News - 2012, Week 40
Sunday7th Oct 2012
News Sony Is Suing Bridgestone and, Erm, Kevin Butler
Bizarre twist
Switch off Match of the Day and replace that cup of cocoa for something stronger, because things are really heating up online. A handful of court documents have revealed that Sony is in the process of suing Bridgestone and advertising agency Wildcat Creek – which just so happens to be managed by Jerry Lambert, the actor best known...
Saturday6th Oct 2012
Feature Hellfire on Constructing the Most Ambitious PlayStation Home Game to Date
Bricks and mortar
If you haven’t set foot in PlayStation Home since the virtual world’s initial roll-out, you may be surprised by the current state of the social platform. The free-to-play destination has erupted with activity over the past 12 months, prompting a location that’s both bursting with content and brimming with life. The catalyst...
News Reef Entertainment Continues to Tease Rambo: The Video Game
First blood
It feels like Reef Entertainment has been teasing Rambo: The Video Game for years now – and it doesn't look like it'll be stopping any time soon. The publisher has released a brand new screenshot from the mysterious shooter, showing the iconic police station from the conclusion of the first movie. Exciting, huh? The full game – due...
News Under Defeat HD: Deluxe Edition Fires onto PS3 This Fall
Bullet hell
Under Defeat is perhaps best known for being a Dreamcast game – despite launching in 2006, long after the console’s untimely demise. As such, there’s a good chance you might not have played the revered arcade shooter – but thankfully localisation specialists Rising Star Games have happened upon a solution. Under Defeat HD:...
Friday5th Oct 2012
Review F1 2012 (PlayStation 3)
Go, go, go!
In the high-speed world of Formula One, the slightest error can be the difference – quite literally – between life and death. Push the pedal to the metal for a tenth of a second too long and your race weekend could be over, as you end up hurtling off the track and – if you’re lucky – into a wall of tyres. This is why it’s of...
News Hellfire: There's Still Plenty of Potential for PlayStation Home
No place quite like Home
PlayStation Home has grown exponentially over the past six months with the release of innovative free-to-play experiences like Mercia: Fractured Realms and Bootleggers ’29 – but Home Tycoon developer Hellfire Games believes there’s still plenty of potential for the social platform to expand. “You only need to glance...
Preview Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Goes for the Throat
Come out swingin'
There are three things we’ve come to realise while writing this preview for the latest Metal Gear outing from Platinum Games. First, we still can't type "Revengeance" into a text document without hating ourselves – it's not a word, it isn't cool, it sounds dumb. Second, we’ve learned that we’re okay with Konami releasing a...
News Bethesda: It's On Us to Solve Skyrim's DLC Woes
Shouldering responsibility
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’s second major expansion pack, Hearthfire, launched on PC this week – but the post-release discussion has been focused solely on the content’s absence on PlayStation 3. Bethesda admitted recently that it was struggling to get the expansion – and its predecessor, Dawnguard – to run on...
News Sony: Gaming Habits Are Evolving at an Alarming Pace
Going through changes
The launch of PlayStation Mobile this week underlines Sony’s drive to keep its gaming brand relevant, according to UK gaffer Fergal Gara. The likeable executive was talking candidly with Eurogamer.net about the growth of the industry and the changes that are taking place. "Gaming habits are evolving at a hell of a pace,...
News Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock Arrives on Vita Next Week
Time lord
It seems the titular Eternity Clock is running slow, seeing as Doctor Who’s arrival on PlayStation Vita is extremely late. Nearing six months since the PS3 release, BBC Worldwide has confirmed that the critically panned Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock will arrive in handheld form next week. That’s 9th October in North America and 10th...
News Meet Need for Speed's Most Wanted Racers in New Trailer
Top gear
To become the best at Need for Speed: Most Wanted, you’ll need to take on Fairhaven’s most notorious racers. This brand new trailer – accompanied by the most poorly positioned text in the history of video games – shows off a full hot pursuit against one of these infamous wheelmen. Beat him, and you'll get a chance to steal his car...
News Machinarium Puzzles North American PSN Next Week
Drawn to life
When Sony announced its “Spend $100, Receive $20” PlayStation Network promotion earlier this week, we pondered how it expected gamers to accrue such a sum. Of course, we weren’t privy to the outrageous October release schedule, which has been gradually growing over the past 48 hours. Joining the likes of Retro City Rampage,
News Retro City Rampage Travels Back in Time on 9th October
Pull shapes
Our agonising wait for Retro City Rampage will finally come to a conclusion next week, when the 8-bit interpretation of Grand Theft Auto hijacks a spot on the North American PlayStation Store on 9th October. For just $14.99, you’ll unlock access to both the PS3 and Vita versions of the title. A European release will take place at some...
News Joe Danger 2: The Movie Races onto PSN Next Week
Back in the saddle
After a brief dalliance with the Xbox 360, Joe Danger 2: The Movie will finally speed onto the PlayStation Store next week, developer Hello Games has announced. The game will be available from 9th October in North America, and 10th October in Europe. It’ll cost just £9.99/$14.99. “We killed ourselves to make that...
News The Unfinished Swan Starts Its Journey Later This Month
Once more with feeling
Giant Sparrow’s emotionally engaging debut The Unfinished Swan will paddle onto the PlayStation Network on 23rd October in North America and 24th October in Europe, the developer has announced. PlayStation Plus subscribers will unlock early access to the title on 16th October and 17th October respectively. The game will cost...
Thursday4th Oct 2012
News Nihilistic Deploys New Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified Details
Sleight of hand
Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified may have been trashed at GamesCom earlier this year, but developer Nihilistic Software insists that the shooter’s making good progress. “I think the most noticeable is a significant visual upgrade,” Nihilistic’s Robert Heubner told the
News FIFA 13 Tops European PSN Sales Charts
Tokyo Jungle starts strong
FIFA 13 was the best selling digital release in Europe last month – despite only being available for a handful of days. The soccer simulation was joined by Borderlands 2 and One Piece: Pirate Warriors, while Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD topped the PSN-only chart. Thankfully, the wacky To
Preview Fumbling Through the Dark with The Unfinished Swan
Blind man's buff
It’s difficult to discuss The Unfinished Swan without drawing comparisons to Journey. Just like thatgamecompany, developer Giant Sparrow has been taken under the wing of first-party powerhouse Sony Santa Monica. Furthermore, it has signed a three game exclusivity deal with PlayStation. Indeed, the only noticeable difference...
News Tetsuya Nomura Teases HD Version of Kingdom Hearts II
Predictable
Series director Tetsuya Nomura reckons it would be unusual for there not to be an HD re-release of Kingdom Hearts II. Following the announcement of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX, the luminary admitted that a second compilation will probably happen at some point in the future. With the original Kingdom Hearts, Chain of Memories, and 358/2...
News Resistance Collection Collates the Chimeran Invasion This Year
All Hale
You really can’t argue with the value proposition of some of these PlayStation 3 collections. Over the past couple of months, Sony has bundled up some of its best first-party games – and now Resistance is set to join the reasonably priced party. For just $39.99 you’ll be able to scoop up complete access to Resistance: Fall of Man,...
News New Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Trailer Drifts Online
Splash wave
Ignore the atrocious title – Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed looks great. This brand new trailer is dedicated to showcasing the mascot mash-up’s various modes of play, including World Tour, Split-Screen and Online. Personally, we're only interested in taking Gilius Thunderhead for a spin around Outrun Beach. The game's due...
News Mass Effect 3 Retaliates with Massive Multiplayer Expansion
Won't cost a penny
Mass Effect 3’s multiplayer component will be significantly bolstered by a brand new expansion next week. The free download – launching 9th October in North America – will augment an impressive six new maps and 16 playable characters. The addition will plot the return of the Collectors from Mass Effect 2 – and a whole...
News Ken Levine Contributed Writing to PlayStation All-Stars
Who's the Big Daddy?
SuperBot Entertainment isn’t messing around with PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. The brawler's roster might not appeal to everyone, but there’s no denying that each of the characters accurately capture the spirit of their original franchises. As such, it’s not particularly surprising to learn that Irrational Games’...
News Resident Evil 6 Spreads to 4.5 Million Store Shelves
Highly infectious
It seems as though the negative reviews have done nothing to deter Resident Evil 6 from infecting numerous PlayStation 3s across the globe, as Capcom has announced that it has shipped 4.5 million copies of the divisive sequel worldwide. It also took a moment to boast that the Resident Evil franchise has sold 50 million units in...
News Mass Effect 3 Prepares for Operation Overdrive
Geth ready
We quite liked Mass Effect 3’s multiplayer component, and it seems like we weren’t alone. Over six months since the game’s original release, BioWare is still supporting the title with new original Bounty Events. This weekend marks the start of Operation Overdrive, which will shoulder you with the responsibility of hitting a full...
News FIFA 13 Dribbles to 4.5 Million Sales in First Five Days
Back of the net
FIFA 13 has proved its dominance in the football genre by selling “over 4.5 million units across all platforms” in just five days. Unsurprisingly, more than one million of those sales took place in the UK within the simulation’s first 48 hours available. Anecdotal aside: there wasn’t a copy of the game to be found in our...
Wednesday3rd Oct 2012
News This Is What a PS3 Super Slim Looks Like Without Its Clothes
Pulled to pieces
The folks over at iFixit have a bizarre fetish for consoles without their clothes – and thankfully they’re eager to share it with the world. This time their ever-busy fingers have uncovered the internals of the brand new PlayStation 3 Super Slim, which is packing some tasty technology inside. The website notes that the system...
News Sony Launches PlayStation Mobile with Bumper Line-Up
Time wasters
This is all a bit exciting, isn’t it? Sony has essentially launched a new platform overnight. Sure, it might not come with a new piece of hardware – but PlayStation Mobile could provide a subtle hint at the future of the platform holder's handheld endeavours. The service is available right now in Japan, North America, Canada,...
News Don't Worry, There'll Still Be Plenty of Dating in Yakuza 5
Choose your words carefully
You’d imagine amongst all of the taxi driving, hunting and fighting, the cast of Yakuza 5 wouldn’t have much time for dating as well – but luckily for us, they do. Publisher SEGA has revealed a little more about the upcoming sequel’s overhauled hostess side-missions, and, as with the rest of the game, it sounds...
Preview Wonderbook: Book of Spells Makes Reading Magical
Muggle science
The outrage and controversy caused by Wonderbook: Book of Spells’ elongated E3 showing has made it difficult to discuss the augmented reality experience objectively. And yet here we have one of the most unique and commercially viable casual gaming products Sony has produced since the Eye Toy. The Harry Potter spin-off doesn’t have...
Store Update 3rd October 2012 (Europe)
Hell yeah
Arkedo’s eye-burstingly attractive Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit is joined by a host of content as part of this week’s European PlayStation Store update. Notable arrivals include Dead or Alive 5, NiGHTS into Dreams, and Sonic Adventure 2. There’s also the long awaited return of legendary PSone title Tomba!, and v
Store Update 2nd October 2012 (North America)
Day dreamin'
It’s another bumper week on the North American PlayStation Store. New arrivals include Resident Evil 6, NBA 2K13, Sonic Adventure 2 and NiGHTS into Dreams. Our ex-editor James Newton is probably screaming with delight as we type. Other additions include
News Terraria Trailer Teases New PlayStation 3 Content
Construct a better world
Ace indie game Terraria is taking a detour onto PlayStation 3 – and this brand new trailer proves it. The short video shows the game in action, and teases the bevy of new content being added to the console version. There’s still no release date for the downloadable title, but publisher 505 Games promises it’s “coming...
News King Washington Takes Centre Stage in Assassin's Creed III DLC
Alternate history
Like most other big budget releases, Assassin’s Creed III will boast a season pass. The $30 expansion will grant access to various multiplayer expansions, in addition to three single-player episodes named "The Tyranny of King Washington". As the title suggests, the content will depict an alternate history set after the events of...
News Digital Version of Resident Evil 6 Infected by Nasty Virus
No hope left
Those of you that snapped up the digital version of Resident Evil 6 yesterday may have noticed there’s a slight problem with your game: it doesn’t load. It seems a patch released by Capcom has rendered Day 1 Digital versions of the title completely unplayable – but thankfully there is a temporary workaround. "The temporary fix to...
News FuturLab Reveals Fuel Tiracas for PlayStation Mobile
Simon says
Velocity developer FuturLab has finally raised the curtain on its super secret PlayStation Mobile launch title, Fuel Tiracas. The title – which the studio teased with an irritating trailer yesterday – is the summation of eight weeks' work, and subsequently represents the Brighton-based studio’s simplest game to date. But what is it...
News Burn the Rope Scorches European Vitas Next Week
Playing with fire
Cutting the rope is way overrated. Didn’t you know that it’s all about burning the rope these days? Ringzero Game Studio has taken to the European PlayStation Blog to announce that its pick-up and play micro-game Burn the Rope is coming to the Vita next week. Unsurprisingly, the game will find you burning ropes using a...
Tuesday2nd Oct 2012
Interview CCP Discusses PS3's Biggest Shooter DUST 514
Sky's the limit
DUST 514 is easily the most ambitious title in the pipeline for the PlayStation 3. It takes the grandeur of MAG’s sandbox first-person battles, and merges them in real-time with the corporate politics of popular PC MMO EVE Online. After an impressive showing at the Eurogamer Expo in London last week, we felt it was an appropriate...
News Resident Evil 5 and Bulletstorm Headline EU PS Plus Update
Embarrassment of riches
If you’re from North America, you might want to look away now. Sony has announced the European PlayStation Plus content schedule for October – and it’s absolutely brimming with attractive deals. First up, premium members will get free access to Arkedo’s Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit. The insanely pretty...
News Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath HD Vies for Your Vita's Moolah
Steef learning curve
The PlayStation Vita version of former Xbox exclusive Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD is almost complete, according to developer Just Add Water. The studio expects the title will release on Sony’s shiny new handheld by mid-November at the latest. In addition to the handheld port of Stranger’s Wrath, Just Add Water is also...
News Hellfire Games Concludes Construction on Home Tycoon
Hardhats at the ready
Hellfire Games has finished building its tantalising free-to-play construction simulator Home Tycoon. According to a newsletter from the developer, the game is set to launch in Europe and North America this week. You’ll be able to access it through PlayStation Home from 3rd October. For those out of the loop, Home Tycoon...
News We're Not Sure What to Think of This Yakuza 5 Branded PS3
Garish, perhaps?
The Yakuza franchise has a history of prompting some pretty spectacular PlayStation 3 bundles – but this latest redesign isn’t to our tastes. The custom console comes with a gold DualShock 3 controller, a copy of Yakuza 5, an 8GB USB drive, and a beach towel. Yeah, we don’t get the significance of the towel either. It'll...
News Escape Plan: Director's Cut DLC Tip-Toes onto PSN
The great escape
It’s impressive just how much post-release content developer Fun Bits Interactive has already produced for PlayStation Vita exclusive Escape Plan – but it’s not quite finished yet. The studio has announced a brand new expansion pack named Director’s Cut, which is set to release on the PlayStation Store this week. According...
Rumour Retailer Lists Lightning Returns: FFXIII Release Date
Possible placeholder
Contrary to comments from Square Enix itself, Amazon UK has attached a 29th March release date to upcoming sequel Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. The developer recently revealed in a Famitsu interview that the game was only 30 per cent complete, but the mega retailer’s information doesn’t appear to corroborate with...
News Sony Has "Nothing Against" a PS3 and Vita Bundle
Multiplatform
Sony’s not averse to bundling the PlayStation 3 with the Vita. Speaking with CVG, PlayStation UK managing director Fergal Gara explained that the company has "nothing against” the idea, and that, while there are currently no plans to produce it, the hardware compilation could feasibly hit store shelves as early as Christmas. He...
News Velocity Developer Teases Its Other PlayStation Mobile Game
Sly devils
Teaser trailers are the bane of the video game industry – but FuturLab appears to be in on the joke. The Velocity developer has released a devious video dedicated to its other PlayStation Mobile launch title. The trailer shows gaffer James Marsden frantically tapping his PlayStation Vita’s touch-screen. But what does it all mean?...
News SunFlowers Grows onto North American Vitas Next Week
Blooming brilliant
The Game Atelier’s beautiful botanical PlayStation Vita game SunFlowers is blooming onto North American consoles on 9th October, the developer has announced. The flowery favourite released in Europe last month, prompting our positive review. The game plays a lot like Space Invaders in reverse, where you must shoot sunrays...
Monday1st Oct 2012
Review Zen Pinball 2 (PlayStation 3)
Worth a tilt
Zen Studios sure plays a mean pinball, from Nintendo DS' obscure Flipper Critters through to its Marvel-licenced efforts more recently. With the release of Zen Pinball 2, the developer hopes to unify its past work under one banner for the future. It's a term that's been flipped around a bit for a while, but Zen Pinball 2 is designed as...
News Malicious: Rebirth Looks and Sounds Stunning on Vita
Aura attack
Alvion has released a chunky video showing off Malicious: Rebirth running on PlayStation Vita. The downloadable action title launched on PS3 earlier this year, but has been in development for Vita for some time now. It looks like that period has been put to good use, as the game looks almost identical on the handheld’s five-inch...
News CCP Games: DUST 514 Took Guts on Sony's Part
Uncharted territory
Few titles are as ambitious as CCP Games’ upcoming DUST 514. The PlayStation 3 exclusive intends to merge the universe between two disparate games – a feat which the Icelandic developer believes took real “guts on Sony’s part”. Asked what drew the studio to the PS3 in the first place, CCP’s Jon Lander told us: “It...
News PlayStation All-Stars' Full Launch Roster Has Been Revealed
Like it or lump it
If you were anticipating additional PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale character reveals in the weeks leading up to release, then it’s probably best to temper your expectations. Sid Shuman, of “farm fresh” PlayStation Blog fame, has stated on Twitter that the full launch line-up has been revealed. What’s interesting about...
News Shuhei Yoshida Laments Limited Third-Party Vita Support
Hot pursuit
For the amount of stick the PlayStation Vita gets regarding its upcoming software line-up, there’s actually a lot of content to look forward to. Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation, Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified and Street Fighter X Tekken are all on the way before Christmas, with Killzone: Mercenary and
News PlayStation Plus Subscribers Score a Free Copy of NFL Blitz
Touch down
PlayStation Plus’ Instant Game Collection will be bolstered by the addition of NFL Blitz in North America this week, platform holder Sony has announced. The goofy arcade spin-off promises “an energetic, football gaming experience” that’s best played with friends. We suspect your appreciation of this update is going to hinge almost...
News Spend $100 on PSN This Month and Get $20 Back
Makes sense
The PlayStation Network is on fire at the moment – but that’s not stopping Sony from coming up with fresh ideas to keep you spending this October. The platform holder has announced that if you spend $100 through its digital storefront this month, you’ll get $20 in credit back. That cash will have to be reinvested into the...
News Sony Opts Against Slashing the Vita's Price This Year
Staying put
Despite increasing pressure from the Nintendo 3DS and smartphones, Sony has decided not to drop the price of the PlayStation Vita this year. Speaking with Eurogamer.net, SCEUK managing director Fergal Gara explained that, while the company is considering a price-cut, it will not happen until next year. “We always aim to establish...
News Silent Hill: Book of Memories Opens This November
Bookmark it
Konami’s curious top-down spin-off Silent Hill: Book of Memories will spook European PlayStation Vitas on 2nd November, the publisher has announced. The game – developed by Double Dragon: Neon studio WayForward – will see you creating a character based on five different high-school archetypes: Jock, Bookworm, Rocker, Goth or...
News UK Sales Charts: FIFA 13 Shoots to the Top of the League
Premiership material
Here’s a shocker for you: FIFA 13 has sprinted straight to the top of the UK sales charts. The annual entry sold a whopping one million units during its first weekend on sale, forcing last week’s front runner Borderlands 2 into second position. F1 2012 held onto third, while Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 fell into fifth.
Most Read
Feature Hellfire on Constructing the Most Ambitious PlayStation Home Game to Date
News Nihilistic Deploys New Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified Details
News Hellfire: There's Still Plenty of Potential for PlayStation Home
News This Is What a PS3 Super Slim Looks Like Without Its Clothes
