Enjoy Qore? We hope you replied "yes" to that, because that's all you're really getting this week. Other than the usual rhythm based DLC, there's a whole load of trailers and videos. Most of them are pretty meh-tastic, but Killzone 2 and Valkyria Chronicles is always worth a look. Here's the full release list:
This week's PSN Store update is truly Euro-centric. Not only do we have the first episode of the Europe-exclusive "PSN TV Show" Movement, but there's also four packs of Buzz! Quiz TV content available to purchase. Movement's first episode is split into eight videos, including four live performances from the two featured Parisian bands. If you actually want to play something today, however, there's always Wolf of the Battlefield Commando 3. Here's the full release list:
Playable content
Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 Full Game (£6.99/€9.99)
Space Invaders Extreme demo for PSP (free)
Add-on content
Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 "Gift Pack" map pack (free)
Buzz! Quiz TV "UK Culture" quiz pack (£3.49/€4.99)
Buzz! Quiz TV "Australian Culture" quiz pack (£3.49/€4.99)
Buzz! Quiz TV "Sci Fi" quiz pack (£3.49/€4.99)
Buzz! Quiz TV "Rock Legends" quiz pack (£3.49/€4.99)
Guitar Hero III "July 4th Holiday single" (free)
Videos
8 Movement "Paris" videos
Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway Ubidays trailer
Haze launch trailer
Themes and wallpapers
Metal Gear Solid 4 theme
Elefunk theme
Echochrome theme
Top Spin 3 wallpaper
Elefunk "Forest" wallpaper
Elefunk "Circus" wallpaper
On closer inspection, there appear to be more Buzz! Quiz TV quiz packs than we thought. Each country should have a "Culture" pack corresponding to their particular region.
The new look PSN Store is definitely something to behold, even if we've mostly gotten used to what it looks like by now. Unfortunately, it suffered from not caching images properly and, as a result, slow loading of items on the store. If you're someone who's particularly annoyed by this, then you'll be happy to hear that firmware 2.40 seems to have brought with it a little surprise which makes the store run a lot smoother. This is true of both the US and the EU stores.
Not only that, but a new "view mode" has been added to both, so now you can have the store items laid out in more of a list form, rather than just an image. Not only does this make it easier to see what each item is at a glance, but it also shows the price, even if the item is not highlighted. This is definitely our preferred method of viewing the store. If we find any more 2.40 surprises, we'll be sure to let you know.
Here we go again. Just as one screenshot rumor is confirmed, dated and busted wide open, another comes to take its place. We were happy basking in the glow of firmware 2.40 when we stumbled upon this image on the N4G forum (which is where you can also check out a larger version). It shows PS2 games being made available on the PlayStation Store. Among the games listed we can see Metal Gear Solid 2, Red Faction and The Bouncer (which just so happened to be this particular blogger's first PS2 game). Three titles we'd gladly buy again as a digital copy.
Of course, just like last time, this is nothing more than a rumor right now. The N4G forumer says that his friend, who works at Sony London, sent this photo to him and that the service is due to be announced at E3, with a late Summer roll-out. Supposedly it will be coming to Europe first, which makes us think it might be more likely to be announced at Leipzig. If it's real, that is. Photoshop gurus can commence picking it apart ... now!
Little bit more content here than in today's European update, but still nothing particularly compelling. Our pick of the week has to go to the Rock Band DLC. A full album plus a few Weezer songs? Yes please. Golfers and tennis players have a couple of demos to enjoy too. Here's the full release list:
Want content? You got content. Europe gets their hands on the MGS Database today, which is probably the most exciting piece of content here, we reckon. If you're wondering where Novastrike is, you won't be seeing that hit the store in this region until August. Worth waiting for an improved version that includes trophies, right? Here's the full release list:
Sony has updated their corporate strategy today to include some exciting new pieces of information regarding what we can expect in the future. Amid talk of using external expertise to accelerate R&D efficiency and improving "non-game content and services in tandem with enhanced network capability," something else caught our eye. The document states plans to roll out a video download service across Sony branded products between now and fiscal year 2010. Starting with the US PlayStation Network this Summer.
Kaz Hirai has gone on to say, at what we assume is a stockholder's meeting today, that the video download service will be made available "at later dates," with more information to be revealed next month. That'll be at E3 then. We're looking forward to hearing more in a couple of weeks.
[Via Engadget; Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Source - Sony's new corporate strategy Source - Summer launch for the US
Americans have a pretty good update today. Plenty of playable content and add-on packs, including the excellent free Metal Gear Solid 4 Database software. Also, Fatal Inertia EX releases today, just in case you're bored with Metal Gear Solid 4 already. Yeah, we thought not. Here's the full release list:
Just in case you need something to supplement your Metal Gear Solid 4 sessions, the PSN has been updated with plenty of playable, add-on and video content. There's loads to choose from here, including the first PS1 game to be released on the US Store for quite a while. Is there anything here that's really going to pull you away from MGS4? Didn't think so. Here's the full release list:
Better late than never, right? You already know this update's a big one, so lets not delay. There's plenty to grab and, potentially, a lot of money to spend. It's a big one. Here's the full release list:
Playable content
Qore digital magazine ($2.99 each or $24.99 for a year)
Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 full game ($9.99)
Another pleasing update. Demos, add on packs and PS1/PSP games are always welcome. We didn't really expect to see the God of WarGuitar Hero III pack arriving in Europe before the US. As for Toy Home: Second Gear, that's a nice little surprise as well. Here's the full release list:
Okay SCEE, let's call it quits. Keep this up and we'll have nothing to complain about. Regular PS1 titles and content hitting on the same day as the US Store is exactly what we've been after for the last year. The lack of NovaStrike is unsurprising, but it'll be with us next week, right SCEE?
NovaStrikeis heading to the PSN Store very soon. Tomorrow, in fact. This has been announced by Kevin McCann, President of Tiki Games via the PlayStation Blog. After giving us a brief biography, McCann goes on to explain what exactly NovaStrike is and announces that it will be made available in the US (no word on EU) in tomorrow's PSN Store update.
We've had some hands on time with the game in the past, so check that out if you're on the fence about buying the game or not. Mostly we suspect it will come down to price, though there's no mention of how much we're expected to pay for the game. Check back tomorrow when we'll have the full PSN update list and, in the meantime, check out the video above to see the game in action.
Nom nom nom. What a lot of tasty treats we have today. It's not often we can say this, but almost everything in the following list is worth a download. Now might be the time to lower your pitchforks and torches as Europeans can finally get their hands on Super Puzzle Fighter. Here's the full release list:
Playable content
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix full game (£6.99/€9.99)
Between Puzzle Fighter, Rayman and Medievil Resurrection, we're going to have a busy weekend. As for those Prince of Persia wallpapers from Ubidays, the art style is so gorgeous we're almost tempted to have them replace Snake as our XMB backdrop. Almost. We can't believe we're saying it, but keep up the good work, Sony!
Army of Two fans who have played the game to death have something to look forward to this week. A map pack will be made available on the US and EU PlayStation Stores this Thursday. The pack will contain two new co-op maps as well as an "enhanced" versus map. The best thing about it? It's completely free. As much as we appreciate that, we're still waiting for the patch which will finally allow us to play with our buddies across the pond.
The Veteran Map Pack will allow players to venture into a subway station in Kiev as well as returning to SSC headquarters in Miami. Not only that, but it will include "destructible objects that were not available in the retail version." We've never turned down more stuff to blow up, that's for sure.
No playable content today, unless you're a PSP owner (or you count music as "playable"). Almost as way of compensation, there's a large amount of video content available. So get yourself some of that "disappointing-PSN-day" ice cream you store at the back of the freezer and prepare for a night of trailer watching as you eat away the pain. That's what we've got planned, at least. Here's the full release list:
