Commander Fury

A respectable week for news and announcements, with a 50% discount on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/09/23/resident-evil-code-veronica-x-hd-hits-psn-tuesday-50-off-for-plus-members/">Resident Evil: Code Veronica X HD</a> for PlayStation Plus users, a fascinating creative <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/09/22/rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken-hits-psn-this-october-meet-the-birds/">dissection</a> of PSN sidescroller <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken/">Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken</a>, an <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/09/22/mercury-hg-slides-onto-psn-this-tuesday/">HD reinvention</a> of PSP classic Mercury Meltdown, a Speed Channel TV premiere for <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/09/20/gt-academy-show-debuts-tonight-on-speed-channel/">GT Academy</a>, a hefty <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/09/20/assassins-creed-revelations-for-ps3-getting-big-blu-ray-bonus/">Blu-ray-only bonus</a> of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/assassins-creed/">Assassin's Creed Revelation</a> on PS3, an Austin <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/09/19/hey-texas-fantastic-fest-playstation-blog-meet-up/">meetup</a> for PlayStation.Blog readers, new <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/09/19/coming-soon-uncharted-the-fourth-labyrinth-and-uncharted-from-dc-comics/">reading material</a> for UNCHARTED fans, and a new <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/09/19/top-100-candidates-for-the-tester-season-3-selected-vote-for-your-favorite-now/">milestone</a> for <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/the-tester/">The Tester</a> Season 3 - get those <a href="http://www.thetester.com/">votes in</a>! In other news, I really need to find the time to dive into <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/dead-island/">Dead Island</a> before the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/ico-and-shadow-of-colossus-collection/">ICO & Shadow of the Collossus Collection</a> steals my soul for the next few weeks... but I'm all tangled up in <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/resident-evil-4/">Resident Evil 4 HD</a> and <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/09/20/burnout-crash-explodes-onto-psn-today/">Burnout Crash!</a> Help! We're <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/batman-arkham-city/">not</a> <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/rage/">even</a> <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/02/04/dark-souls-qa-variety-is-the-spice-of-death/">in</a> <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/battlefield-3/">October</a> <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/ratchet-clank-all-4-one/">yet</a>! What are PlayStation.Blog readers playing? More...

Story by Mike Fahey @ Kotaku.com. In this teaser trailer for a full length ad to run on television September 27, rapper Jay-Z explains that while Battlefield 3does have (at least) “99 Problems”, not one of those problems is a bitch. And here we were all worried! But when EA’s Battlefield team teases something, there’s generally something interesting waiting on the other end. My guess? Jay-Z is lying to us, and one of Battlefield 3‘s problems is indeed bitches. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) More...

Story by Kirk Hamilton @ Kotaku.com. The Riddler and The Penguin may get increased stage-time in Batman: Arkham City, but the latest trailer for Rocksteady’s upcoming game is all about our old friend The Joker. Looking quite a bit the worse for wear after his misadventures in Arkham Asylum, the J-Man sounds like he’s enacting another big, complicated plan to ensnare the Bat. Big surprise, that. Also featured: a healthy dose of Harley Quinn’s accent, some giant goon named “Mr. Hammer,” and some fairly serious-looking lava and explosions. Batman: “There’s nothing wrong with you.” Joker: “Nice of you to say, but you of all people should know, there’s plenty wrong with me.” Score: 0 (0 votes cast) More...

The PlayStation.Blog has showcased <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a> exclusive <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/rochard/">Rochard</a> before - we examined its <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/06/09/hands-on-with-rochard-the-gravity-bending-platform-puzzler-coming-exclusively-to-psn/">gravity-based side-scrolling gameplay</a> and <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/03/01/rochard-for-ps3-enter-the-astro-miner/">Team Fortress-esque aesthetic</a> in previous posts. But it wasn’t until the game was right in front of me at <a href="http://fantasticfest.com/">Austin's Fantastic Fest</a> that the premise, art style, and gameplay all came together into a coherent whole. Being able to control your character <em>and</em> the gravity of the entire level takes a bit of getting used to, but after a few minutes, it clicks. While <a href="http://www.rochardthegame.com/">Rochard</a> is packed with clever puzzles, it’s also very much an action game. See for yourself in our new video walkthrough above, which we shot at our Fantastic Fest community meetup and where Blog readers got their hands all over a host of upcoming <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a> and <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a> games. More...

“If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?†The world of Closure, an upcoming <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a> exclusive, pushes this philosophical question to the limit. If you don’t see that tree, not only doesn’t it make a sound - it doesn’t even exist. As Austin’s Fantastic Fest kicked off last night, PlayStation hosted an indie arcade filled with games coming exclusively to PSN. You might be familiar with most of the titles on display, as we’ve talked quite a bit on the Blog about <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/journey/">Journey</a>, <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/retrograde/">Retro/Grade</a>, and <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/okabu/">Okabu</a>. As the developers were setting up their stations, I was immediately drawn to a title that we only just introduced you to: <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/closure/">Closure</a>. More...

More classic <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/resident-evil/">Resident Evil</a> horror is heading to the PlayStation Network next week with <a href="http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/games/resident-evil-code-veronica-x-ps2.html">Resident Evil: Code Veronica X HD</a>! Claire Redfield, after narrowly escaping Raccoon City, is searching for her brother Chris. Captured while sneaking around an Umbrella facility and snooping for leads, Claire is hauled off to a maximum security prison installation on Rockfort Island. While making her escape, she realizes the island is being overrun by zombies and Bio-Organic Weapons. Claire meets another prisoner, Steve Burnside, who is also looking to escape … but will they be able to work together to make it out alive? The island is veiled in secrets and the family behind the Umbrella Corporation has a deadly agenda of their own. Relive the survival horror classic available via <a href="http://us.playstation.com/psn/">PlayStation Network</a> on Tuesday, Sept. 27th. More...

Read MoreHilarious women and new television headline what’s new this week! Get your laugh on in New Releases the summer’s breakout comedy hit Bridesmaids. Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live) leads a hilarious cast of females that includes Maya Rudolph (Up All Night), Rose Byrne (X-Men: First Class), Wendi McLendon-Covey (Reno 911!), Ellie Kemper (The Office) and <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/09/23/new-on-playstation-video-store-and-music-unlimited-4/"></a> More...

Story by Brian Crecente @ Kotaku.com. The Xbox 360 might be getting Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 expansion packs first, but the PS3 gets Battlefield 3′sexpansions first. The publisher said today that beginning with Battlefield 3 expansion Back to Karkand, all “full-blown upcoming expansion packs” for the game will appear one week early exclusively on the PS3, “brought to you by Sony.” Score: 0 (0 votes cast) More...

Ruin (working title) was last seen on the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/06/07/ruin-brings-social-action-rpgs-to-ps-vita-ps3/">E3 2011 PlayStation stage</a>, when the presenter wirelessly transferred his <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PS Vita</a> game session to a <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a> without missing a frame of the action. As technically impressive as Ruin’s cross-platform compatibility is, I’ve learned that it’s only the beginning of what co-developers Idol Minds and SCE San Diego Studios are planning for this ambitious multiplayer action-RPG. Ruin’s developers are quietly building a wide, deep social network designed to keep you interacting whether you’re on the couch, on the bus, or someplace in-between. <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/author/twilliams/">Travis Williams</a>, Ruin’s energetic senior producer, walked me through the game’s social ambitions several weeks ago at a media showing in New York City. From the earliest days of Ruin’s development process, Williams told me, the development team was motivated to find a way to make its multiplayer competitive mode accessible and socially sticky -- important considerations given PS Vita’s always-on wireless connectivity and the game’s Vita-to-PS3 cross-platform support. More...

In July I had the pleasure of announcing that our game, <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/07/19/coming-to-psn-rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken/">Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken</a>, was coming exclusively to <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a>. We’ve gone and polished the heck out of it and will be shipping these fine feathered friends to you soon! The game was in production for the PS3 for just over a year, but the Rocketbirds have been with me much longer. It started in the 80s with those anthropomorphic animal comics, such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Using only birds gave the stories a satirical edge I could play with. It wasn’t until 2000, when I’d co-founded <a href="http://www.ratloop.com/">Ratloop Inc.</a>, and had decided to go back to complete my studies that I started to use the birds as a way to vent my creative energy. I spent a week putting together a clip called “Pilot.†It had sneaky penguins infiltrating a chicken base on what looked like the North Pole. It got good attention at the time, so the simple formula stuck with me. More...

We hope you’ve been enjoying the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/09/14/ratchet-clank-all-4-one-limited-beta-launches-win-a-spot-now/">Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One Limited Beta</a>. We gave out tons of codes last week, and if for some reason you haven’t gotten a code to download it yet, check out the special pre-order deal we have going on with Amazon. If you <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ratchet-Clank-All-One-Playstation-3/dp/B003O6E620">pre-order</a> from now until September 26th, you get into the beta! Also, if you get over to <a href="http://ratchetandclank.com/home.html">RatchetAndClank.com</a> before supplies run out, we're giving away a limited number of access codes on the homepage as well! The beta features one-to-four player online and offline co-op, as well as two segments from different locations in the game and a cross-section of the inventive arsenal you’ve come to expect from Ratchet & Clank games. One of the frequent questions we get is how the evil Dr. Nefarious ended up with Ratchet, Clank, and President Qwark. We actually explain this at the beginning of the game: Ratchet, Clank and Qwark have arrived on the planet of Luminopolis so that now-Galactic President Qwark can pick up an Intergalactic Tool of Justice Award. More...

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...