Apocalyptic Sale hits EU PlayStation Store today

Posted July 3rd, 2013 at 16:42 EDT by Will Robinson0 Comments

As of today, the Apocalyptic Sale has taken hold of the EU PlayStation Store.

The sale will run until July 17 and features a mix of digital-exclusive and retail games. PlayStation Plus members will also get an additional 10 percent off sale titles.

The games on sale--a stark contrast to the lineup of North America's PlayStation Summer Blast--include:

Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD -- €8.99/£7.29

Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee HD -- €5.99/£4.79

Oddworld: Stranger Boxx -- €12.99/£9.99

I Am Alive -- €7.99/£6.49

Quantum Theory -- €12.99/£9.99

Armageddon Riders -- €4.99/£3.99

DOOM 3 BFG Edition -- €21.99/£17.99

Dead Space -- €9.99/£7.99

Dead Space Super Bundle -- €14.99/£11.99

Dead Space Extraction -- €7.99/£6.49

Dead Space Ignition -- €2.99/£2.39

Dead Space 2 -- €14.99/£11.99

Dead Space 2 Super Bundle -- €23.99/£19.69

Dead Space 3 -- €29.99/£19.99

The Last Guy -- €3.99/£3.19

Dead Nation -- €6.49/£5.19

TOKYO JUNGLE -- €9.99/£7.99

MotorStorm Apocalypse -- €7.49/£5.99

From Dust + I Am Alive bundle -- €9.99/£7.99

Shoot Many Robots -- €4.99/£3.99

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon -- €11.25/£8.89

Far Cry 3 + Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon -- €34.99/£24.99

Via EU PlayStation Blog

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Phone billing option added to PlayStation Network

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Posted July 3rd, 2013 at 07:50 EDT by Will Robinson2 Comments

A new feature has been added to the PlayStation Network that allows you to pay for content on the PlayStation Store using your mobile phone. When funds need to be added to your wallet, a prompt will appear asking to enter your phone number.

The option is now present on using the Store on PlayStation 3 or on the Sony Entertainment Network web store. Once you’ve entered your number, a text message will be sent to your phone asking for confirmation by responding with the letter “Y”.

The charge from the PlayStation Store will show up on your next mobile phone bill or will be debited against your pre-paid account.

Gordon Thornton, vice president of Sony Network Entertainment Europe (SNEE), commented on the reasoning behind adding this feature:

"We are always looking at new ways to give our customers more choice in terms of content, accessibility and payment methods, and are pleased to be able to offer the option of mobile operator billing, which are becoming more and more popular."

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What do you think of this new billing option? Are you likely to use it? Sound off in the comments below.

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PlayStation Summer Blast starts today, steep discounts on popular games

Posted July 2nd, 2013 at 20:49 EDT by Kyle Prahl0 Comments

Alongside today's North American PlayStation Store update comes the PlayStation Summer Blast, a multi-week series of steep discounts on popular digital titles.

Sony's on the right track here (I myself have spent undue amounts on attractive Steam summer bundles), and a winning selection of games are on offer at 60 percent discounts for regular users. PS Plus subscribers get up 80 percent discounts on the same games.

Here's the full lineup of PlayStation Summer Blast game discounts, some of which are currently in effect. We'll be posting the full PlayStation Store update later tonight, but for now, sound off in the comments if you're excited to download any of these titles!

From the official PlayStation Blog:

July 2nd – 9th

Call Of Duty Black Ops II (PS3):

Regular Price: $59.99, Sale Price: $41.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $37.79

The Amazing Spider-Man (PS3):

Regular Price: $49.99, Sale Price: $29.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $20.99

Batman Arkham Asylum (PS3):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $9.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00

The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest (PS Vita/PSP):

Regular Price: $9.99, Sale Price: $4.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $2.50

Mortal Kombat (PS Vita):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $9.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00

Mortal Kombat (PS3):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $9.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00

Prince of Persia Forgotten Sands (PS3)

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $7.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $4.00

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: the Game (PS3):

Regular Price: $9.99, Sale Price: $3.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $2.00

Shadow of the Colossus (PS3):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $9.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00

Ratchet & Clank Collection (PS3):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $14.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $7.50

July 9th – 16th

Fast & Furious Showdown (PS3):

Regular Price: $39.99, Sale Price: $31.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $23.99

Star Trek (PS3):

Regular Price: $54.99, Sale Price: $43.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $32.99

Men In Black: Alien Crisis (PS3):

Regular Price: $39.99, Sale Price: $29.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $20.99

The Simpsons Arcade Game (PS3):

Regular Price: $9.99, Sale Price: $6.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $4.89

X-Men (PS3):

Regular Price: $9.99, Sale Price: $6.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $4.89

Hitman Trilogy HD (PS3):

Regular Price: $39.99, Sale Price: $19.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $15.99

Lord of the Rings: War in the North (PS3):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $9.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00

Silent Hill: Book of Memories (PS Vita):

Regular Price: $29.99, Sale Price: $14.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $7.50

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (PS3):

Regular Price: $29.99, Sale Price: $14.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $7.50

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (PS Vita):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $9.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00

The Adventures of TinTin: The Game (PS3):

Regular Price: $39.99, Sale Price: $19.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $10.00

Star Wars The Force Unleashed II (PS3):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $9.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game (PS3):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $9.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $5.00

Just Cause 2 (PS3):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $9.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $7.99

Prince of Persia Classics Trilogy (PS3):

Regular Price: $39.99, Sale Price: $15.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $8.00

Tron Evolution (PS Vita):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $7.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $4.00

Alice: Madness Returns (PS3):

Regular Price: $19.99, Sale Price: $7.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $4.00

Fight Night Champion – Full Game (PS3):

Regular Price: $29.99, Sale Price: $11.99, PlayStation Plus Price: $6.00

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PlayStation All-Stars fans call for Abe, Dart DLC

You are here: Home » News » PlayStation All-Stars Battl... » PlayStation All-Stars fans call ...

Posted July 1st, 2013 at 07:02 EDT by Mike Harradence0 Comments

Sony’s official Twitter has been inundated with PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale fans calling out for additional DLC in the shape of Abe (Abe’s Oddysee) and Dart (Legend of Dragoon).

Both characters were reportedly in the works as post-release content for the SuperBot brawler, though the release was cancelled after Sony cut ties with the developer. Artwork of Dart was recently leaked, which you can see here.

As a result, fans have started bugging Sony on Twitter (via Linkters) to release the duo for the beat-‘em-up title, which was released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita late last year. The hashtags #ReleaseDart and #ReleaseAbe are being promoted to show support for the DLC.

Did you enjoy PS All-Stars Battle Royale? Who would you like to see made available for the game? Do you think Abe and Dart would make suitable combatants? Let us know in the comments section below.

Thanks, VG247

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Soul Saga could get PS4 and PS Vita versions through Kickstarter, indie JRPG inspired by PlayStation classics

Posted June 27th, 2013 at 21:23 EDT by Kyle Prahl4 Comments

Many PlayStation enthusiasts remember the original PlayStation's era--a time of great innovation and kick-ass JRPGs. Final Fantasy. Star Ocean. Suikoden. Grandia. Vagrant Story. The list goes on and on, but recent years have seen an undeniable drought in a genre that arguably made the PlayStation brand in the late '90s.

Mike Gale is not pleased. The one-man army, under the monikor Disastercake, is working on Soul Saga, a self-described "love letter to J-RPGs from the PlayStation era like Final Fantasy, Breath of Fire, Suikoden, and Persona." To that end, Soul Saga will incorporate a sweeping, epic narrative, turn-based combat modeled after Final Fantasy X, an eclectic cast of characters, and imaginative environments like the sky-city Medonia and the wastelands of Oterra below.

Mike grew up playing classic RPGs and fell in love with the industry. After a stint working in Microsoft's games department, he set off on his own to make Soul Saga--the game he's always wanted to make. Only 12 days ago, he looked to Kickstarter to make his dream a reality.

Today, with more than 17 days to go, Soul Saga passed its funding goal of $60,000.

When I first noticed Soul Saga's Kickstarter page a week ago, I took to Twitter to try and connect Mike with Shahid Ahmad, SCEE's Strategic Content wizard and champion of the independent developer. At the time, the only announced platforms were PC, Mac, Linux, and (of all things) Wii U. But any game that pays homage to the golden age of PlayStation RPGs belongs on a PlayStation platform.

As word began breaking that Mike was in talks with PlayStation to make PS Vita and PS4 ports happen, I noticed Soul Saga's funded amount jump by thousands of dollars. This morning, the news came in--PS Vita and PS4 versions will happen if Soul Saga hits its stretch goal of $80,000. Mere hours later, it broke past its $60,000 base funding goal.

In an exclusive conversation with PSU, Mike shared his thoughts on the game's early attention and working with Sony. "I'd like to thank all of the generous fans of Soul Saga, because without them this dream couldn't happen," he said. "Working with Sony so far has been great. . . . When they get back to me, they are full of answers. They are also helping guide me along on the paper work to help streamline the process."

"I had some long and hard talks with Sony reps and researched into their relationship with Unity. From everything I can see, and considering I am already using Unity to create Soul Saga, it all looks extremely solid," he explained in a Kickstarter update. "We are entering a new age of game development where indies can really reach platforms that were once closed to anyone without 7 digit bank accounts. And I'm excited to be among some of the first indies to enter into this new age!"

PlayStation gamers and RPG fans have reason to be excited as well. Soul Saga's systems and design may pay homage to countless genre classics, but I'm intrigued by its unique gameplay twists. For example, instead of being tied to a universal HP/MP system, each party member will have a different resource to manage for special attacks. Mithos, an ambitious young man who wants to finish the world-saving quest his father failed, accumulates "Focus" with basic attacks, but can use that Focus to transform his regular skill set into a powerful new set. The skills he unleashes mid-battle depend on how much Focus he has accumulated, adding an element of resource management to the proceedings. Meanwhile, Elise--a talented engineer who harbors a secret love for Mithos--has to periodically spend a turn restocking her arsenal with "Gadgets" that are spent on both offensive and defensive skills. By spending 3 Gadgets out of 6, for example, she might lay caltrops around an ally to damage any monster that approaches them.

Soul Saga's anime artwork is similarly compelling. Mike plays just about every role in Soul Saga's development--programmer, lead designer, technical artist--but much of the game's art is outsourced to "talented artists around the world." The result is a main cast that's heartwarming in nostalgia that practically oozes from their designs. Lead male Mithos is Threads of Fate's Rue, or Final Fantasy XII's Vaan. Elise is a dead ringer for Roll (a Mega Man Legends favorite that's near to my heart). Antagonist Garen? Ganondorf. Or an Ivalice Judge. Take your pick.

Even the narrative hearkens back to industry legends. A corruption of monsters called Inkheart plagues the surface world of Oterra. The floating city of Medonia is protected by the Tempest Reef, an impenetrable barrier of clouds, but Medonia's islands are dying and the only cure may be hidden on Oterra. Rumors persist of a passage called Cloud's End through the Tempest Reef, and the world's fate may rest on the Guilds of Medonia finding a way through annihilation to the cataclysmic wastes beyond. But Mithos isn't searching for Cloud's End to save the world--he only wants to slay the King of the Dragons and one-up his guildmaster father, who failed to do the same 10 years ago.

The inspirations are less-than-subtle, but that's the point--Soul Saga looks to be a send-up of RPG stories that touched your heart and systems that inspired journeys you'll never forget.

And it doesn't stop there. From a J-pop theme song to voice talent from Full Metal Alchemist and Skullgirls, Soul Saga looks every bit the real indie deal. But it's not ready yet, and until the game hits its $80,000 stretch goal, PS4 and PS Vita versions aren't guaranteed. If the stretch goal is met, a $15 pledge will net you a code to download the game for either platform when it launches in July 2014 (no word yet on Cross-Buy or Cross-Save functionality). Other pledge tiers include high-resolution wallpapers, private beta access, the soundtrack, a physical copy of the game, and more. At the extreme end of the scale (read: a $10,000 pledge), you will be credited as an Associate Producer and consulted on everything from graphics and gameplay to sound throughout the game's development.

To address the ethical elephant in the room: PSU is not advertising Soul Saga. We are neither endorsing its development nor soliciting pledges on behalf of Disastercake. Disastercake did not approach us for coverage.

We cover PlayStation news for the most passionate PlayStation audience in the world. Soul Saga, a game in the grand tradition of PS1 RPGs, could come to PS4 and PS Vita.

If that's not newsworthy, I don't know what is.

Soul Saga is currently targeted for release next summer. Pre-alpha gameplay footage will be released tomorrow.

Kyle Prahl is a Managing Editor for PSU and JRPG fan who sees nods to Mega Man Legends and Final Fantasy X--two of his favorite games--in Soul Saga. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.

From the Soul Saga Kickstarter page:

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PS4 Launch Edition - Join the PlayStation community

You are here: Home » News » PS4 Launch Edition - Join the Pl...

Posted June 26th, 2013 at 07:31 EDT by Steven Williamson5 Comments

PlayStation Universe hosts one of the biggest and most vibrant PlayStation communities on the web and many of our readers are going to be among the first to own a PlayStation 4 when it launches this year.

That’s why we want you to know that PSU is the best place to discuss PlayStation 4 with fellow core gamers. Forum Elder, Savage360, has taken imitative and set up a PS4 Launch Edition thread specifically for those people who have pre-ordered a PS4. This will be a place where those getting the console on day one can enjoy the build-up to release date and can immediately talk about their experiences when they unwrap their new shiny PS4.

Here’s what Savage360, who has actually ordered three PS4s for himself, has to say:

“Hello everyone! With the recent PlayStation 4 announcements such as price and availability many people in the world have already pre-ordered the PlayStation 4 to get ready for the launch of a next-generation of gaming.

I wanted to make a thread that's dedicated to people who have already pre-ordered a PlayStation 4 and are guaranteed to be playing on Day One. This thread will be updated all-through-out the launch and will contain a list of people from PSU who have "Launch Edition" of the PlayStation 4. It doesn't matter where you get the system from whether it’s Amazon, Best Buy or Gamestop.

If you have already own/reserve a PlayStation 4 and will be playing on Day One please list your name in this thread to be added and that way we can all jump in and have a launch party/fun time when Sony's next-generation hardware finally launches.”

To join in PlayStation 4 discussion head over to this thread and join the most vibrant PlayStation forum on the web.

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Sony releases PlayStation 3 firmware 4.46 after paralyzing 4.45 update

You are here: Home » News » Sony releases PlayStation 3 firm...

Posted June 27th, 2013 at 02:17 EDT by Steve Chaffin1 Comments

Updates generally don't come with the disclaimer "This will break your console," but it would have been appreciated by the users whose consoles were bricked by PlayStation 3 firmware update 4.45 last week. Despite the shortcoming, however, Sony has kept its word: a new update, 4.46, has been released today and Sony has posted detailed instructions of how the update can be installed by users with inoperable PS3s. Aside from not rendering consoles useless, update 4.46 boasts no new tweaks over its now infamous predecessor.

If you're fortunate enough to have sidestepped update 4.45, this new firmware can be installed as it would be regularly. If your console was effected by the firmware frenzy, follow Sony's step-by-step guide on how to acquire 4.46 and get back to your gaming ways.

Steven Chaffin, Jr. is an American editor for PlayStation Universe who has no concept of time, or sleep. You can follow his late-night writings on his blog, and his ramblings on Twitter @steven_chaffin.

Sources: 1, 2

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PS4 Launch Edition - Join the PlayStation community

You are here: Home » News » PS4 Launch Edition - Join the Pl...

Posted June 26th, 2013 at 07:31 EDT by Steven Williamson0 Comments

PlayStation Universe hosts one of the biggest and most vibrant PlayStation communities on the web and many of our readers are going to be among the first to own a PlayStation 4 when it launches this year.

That’s why we want you to know that PSU is the best place to discuss PlayStation 4 with fellow core gamers. Forum Elder, Savage360, has taken imitative and set up a PS4 Launch Edition thread specifically for those people who have pre-ordered a PS4. This will be a place where those getting the console on day one can enjoy the build-up to release date and can immediately talk about their experiences when they unwrap their new shiny PS4.

Here’s what Savage360, who has actually ordered three PS4s for himself, has to say:

“Hello everyone! With the recent PlayStation 4 announcements such as price and availability many people in the world have already pre-ordered the PlayStation 4 to get ready for the launch of a next-generation of gaming.

I wanted to make a thread that's dedicated to people who have already pre-ordered a PlayStation 4 and are guaranteed to be playing on Day One. This thread will be updated all-through-out the launch and will contain a list of people from PSU who have "Launch Edition" of the PlayStation 4. It doesn't matter where you get the system from whether it’s Amazon, Best Buy or Gamestop.

If you have already own/reserve a PlayStation 4 and will be playing on Day One please list your name in this thread to be added and that way we can all jump in and have a launch party/fun time when Sony's next-generation hardware finally launches.”

To join in PlayStation 4 discussion head over to this thread and join the most vibrant PlayStation forum on the web.

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PlayStation 4 Launch Date Leaked?

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Posted June 20th, 2013 at 13:19 EDT by Lazar Odic19 Comments

Since the reveal back in February, we knew that the PlayStation 4 would be launching late 2013. After E3, we found out that it would be holiday 2013, but with still no specific date. Now it seems that Media Markt might have slipped and revealed the date.

Over on the infamous NeoGAF forums, user Cyborg snapped a picture at his local Media Markt in Amsterdam, Netherlands of a PlayStation 4 ad. At the bottom, it clearly states, "Release: 13 November 2013."

That means PS4 drops on a Wednesday, which is a little odd. However, Media Markt is Europe's largest consumer electronics retailer. For people stateside like me, that would be like Best Buy having the same ad.

Could this be true? Does a November 13 release seem likely? Let us know in the comments below!

Source

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Top 5 badass PlayStation tattoos

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Posted June 19th, 2013 at 12:42 EDT by Richard Archer3 Comments

What do you do to show how much you love your PlayStation ? Perhaps you challenge yourself to win the latest games Trophies, spar with rivals on forums or maybe you might get a tattoo ?

Over the last 20 years tattoos have increased in popularity to where they are now seen as art rather than a rite of passage or defiance. Indeed, it seems anything goes as far as a choice of tattoo and it's no surprise that there are plenty of PS related ones available.

Read on to see what I think are the top 5 PlayStation-related tattoos that I have trawled the Internet to bring you. Tattoos that are record breakers or simply amazing works of art are all associated with the PS in ways that might surprise you.

Let's start with what is according to the Guinness Book of Records the very first PS3 tattoo ever inked.

Mobiletone, or Tony as he is known, had this to say about his record-breaking tattoo.

"How much do I love my console... It's been nearly a year since the PAL UK launch of the console and I decided to get this tattoo done in honour of what I consider to be the best console ever made. "

Sadly no information from Tony is available as to why he didn't have the official PS3 logo tattooed or what he is going to do now the release of the PS4 is imminent.

The next tattoo is inspired by the critically-acclaimed PlayStation Network title Journey from thatgamecompany. I'll let the recipient Madjas00 tell you why they had it done.

"Journey was a game that I downloaded not knowing what to expect... About 2 hours later after beating it all I could say was wow. A couple of weeks after beating it I decided to get my favorite scene from the game tattooed on my arm. "

So, it seems sometimes platinum Trophies aren't enough and maybe tattoo vouchers could be offered by Sony as part of the new reward scheme for PS4 game completions ?

The PS controller is an image that has become synonymous with gaming, and therefore the device or sometimes just the iconic PS buttons have become a popular choice for gaming tattoos. Now, there are a lot of people who have had controllers tattooed on various parts of their body but only one person who has had one inked on their hands.

Sadly I was unable to track down the owner of this tattoo for a comment so we can only speculate as to why they chose this design and why they opted to have it tattooed on their hand of all places.

SackBoy is gaming's whippersnapper having only being around five years, but this hasn't deterred people from showing their love of LittleBigPlanet by getting him tattooed somewhere on their body.

That was certainly my favorite SackBoy tattoo, though sadly the recipient is German and I didn't have time to run the page through Google translate. Okay, I did have time but I felt it could be better spent, like finding the last and best tattoo for this article.

God of War games inspire devotion from all of Kratos' many fans, and a lot of them feel this devotion will only be complete if the bald badass becomes a part of them, hence the desire for a related tattoo of the spartan. This God of War-inspired tattoo goes beyond the simple love of a character and takes the whole genre of gaming tattoos to the next amazing level.

So there you have it, five PS-related tattoos that show when it comes to love of gaming there are certainly no limits if you want everyone to see just how much you love your PS or your favorite game.

When it comes to gaming tattoos do you have one or perhaps thinking of getting one? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Xbox 180? Microsoft reverses Xbox One DRM policy after PlayStation dominates at E3

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Posted June 19th, 2013 at 18:11 EDT by Ernest Lin31 Comments

In a huge surprise, Microsoft has done a complete 180 with the Xbox One and has removed its controversial digital rights management protection, which included requiring the console to connect to the internet once every 24 hours and complicated restrictions on used games. The news comes after last week's E3, where Sony dominated with their PlayStation 4.

In a statement posted on the official Xbox website, Don Mattrick, President, Interactive Entertainment Business for Microsoft, wrote, "You told us how much you loved the flexibility you have today with games delivered on disc. The ability to lend, share, and resell these games at your discretion is of incredible importance to you. Also important to you is the freedom to play offline, for any length of time, anywhere in the world."

"So, today I am announcing the following changes to Xbox One and how you can play, share, lend, and resell your games exactly as you do today on Xbox 360."

Microsoft has done away with any restrictions on used Xbox One games and no longer requires an online connection for the console, except for a "one-time system set-up." In addition, Xbox One will not be region-locked, as it was originally supposed to.

Sony announced last week at their E3 press conference that the PS4 will not block used games or require any internet connection whatsoever. Soon afterwards, they confirmed the system would be region-free as well.

PS4 still benefits from a $100 cheaper price point, but this new development makes the Xbox One more appealing than it was before. How do you think this will change the console war going forward? Let us know in the comments and keep checking back here at PSU for all the latest on PlayStation.

Ernest Lin is a US Editor for PSU when he's not fighting in the console war. Follow him on Tumblr & Twitter for updates on gaming, movies, traveling, anime, Japanese pop culture, and more.

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Humility, passion, and indie games: Shahid Ahmad embodies the new face of PlayStation

Posted June 18th, 2013 at 22:45 EDT by Kyle Prahl1 Comments

For months now, Strategic Content wizard and PS Vita champion Shahid Kamal Ahmad has been spending almost every waking moment of his life courting developers and stocking his favorite platform with creative indie games. As Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's Senior Business Development Manager, Shahid is at least partially responsible for bringing more than two dozen games to PS Vita. Thomas Was Alone. Luftrausers. Hotline Miami. Super Crate Box. Lone Survivor.

To a handheld struggling at market, he's a bonafide PlayStation hero.

You wouldn't know it from talking to him, though. As we struggled to find a suitably quiet place for conversation amidst the bustle of the J.W. Marriott hotel lounge (a stone's throw from the Los Angeles Convention Center and E3 2013), I was taken aback by Shahid's air of humility. Here was a man whose actions were fundamentally changing the way Sony approaches indie developers and how the mainstream gaming public, in turn, views Sony. At no time since word of his outreach first reached the gaming public had the fruits of his labor been more apparent. Sony's stunning E3 press conference was on everybody's minds, and the morning air was abuzz with last-night excitement over "Sony's finest hour": a stylish shaming of its next-gen rival.

Much of the post-conference conversation revolved around the eight indie developers that Sony put onstage, front-and-center, to demonstrate its commitment to the little guy. Would that moment have been possible without the precedent set by Shahid and his Strategic Content team?

"What's happened is not so much that our approach has changed, it's that the developer community has changed," Shahid attests. "There's this incredible flowering of new life everywhere, new creativity everywhere, new developers everywhere . . . The goals behind the engagement haven't changed. A lot of it came about as a result of several discussions and meetings with developers we had at the beginning of 2012 to help this policy of engagement take place."

At first, I'm curious--even suspicious--of the indie push's origins. It's impossible to deny the impact that games like Bastion, Super Meat Boy, and Fez have had on gamer interests and the industry at large. These and other small-titles-turned-mega-hits flourished or even originated on Xbox 360. "Yesterday's indie is tomorrow's Minecraft," Shahid agrees. So, is Sony's recent push to attract indie developers a response to the competition? "Engagement with partners has always been something that we're really, really conscious of," he assures me. "What's happened is that the partner space has exploded. It's become much wider--there are many more players out there. So the way we engage with them has had to change to accommodate."

"It's not a response to anyone other than the new partner space."

I worry that Sony might be missing the proactive point, but Shahid understands what's at stake. Rest assured, Sony is taking notice of the big players in indie development and acting accordingly. "Independent developers are becoming more and more integral to the health and the general vibrance of any platform," he says. "Not just our platform, any platform." Much like the last several years, the next generation could be defined by indie mega-hits, and Shahid recognizes what's at stake for Sony: "I think that you're going to start to see some enormous hits come from this space. I think you're going to see future giants from this space as well."

Shahid is calm, cool, and confident as he says it, teasing an unspoken assurance that whatever blockbuster indies are making headlines two or three years from now, you'll find them on PlayStation platforms. Imagining what shape these giants might take is difficult with the blazing Los Angeles sun casting rays at my retinas, but I think back to an earlier answer that teased a PlayStation formula for successful games. I had asked what draws Sony's attention to new projects as potential targets for fostering development. Shahid countered: "What is it that makes a PlayStation game? What is it that uniquely identifies it? . . . What gives it the heritage?" His heartfelt passion for PlayStation, extremely evident from our earliest words, is positively burning at this point: "I think innovation is important. I think creativity is important. Passion, creativity--people who really want to do what they're doing, and who really believe in what they're doing, and are beginning to establish a fanbase."

If Sony's looking for burgeoning indie fanbases, they need not look far (FTL? Dear Esther? Kerbal Space Program? Among the Sleep?), but Shahid is keeping tight-lipped on potential partnerships. "If you have heard of the developer, if they are high-profile, there is a very strong likelihood that we are either talking to them or we've already spoken to them and some kind of decision has been made," he says. In both cases, "it's probably not right for us to talk about it. But there are no 'no-go' areas. We're very happy to engage . . . with as many of the top developers as we can."

"As far as I'm concerned, I'd like to work with all of them. I think they're all fantastic. They can all offer PlayStation something."

It all sounds like a corporate game of pub dealings and dark-corner handshakes, but anyone who follows Shahid on Twitter knows how open his outreach process really is--and how PlayStation fans can have an impact. Besides openly offering his email address and Skype name to gamers and developers alike, Shahid takes to the social network to gauge interest in new projects. "I put out a request to the community about which JRPGs they might be interested in," he recalls. "And I got about 250 trillion responses, which means that the community is very interested in this space."

Unfortunately, Shahid and other socially inclined faces of PlayStation can't always respond to fans how they'd like. "Have a look at the whole #PS4NoDRM campaign thing," he says, referencing current events and the palpable Sony buzz around us. "We couldn't say anything about that ahead of time. What can you say? That's the kind of thing you really can't talk about because there's too much at stake." In the same vein, there are games in the pipeline that aren't yet ready for the world to see. "There are titles that I'd love to speak about, but they're going to take time to cook," Shahid teases with a knowing smile. "And when they're ready, we'll talk about them."

In fact, Shahid estimates that over two dozen unannounced titles are currently in the works for PS Vita and, perhaps, PS4. "Obviously you're seeing the results of [our engagement] in the Vita space recently. We're also going to be looking at PS4 content as well," he confirms. "When I said that we are working on dozens of titles, I didn't mean 24. I meant a lot more than 24. On my radar currently, it's over 50 [released and unreleased] titles . . . And it's not stopping at 50, by the way. We're going on."

It's hard not to take the words of Shahid--a man who so clearly loves games--at face value, and at face value, they paint an exceedingly bright future for PS Vita. "We're committed to Vita. The Vita is here to stay," he says with conviction. "We've got a lot of fantastic news lined up, and not just in software terms as well. I'm looking forward to everything that happens in this space."

If you're a PS Vita owner, or a PlayStation fan, you should be too.

-----

Kyle Prahl ran to his interview with Shahid Ahmad because the Los Angeles transit system was running late. He hopes his breathlessness didn't show. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook for game news and opinions from a college student with sights set on an industry career.

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Last new PlayStation 2 game ever releasing this September

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Posted June 18th, 2013 at 16:21 EDT by Ernest Lin8 Comments

Though new games on the PlayStation 2 are few and far between, they soon will be coming to an end after over a decade of releases. Electronic Arts' FIFA 14 will be the final title to be released on Sony's hit console that launched back in the year 2000.

Japan already saw its last PS2 game release back in March with Final Fantasy XI expansion Seekers of Adoulin. Sony ceased manufacturing of the PS2 console worldwide this past January 4.

What do you think the PS3's last game will be? When do you think we'll see it release? Let us know in the comments and farewell to one of the greatest gaming consoles ever, the PS2.

Source

Ernest Lin is a US Editor for PSU when he's not occassionally playing old PS2 games on his launch PS3. Follow him on Tumblr & Twitter for updates on gaming, movies, traveling, anime, Japanese pop culture, and more.

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Why is the PlayStation Plus pay wall a problem?

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Posted June 16th, 2013 at 09:43 EDT by Dane Smith3 Comments

The PlayStation 4 will have their online locked behind a pay wall for the majority of their games, as has been announced during the press conference and further clarified by SCE Worldwide Studios boss, Shuhei Yoshida. The pay wall being implemented is a subscription to PlayStation Plus. A lot of people on the Internet and on our forums have voiced their opinions about it but speaking only for myself I don`t see what the problem is. Are we as gamers so greedy that we must be given everything for free, and if something is free it is too small a serving size? Please sir, I want some more. No sir, this serving is too small I want a bigger serving.

It can be understood why PS3 gamers in particular are having fits over having to pay for PS+ in order to game online -- the PS3 and Vita had free online, after all. We are used to that model. For 360 fans this must look like a hilarious situation to them as they are used to paying for online gaming. The shock to their systems has been done and over with years ago, as only now do Sony-only supporters have to deal with this situation.

If we were told to pay only for online and get zero other benefits then I'd have some legitimate concerns. But considering we are paying for a service that offers a multitude of free games every month, cloud service, and scheduled updates it makes Sony gamers look like whiners and nothing can ever please them. Those services mentioned are just for the PS3 and Vita. Who knows what else Sony will give us when the PS4 is released, or what other grand plans they have for the future?

There are two ways to look at the situation going forward into the future. Either we can take the mind frame that Sony is pinching pennies and this will lead to more and more restrictions in the future and higher and higher fees. Or we can take the mind frame that Sony is offering a great service, that while inconvenient for some, offers so much it makes up for the slight inconvenience. I choose to make the most of the situation and enjoy all the great free games and other services being offered by PlayStation Plus. What is $60 a year when, as an example, Sleeping Dogs by itself paid off my entire year`s subscription?

I feel for the gamers who don't want to pay to play online, especially if all they play online is a single game. But this is the future and with progress comes some hard decisions. Sony is making the hard choice to offend what they are hoping is a minority to connect as many people under a single service. They obviously have some kind of long-term plan. What that plan is at the moment is anyone's guess, but if the cost of future greatness is $5 a month or $60 a year, then I'll drink the cool-aid and feast on some more Sleeping Dogs.

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Sony unveils PlayStation Vita Mega Packs

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Posted June 13th, 2013 at 06:56 EDT by Mike Harradence2 Comments

PlayStation Vita will receive a series of Mega Packs featuring an 8GB memory card and various downloadable titles, Sony has announced.

U.K. consumers will be able to snap up the first Mega Pack later this month, which features a voucher to download 10 titles, among which include LittleBigPlanet Vita, WipEout 2048 and MotorStorm RC.

Sony has yet to confirm a price point for the bundle, but it is listed down for £29.99 on Smyths – that’s roughly the price of a standalone 8GB memory card, we should point out.

"We know from our research that our younger gamers love playing with their PS Vita; exploring all of the device’s unique features while enjoying rich and deep gaming experiences on the top-quality 5-inch OLED touchscreen," Sony commented. "Through these findings, we’ve carefully chosen the games that feature in the PS Vita Mega Packs."

Sony confirmed that it will release more Mega Packs later in the year. The full line-up of software in the first bundle can be seen below.

LittleBigPlanet Vita
WipEout 2048
MotorStorm RC
Little Deviants
Frobisher Says
Ecolibrium
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters
Lemmings
Hungry Giraffe
The HD Adventures of Rotating Octopus Character

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PlayStation 4 HDD is removable like the PS3's

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Posted June 11th, 2013 at 04:18 EDT by Timothy Weaver7 Comments

Sony fully showcased the PS4 earlier at its E3 press conference with some fantastic features, but one feature that was a mystery is now happening.

Just moments ago, President of Sony Worldwide Studios, Shuhei Yoshida has confirmed that the harddrive in the PS4 can be changed and upgraded like that of the PS3. For gamers, this is a huge announcement since many PS3 owner's took advantage of that feature. The PS4 is impressing more and more by the minute and hopefully the momentum continues.

Do you use the feature? Let us know down below and make sure to pay attention to PSU for complete updates on E3 2013!

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PlayStation Vita - Every single new E3 2013 game trailer in one place

Posted June 11th, 2013 at 10:37 EDT by Steven Williamson2 Comments

At E3 2013, Sony Computer Entertainment confirmed that PS Vita owners can expect 85 new games before the end of the year.

Amongst all the PlayStation 4 news, there was also a host of trailers to accompany some of the upcoming Vita games

Below, we have every single PlayStation Vita E3 2013 trailer for your perusal…

At E3 2013, Sony Computer Entertainment confirmed that PS Vita owners can expect 85 new games before the end of the year.

Amongst all the PlayStation 4 news, there was also a host of trailers to accompany some of the upcoming Vita games

Below, we have every single PlayStation Vita E3 2013 trailer for your perusal…

Counterspy
Genre – Side-scroller

Destiny Of Spirits
Genre – Free-to-play social RPG

Doki-Doki Universe
Genre - Free-to-play social RPG

Flower
Genre - Adventure/puzzle

Invizimals: The Alliance
Genre –Action adventure

Killzone: Mercenary
Genre – Shooter

Luftrausers

Genre  - Action

Malicious Rebirth
Genre - Action

Open Me!
Genre - Puzzle

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PlayStation Plus made more attractive for PS4 launch with free Driveclub

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Posted June 11th, 2013 at 03:18 EDT by Steven Williamson4 Comments

Sony has confirmed some new details for PlayStation Plus that will coincide with the launch of PlayStation 4.

All members will receive the Driveclub PS Plus edition and a new subscription model will be added at launch allowing Japanese, North American and Europe owners to get a 90 days subscription for just $9.99 (9.99 EURO).

Here's the full lowdown:

Online Multi Player
Users will have access to online play with other players via the network. Online Multi Play mode for PS4, with its socially integrated services, offers unique features only available on the system such as allowing users to seamlessly start playing game and join their online friends while spectating gameplay or enjoying cross game voice chat.

Automatic Patch Download
“Automatic patch download” feature will be further enhanced for the PS4™ system. The system will check for any game updates more frequently and will also automatically install the updates. With this feature, games will always be up-to-date, allowing users to play games immediately whenever they wish to play.

Cross-Platform PS Plus membership
One PS Plus membership accounts for PS4, PS3, and PS Vita. PS Plus service is cross-platform and is available on most PlayStation platforms; PS3 and PS Vita users with existing PS Plus memberships will be able to access the PS Plus service on PS4™ and those newly joined members for PS4 will be able to enjoy PS Plus service on PS3 and PS Vita.
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The top 5 weirdest PlayStation merchandise

Posted May 30th, 2013 at 08:34 EDT by Richard Archer0 Comments

Merchandising is a funny old business; it seems that absolutely anything in this day and age will be used to promote or sell games and their spin-off products. In this modern world we live in, is nothing now too sacred or bizarre enough not to be used to make a fast buck or advertise PlayStation products ?

I'm going to take a look at what I think are the top 5 weirdest pieces of PS merchandise that I have come across on my travels on the worldwide web, and show you that when it comes to promotion or making money there are no limits to what people will use.

Let's start with BioShock Infinite and look at one piece of merchandise that players who enjoyed the game might want to spend their hard-earned money on. Now, when I think about BioShock Infinite, I think about the violence, the twisting plot and the amazing ending -- at no time do I think of cuddly toys.

However, it seems someone in the BioShock merchandise department did and now you can buy a plush cuddly Songbird. Yep, that's right, that massive piece of twisted bio-mechanical engineering that tears airships to bits is now available for you to buy and snuggle up with at night.

It looks adorable doesn't it ? OK adorable might not be the right word, but as you can browse Songbird merchandise at one stage in BioShock Infinite itself, I suppose a real world version was a no-brainer. I still think it looks creepy and suitable only for the Addams Family's children, but what do I know ?

The next piece of weird merchandise comes from Dead Island: Riptide, which came out earlier this year and had a Collector's Edition that comes with what I think is the result of a blow to the head in the developer's merchandising department. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the headless zombie torso in a bikini statue.

Yes, nothing says zombie holocaust more than a torso in a bikini. But just how well was this controversial item received, you might ask? Well, considering publisher Deep Silver had to apologize for offence caused by this item (as seen below), we think that should give you a rough idea.

"For the limited run of the Zombie Bait Edition for Europe and Australia, a decision was made to include a gruesome statue of a zombie torso, which was cut up like many of our fans had done to the undead enemies in the original Dead Island."

"We sincerely regret this choice... For now, we want to reiterate to the community, fans and industry how deeply sorry we are, and that we are committed to making sure this will never happen again."

I have been unable to confirm any rumours that the statue was or even has a removable bikini as I have better things to do (or rather I don't, but the line had to be drawn somewhere).

While we're on the subject of zombies, have you ever worried that if there is a zombie outbreak you might not smell your best ? Well what better way to solve that problem than with the Resident Evil aftershave.

Part of a range of products called the Leon Collection, I'm unable to find any review on what it actually smells like, so we'll just have to imagine that it was something Mr. Kennedy himself would have been proud of. Me? I'm sticking with Hai Karate.

The GTA series has never been one to steer away from controversy and when it comes to promoting the game with weird merchandise there are no exceptions. Naturally, drinking and driving are not two things that are supposed to go together so promoting GTA IV with free beer might be considered a weird idea, let's have a look at the beer in question.

Ah yes, good old Pißwasser, just the type of beer I like to drink when running down pedestrians while escaping from the cops. Or maybe not. Fair play to Rockstar, as they didn't sell this beer but gave it away free to promote GTA 4. As you'd expect though, bottles of it surface on eBay from time to time for silly amounts of money, but one man's junk is another man's treasure. As for what Pißwasser actually tastes like, look no further than these notes on the side of the bottle:

" Enjoy the crisp salty taste of Pißwasser.. ..brewed from barley, hops and the fresh urine of Bavarian virgins. "

Last on my list is what I think is the ultimate in PS3 merchandise, and needless to say I wish I had thought of this idea as maybe I might be able to get rich of it and retire. Feast your eyes on these:

That's right, you're looking at earrings made from an old PS3 motherboard. Have a butcher's at what the maker had to say about them below:

"These handmade earrings made earrings were cut from a Playstation 3 motherboard. The motherboard is on copper ear wires. You will receive the exact earrings pictured here, as with all of my listings.

These PS3 motherboard earrings will make a great gift for any gamer, tech junkie, or otherwise nerdy person.

These motherboard earrings were upcycled from my boyfriend's old Playstation 3, which had to be decommissioned after freezing one too many times while he was killing dragons. After dissecting the PS3, I hand cut each piece from the motherboard, filed the edges to perfection and drilled holes to add the copper wires."

Tacky or inventive ? I'm on the inventive side, but would you wear one?

So there you go: five weird items of PS merchandise that prove people are either very imaginative, twisted, greedy or perhaps all three. What can't be denied though when is that when it comes to gaming merchandise, the sky or the gutter is surely the limit.

What the weirdest piece of PS merchandise you've ever seen ? Let us know in the comments section.

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