23 celebrates the race in the AL Central that’s been heating up. Newly acquired Indians starter goes up against the Tigers slugging 1st baseman and triple-crown threat. Climb the leaderboard and get as many hits as you can to win $250 <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/index.jsp">MLB.com</a> gift card. Week #19 begins on Monday August 8th at 5:30am PDT and ends Monday August 15th at 4:30am PDT. More...

When we first heard about the opportunity to not only work with Wizards of the Coast but on the Dungeons & Dragons property itself, well let’s just say that the nerdgasm around the studio was at an all-time high. We went with action-RPG as the genre based off of studio competency, market trends and general interest (basically, we thought it was cool and knew we can do a good job of it.) We knew that this the best fit for our first D&D game. We wanted to make the game as accessible as possible, just let players play, harkening back to the ‘old school’ days of gaming. You should be able to play alone, call a buddy over and play locally or jump online and find a party of adventurers to group with. More...

Starhawk is a rare beast -- a big-budget shooter with a story to tell. That tale centers squarely on Emmett Graves, a reluctant protagonist saddled with some serious baggage. I spoke with Harvard Bonin, Sony Santa Monica Studios’ Senior Producer on Starhawk, to try and get a grip on what makes Emmett Graves tick. <BLOCKQUOTE> <strong>PSB: A gigantic multiplayer shooter that includes RTS elements has been seen as something of a gaming Holy Grail. Which part did you conceptualize first -- shooter, or RTS?</strong> Harvard Bonin, Senior producer, Sony Santa Monica Studios: At first, we just wanted to do a sequel to Warhawk and set it in space -- just bring a new setting, story, and a solo campaign. But we realized that we needed to bring something extra, so when LittleBigPlanet came out, we thought, “wouldn’t it be cool to make your own shooter?†More...

The <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PlayStation Network</a> continues its summer dominance this week on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/the-drop/">The Drop</a>. Take out The Jackal when the classic <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a> title, FarCry 2 joins the digital library of games up on PSN. Followed by one demo rich with tradition and a second demo, rich with chase car experiences.*Download both demos for<a href="http://www.ea.com/madden-nfl"> Madden NFL 12</a> and <a href="http://driver-thegame.ubi.com/driver-san-francisco/en-US/">Driver: San Francisco</a> this week on PSN. More...

It's been a fun week; in case you missed it, we dropped by IGN's <a href="http://ps3.ign.com/articles/118/1186511p1.html">Podcast Beyond #200</a>, where we shared the joy of UNCHARTED 3 multiplayer, and I extolled the virtues of Galaga Legions DX, which I've been enjoying <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/02/playstation-store-update-194/">since Tuesday</a>. My lil brother is in town from the East Coast, so it's been fun catching up on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/castle-crashers/">Castle Crashers PSN</a>, which I had never gotten the chance to really dive into. It's fun, and filled with potty humor. Perfection. What are you playing this weekend? Next up for PlayStation (and this Blog): We'll be heading out to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cologne">Old World Europe</a> at the end of the week for <a href="http://www.gamescom-cologne.com/en/gamescom/home/index.php">Gamescom</a>. Expect a full slate of updates once the show kicks off. <strong>The PS.Blog weekly reading list (Week of August 1, 2011)</strong> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.siliconera.com/2011/08/05/free-sub-zero-skins-ice-sliding-to-mortal-kombat-next-week/">Free Sub-Zero Skins Ice-Sliding To Mortal Kombat Next Week - Siliconera</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-no-more-heroes-heroes-paradise/17-4644/">Quick Look: No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise - Giant Bomb</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.destructoid.com/nathan-drake-is-the-penguin-wait-what--208033.phtml">Nathan Drake is the Penguin... wait, what? - Destructoid</a></li> More...

It's been a fairly quiet week, all things considered, despite the rush of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/evo/">EVO 2011 coverage</a>, a lucrative new <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/05/psnplay/">PSN PLAY</a> annual promotion, and word that <a href="http://suckerpunch.com/">Sucker Punch Productions</a> is officially <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/02/sucker-punch-productions-joins-sce-world-wide-studios/">joining</a> the SCE World Wide Studios family. I've also been hearing considerable interest in PlayStation Home's new Dead Island <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/03/coming-to-home-dead-island-zombie-survival-quiz-magic-the-gathering-game-night-new-items/">zombie survival quiz</a>. Have you tried it? Eagle-eyed readers may have also spotted the news that <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/04/resistance-3-is-gold-bonus-content-on-the-disc/">Resistance 3 has gone gold</a>. To whet your appetite, be sure to watch <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/author/rgutierrez/">Rey</a>'s <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/05/resistance-3-multiplayer-passive-and-active-abilities-detailed/">new Resistance 3 dev diary</a> that details passive and active abilities for multiplayer. More...

Story by Stephany Nunneley @ VG247.com. Battlefield 3 will contain 10 times the weapon unlockables as Battlefield 2, according to the latest entry to the Battleblog. These hardware unlocks will be spread over weapons, attachments, gadgets as well as a “huge unlock tree for vehicles alone.†According to Valerian Noghin and Fredrik Thylander, the game’s persistence designers, there will also be medals, ribbons and service stars displaying “skill, commitment, and teamplay prowess,†handed out to players. There are also a number ranks in the game, as with Bad Company 2, and badge ranks will show off the overall player progress in the game, and more ways to progress with “new concept of Service Stars.†Service Stars basically “challenge the hardcore†and the more one plays, the more they are eligible for further promotion by getting Service Stars added to the weapon skill badge, vehicles, kits, and overall rank. “Anytime your kill card is displayed, everyone will see exactly how experienced you are with your current equipment,†read the blog. “The ultimate bragging right would be for a player to be awarded the rank of Colonel with 100 Service Stars attached, and to have 100 stars in all weapons, kits, and vehicles. Getting there will be a massive task – consider that a challenge.†You can read the full post over on the BFblog. Battlefield 3 is out in late October 25 on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, with an open beta expected next month. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) More...

Story by Ludwig Kietzmann @ Joystiq.com. The developers at Netherrealm Studios have been diligent in adding more characters to Mortal Kombat, releasing a free compatibility pack (to support online matches) alongside each bloody gush of new content. Creepy Elm Street loiterer Freddy Krueger calls for “Compatibility Pack #4″ when he arrives on August 9. Once downloaded, the pack grants access to “Klassic Sub-Zero” (as he appeared in Mortal Kombat 3), and “Retro Cyber Sub-Zero,” another cyborg ninja variant and a consistently effective sign that we’re talking about video games here. Freddy Krueger is available on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network for $5, or as part of the Mortal Kombat Season Pass for $15. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) More...

Story by Joshua Rivera @ Kotaku.com. If you’ve been neglecting the Playstation Network’s downloadable offerings, then perhaps you’d like to drop by and take a gander at the Playstation Store’s wares in the coming weeks as the first annual PSN P event kicks off. Beginning August 9, the Play lineup will highlight four new action games hitting the Network in the coming weeks, along with a few gifts thrown in for good measure. Users who preorder any of the Play games will receive a free PS3 theme per preorder. “Hey, Kotaku!” you say, “Just how do I preorder a digital game? It’s not I’m having it shipped to my house! ” To which I would say that you were quite correct, and perhaps the word “preorder” is a bit of a misnomer (and it’s not even proper English! But that’s my own petty qualm). Maybe “preorder” in this instance should be, “deposit some money before hand and promise that you’ll buy the game”, and it’s only called “preordering” because that’s the name they gave the shiny new button on the PlayStation Store allowing you to do this. Also worth noting, is that each game comes with its own unique gift for purchasing during the promotion that you’ll only get for buying on day one, detailed below. In addtion, Playstation Plus members get these titles for 20% off. And if you buy all four, you’ll get PAYDAY: The Heist absolutely free. Just make sure you turn eighteen first. August 23: Street Fighter III Third Strike Online Edition – This highly-anticipated action-fighting title from Capcom features 20 playable characters, HD graphics, more than 200 pieces of unlockable content, more than 100 trials and more than 100 challenges. When Street Fighter III Third Strike Online Edition is purchased through PLAY, purchasers will be able to unlock GILL, the self-proclaimed god, without having to beat the game with every character, as day-one DLC. * Street Fighter III Third Strike Online Edition will be $14.99 and will be available for pre-order through August 18. The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates Street Fighter III Third Strike Online Edition “T” for “TEEN.” August 30: * The Baconing – The latest action-RPG title from Hothead Games features the popular hero, DeathSpank, in an attempt to defeat the Anti-Spank and his army of Cyborques before they cast an evil shadow over Spanktopia. Discover exciting new worlds and battle hordes of enemies as you search to unlock the secret within the Fires of Bacon. When The Baconing is purchased through PLAY, purchasers will receive an additional co-op character, Roesha – One Bad Mutha. The Baconing will be $14.99 and will be available for pre-order through August 25. *The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates The Baconing “T” for “TEEN.” September 6: * BloodRayne: Betrayalâ„¢ – This 2D side-scrolling platformer from Majesco Entertainment features 15 bloodthirsty levels where Rayne attempts to infiltrate a treacherous castle, take out a fiendish horde and stop an evil vampire massacre. When BloodRayne: Betrayal is purchased through PLAY, purchasers will receive a BloodRayne: Betrayal virtual item for their PlayStation®Home avatar and an exclusive dynamic theme. BloodRayne: Betrayal will be $14.99 and will be available for pre-order through September 1. *The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates BloodRayne: Betrayal “T” for “TEEN.” September 13: * Renegade Ops – This top-down, driving shooter from SEGA features a huge variety of vehicles, guns and endless enemies. The game features Sandbox-style missions, so there are many different ways to play. When Renegade Ops is purchased through PLAY, purchasers will receive a Vehicle & Character Pack with two new vehicles and special weapons. Renegade Ops will be $14.99 and will be available for pre-order through September 8. The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates Renegade Ops “RP” for “Rating Pending.” Bonus Gift: * PAYDAY: The Heist – This gritty, first-person shooter from Sony Online Entertainment lets players take on the role of a hardened career criminal executing intense, dynamic heists in constant pursuit of the next “big score.” A voucher code for PAYDAY: The Heist will be provided as a bonus gift to players, ages 18 and older, that purchased all four PLAY titles, for redemption when the game releases. *The game can also be pre-ordered separately starting September 20, 2011. PAYDAY: The Heist will be $19.99. The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates PAYDAY: The Heist “RP” for “Rating Pending.” All in all, is this a sweet deal from Sony—or even that appealing coming right off the heels of XBLA’s Summer of Arcade? Unlike XBLA’s summer promo, none of the four marquee titles are system exclusives, and at press time, only Street Fighter 3 is confirmed to hit the PSN first—but only a day before. Is the focus on action titles scratching an itch somewhere for you? Sound off and let us know what you think— I personally have yet to try a Deathspank game (though I’ve always wanted to), and I’ll probably pick up Street Fighter 3 (on the PSN a day before XBLA) because I’m pretty sure they can’t update it any more than this. In accordance with this line of thinking, I plan to purchase whatever version of Street Fighter IV is available when Street Fighter V comes out. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) More...

Story by Luke Plunkett @ Kotaku.com. The upcoming Modern Warfare 3 is being developed by Infinity Ward. Or, at least, what’s left of it. The Wii version, however, is being developed by somebody else, somebody just as familiar with the series, if not quite as popular with its fans. That developer is Treyarch, the team behind Call of Duty 3, World at War and Black Ops. If you’re wondering why some of their team is “stuck” on the Wii port, well, they’ve got a ton of experience on the platform, having handled the Nintendo home console versions of World at War, Modern Warfare and Black Ops, as well as having turned out 2008′s Spider-Man: Web of Shadows on the Wii. Modern Warfare 3 is due not only on Wii but PS3, 360, PC, 3DS and Vita. Most of those versions, Vita excepted, should be out in November. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) More...

Hopefully you caught the news yesterday that <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/resistance-3/">Resistance 3</a> has gone gold! We also debuted our new story-centric <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/04/resistance-3-is-gold-bonus-content-on-the-disc/">campaign trailer</a>. You may also know that the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/07/28/resistance-3-public-beta-dates-early-access-starts-august-4th/">Resistance 3 Multiplayer Beta</a> early access has begun for owners of specially marked copies of SOCOM 4. We’re still very much in beta mode, with regards to fixes (especially for matchmaking to address the freezes and disconnects), so please keep <a href="http://www.insomniacgames.com/community/index.php?board=48.0">reporting</a> what you see. We hope to have a patch soon that will address many of these issues, but in the meantime, thanks for bearing with us. More...

We’re excited to introduce a new PlayStation Network event: PLAY. PLAY is a brand-new annual program, where we’re bringing you four of the season’s hottest PlayStation Network action titles. With every purchase of a PLAY title in the PlayStation Store throughout the duration of the program, you’ll receive a separate piece of DLC for each game, plus a new theme with every pre-order. If these incentives aren’t enough, if you purchase all four PLAY titles in the PlayStation Store, you’ll get a voucher code for PAYDAY: The Heist as a bonus gift. On top of that, PlayStation Plus subscribers will get an automatic 20% off every purchase. Pre-orders will be available for all four PLAY titles starting next week on August 9 in the PlayStation Store. More...

Hey all! <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/author/djaffe/">David Jaffe</a> here with some good news and bad news on behalf of myself, my <a href="http://eatsleepplay.biz/">Eat Sleep Play</a> partner and <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/twisted-metal/">Twisted Metal</a> co-director Scott Campbell, the entire Eat Sleep Play team, and Sony Santa Monica. First the good news: Eat Sleep Play and Sony Santa Monica are cranking like mad to get a fantastic Twisted Metal build ready for both Gamescom and PAX Prime! For those not in the know: <a href="http://www.gamescom-cologne.com/en/gamescom/home/index.php">Gamescom</a> is August 17th-21st in Cologne, Germany and <a href="http://prime.paxsite.com/">PAX Prime</a> will take place here in America August 26th-28th in Seattle, Washington. Both shows are open to the public but PAX - I believe- is already sold out. If you've got PAX Prime tickets, I can't wait to see you there! I hope you'll swing by the Twisted Metal booth and give our game a try! More...

We have some exciting news for all you <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PlayStation 3</a> Worms fans out there – over the next month we have got some action-packed DLC packs for <a href="http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/games/worms-2-armageddon-ps3.html">Worms 2: Armageddon</a> set for release. The first DLC pack we released last year was the destructive “Battle Packâ€, which had a nice mix of worm-y goodness, and was very well received by our passionate fans. We also know that different Worms 2: Armageddon players find different features of the game appealing, and people do have their favorites. For example, some players like to spend time wracking their brains over the fiendishly-designed puzzles; others really enjoy demonstrating their ‘leet’ (their word!) heavy weapons skills in fort games, while others still prefer racing each other, or against the clock, using the ninja ropes and jet-packs. We are also aware of the fondness that many fans have for the older titles that got people addicted to the wacky world of Worms in the first place. More...

We’ve got plenty of great content for a relaxing summer weekend! The animated blockbuster <strong>Rio</strong> hits New Releases this week, featuring the voice talents of Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), Anne Hathaway (Alice in Wonderland), George Lopez (The Smurfs) and Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords). The film follows two macaws who must escape through the skies of Rio de Janeiro from a diabolical cockatoo attempting to help smuggle them out of the country. Top Downloads features today’s hottest videos being sold on the store, including <strong>Rango</strong>, <strong>Limitless</strong> and <strong>Arthur</strong> on the movies side, plus <strong>Breaking Bad</strong>, <strong>Alphas</strong> and the digital exclusive <strong>Mortal Kombat: Legacy</strong> on the television side. More...

We’re very excited to announce that PlayStation Network’s exclusive hit reality series “<a href="http://www.thetester.com/">The Tester</a>†will return for a third season and the online casting call begins today! This is your chance to get on the show! We are holding an online casting call and competition inviting gamers from across the country to <a href="https://casting.thetester.com/join/Default.aspx">submit a profile</a> for a chance to become a member of the 12-person cast of “<a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/the-tester/">The Tester 3</a>.†While the producers will be looking at every profile, remember that one lucky gamer is voted onto the cast by you! And, last year, you guys voted Mickey Paradis (aka “8bitmickeyâ€) onto the show. More...

I’m here today to bring the news that <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/resistance-3/">Resistance 3</a> has gone gold, and has been delivered to manufacturing for its September 6th release date. Everyone here at <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/insomniac-games/">Insomniac</a> is excited for you to get your hands on the game we’ve been working so hard on for the last three years. Even now, our work isn’t complete, as we are actively working on the Online Beta, and will be bringing a Day 1 Patch to the game to bring updates and tweaks to the final product. The public beta begins today for folks who have codes from <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/socom-4/">SOCOM 4</a>, so we’re looking forward to fragging you online. In celebration of our gold announcement, we wanted to give you the first look at a brand new gameplay trailer from Resistance 3. For those of you who have followed R3 since the announcement of the game at GamesCom last year, this trailer brings things full circle. I don’t want to spoil it, so take a look below: More...

Capcom's fighting-game renaissance surges forward like an EX Hadoken. This August sees the long-awaited PSN release of Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Online Edition, followed by <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/marvel-vs-capcom-3">Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3</a> in November and <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/street-fighter-x-tekken/">Street Fighter X Tekken</a> in 2012. I caught up with Capcom's Strategic Director of Online & Community Seth Killian at <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/evo/">EVO</a>, the world’s biggest fighting game tournament, to get the latest updates on all three games. Killian did me one better, discussing Capcom's evolving view of community engagement and sharing his analysis of Noah "<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/31/eight-year-old-noah-brings-the-pain-to-pro-players-at-evo-2011//">The Prodigy</a>," the eight-year old Marvel vs Capcom 3 competitor who captured the imagination of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/evo/">EVO</a> attendees when he outmatched much older players to place among the competition's top 64 finalists. More...

Story by Stephany Nunnelly @ VG247.com. Runescape-owner Jagex has released a teaser video for its Transformers Universe MMO. The official website is now open as well, and the game will allow you to play as an Autobot or Decipticon (yes!!) in the Prime timeline, and you can customize both your character and fighting style. The game is to launch in 2012 in North America, Latin America, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. Hasbro is to be the publisher. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) More...