All you have to do is fill out the form below. We are giving away one copy of each game for the PS3 and the XBox360 gaming systems (no you can’t win both copies). Just answer the trivia question below and winners will be picked at random from the correct answers. Good luck!

Contest ends on December 30, 2010. CLICK HERE FOR FULL RULES

A little over six months after the death of the biggest star ever associated with the company, Sony is releasing a new Playstation 3 bundle that comes with a Blu-Ray copy of Michael Jackson’s This Is It.  A Japanese exclusive, the bundle will retail for ¥33,500 ($366). Also included in the bundle are a 120GB charcoal black PS3 console, one wireless DualShock controller, one set of A/V cables, and one USB cable.

The link between This Is It and the PS3 is lost on me.

I think Sony would’ve been better off obtaining the rights to Michael’s old Sega Genesis game “Moonwalker” and updating it for the PS3.

Rick Ross and Def Jam Records are giving away one Sony Playstation 3 and an autographed copy of Triple C’s new CD, Custom Cars & Cycles. All that you have to do for a chance to win is leave a comment on this post naming the make and model of one of the classic cars in this video below, “Chikn Talkn.” One winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries. Good luck!

COMPLETE RULES HERE

VIA DX:

The makers of Guitar Hero have done it again. This time, they have joined forces with the Hip Hop community to bring forth DJ Hero. This new interactive music experience is what many Rap fans have been waiting for in the video game world.

DJ Hero’s Renegade Edition, named after the track Eminem is featured on in Jay-Z’s The Blueprint, will be released around the same time as the standard edition of the game. This edition will feature a package with DJ Hero, a Renegade turntable controller and a turntable carrying case that opens up to become a performance-ready DJ stand. To go along with this, the pack will also feature a 2-CD pack which will contain unreleased Eminem and Jay-Z tracks. This will also include a case to be designed by artist Shepard Fairey.

According to a press release, this game is sure to excite many music lovers.

“DJ Hero delivers the most diverse and international collection of music ever assembled in a music game by incorporating anthems from legendary artists.”

In the game, players will be able to blend, scratch, cross fade and sample music.

Fans may recall that Jay and Em both appeared on stage to introduce DJ Hero earlier this year in Los Angeles. Both artists also hinted towards this Renegade Edition back in May.

]]> http://theurbandaily.com/special-features/video-games/the-urban-daily-staff/dj-hero-renegade-edition-features-jay-z-eminem/feed/ 1 http://theurbandaily.com/gossip-news/the-urban-daily-staff/50-cent-to-make-video-game-inspired-film/ http://theurbandaily.com/gossip-news/the-urban-daily-staff/50-cent-to-make-video-game-inspired-film/#comments Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:57:38 +0000 The Urban Daily http://theurbandaily.com/news/50-cent-to-make-video-game-inspired-film/ Not content with making videogames about himself, 50 Cent now wants to make a movie out of a videogame. He would also like to make a version of Tetris. 50 Cent's partnership with THQ, the publisher of his game, Blood on the Sand, is proving lucrative beyond the just-released game. The hip-hop mogul now wants to get into the entirely resp... Read more..]]>

Not content with making videogames about himself, 50 Cent now wants to make a movie out of a videogame. He would also like to make a version of Tetris.

50 Cent’s partnership with THQ, the publisher of his game, Blood on the Sand, is proving lucrative beyond the just-released game. The hip-hop mogul now wants to get into the entirely respectable business of producing film adaptations of videogames, and he wants to start with THQ’s Saints Row franchise.

“With my relationship with THQ, they’ll actually see me develop Saint’s Row into an actual screenplay and into a film project,” 50 revealed during a conference call about Blood on the Sand. “I‘m optioning the rights for that right now, so they’ll see that before they see me do it from my own perspective for my game.”

Call me crazy, but it might actually work. Saints Row doesn’t really have much narrative meat to it – it just has a barebones story and then a wacky over-the-top universe in which crazy things happen. It’s more about an atmosphere and a tone than anything else, and 50 Cent knows what it’s like to live in ridiculous and cartoonish faux hip-hop state of mind at all times anyway. In any case, there’s really not that much there to ruin, so why not?

With two games now fully under his belt, 50 Cent also seems to be thinking about taking game development to the next level. No, not 50 Cent 3 (150 Cent?), but something altogether different. “I’d like to be a part of developing, marketing and promoting a game I’m not actually in,” he told MTV. “It could be like Tetris. It’s one of my favorite games.”

50 Cent Tetris. That may make you doubt the man’s capacity for genius ideas, but listen to this. You know the premise of Blood on the Sand? 50 Cent gets a crystal skull, the skull gets stolen, and then 50 and his buddies chase bad guys all over Iraq-but-not-Iraq to get it back? That was his idea.

“The crystal skull actually exists,” 50 revealed. “It’s a diamond, an artifact. I saw it in a magazine in Dubai. I took it and said, ‘Make this what they’re after.’”

SOURCE: Escapist Magazine

With nearly a full year of of game releases ahead, Gamasutra is picking out noteworthy titles due in 2009 for each home and handheld platform, this time for the PlayStation 3.

While lacking hardware sales and its resulting third-place standing in current generation console marketshare has many comparing the PlayStation 3 to the unfortunate GameCube, the PS3 hasn’t experienced the diminished third-party software support that Nintendo’s purple system suffered.

We’ve collected the most anticipated titles from the PlayStation 3′s 2009 slate, previewing 15 in all, from multiplatform MMO games like The Agency to exclusive downloadable titles like Flower.
Bayonetta (also coming to Xbox 360)
Release Date: September 1st
Developer: PlatinumGames
Publisher: Sega

Though there are still a lot of details yet to be released for Bayonetta, expectations are understandably high seeing as Hideki Kamiya, the director behind Capcom’s Devil May Cry and Viewtiful Joe series, is heading the project.

The action game’s eponymous witch protagonist packs two sets of pistols — one pair attached to her high heels — which she uses to dispatch monsters disguised as angels. Along with her bullet-heavy attacks, she can also perform magical strikes with her hair.

Borderlands (also coming to Xbox 360, PC)
Release Date: 2009
Developer: Gearbox Software
Publisher: 2K Games

Inspired by the Mad Max films and Blizzard’s Diablo games, Borderlands is a four-player cooperative first-person shooter with RPG elements. Three playable and customizable characters are available, each with their own skill trees, accessories, and back stories.

Players ride in customizable vehicles and explore a lawless, desolate planet filled with randomly generated areas and items (500,000+ weapons, 500,000+ items and armor variations), in search of a vault promising alien technology and secrets.
Heavy Rain: The Origami Killer
Release Date: No date announced
Developer: Quantic Dream
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Described by writer and director David Cage as a “dark film noir thriller with mature themes” Heavy Rain has players controlling four characters and investigating a series of appalling murders. Unlike Quantic Dream’s previous releases (Farenheit, Omikron series), the game does not feature any supernatural elements.

Heavy Rain is designed to provide a “bendable” story in which dialogue choices, interaction with characters, and moral decisions can take the player through different interlocking stories that approach “[adult] subject matter and themes rarely touched upon in video games.”

Killzone 2
Release Date: February 27th
Developer: Guerrilla Games
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Killzone 2 takes gamers to Helghan, the home world of the first-person shooter series’ gas-mask wearing antagonists, the Helghast. Along with their squad of Interplanetary Strategic Alliance (ISA) soldiers, players go behind enemy lines, fighting the Helghast and their hazard-filled planet during the ISA’s invasion.

The game’s class-based online multiplayer mode allows players to pick two ability sets from a batch of six to best accommodate their playing style or their squad’s needs. 32 gamers can join in for a multiplayer online match, with up to four players per squad (two squads can also form a group together).
Resident Evil 5 (also coming to Xbox 360)
Release Date: March 13th
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom

With almost four years past since the acclaimed Resident Evil 4 debuted on the GameCube, Chris Redfield, one of the heroes in the original Resident Evil, returns in the latest entry to the series, now a Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance officer investigating a zombie outbreak in Africa.

Redfield is accompanied by Sheva Alomar, a BSAA member who provides ammo and support. Their cooperative dynamic continues with online and offline multiplayer co-op modes.

Street Fighter IV (also coming to PC, Xbox 360)
Release Date: February 17th
Developer: Capcom, Dimps
Publisher: Capcom

Almost ten years since this fighting franchise’s last numbered release, Street Fighter returns with all twelve characters from the classic Street Fighter II along with eight new playable characters, several of which were unavailable in the game’s Japanese arcade release.

Presented in 3D with an ink-like, seemingly hand-drawn visual style, SFIV features simplified, more approachable controls, but also introduces Focus Attacks, a new counter attack system for Street Fighter veterans, and Ultra Combos, a series of cinematic moves that players can execute after getting hit and filling up their “Revenge Gauge.”

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Release Date: Fourth quarter
Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Nathan Drake is on another treasure hunting quest, hoping to uncover mysteries behind 13th century explorer Marco Polo and his lost ships. Drake is specifically seeking a crystal said to grant its holder a wish. He’s accompanied by a new character named Chloe Frazer, who is voiced by Stargate SG-1 actress Claudia Black.

This (pictured) sequel to the 2007 action-adventure games adds stealth action segments, free climbing over walls, and the ability to flip over objects to use as cover when under enemy fire.

SOURCE: Gamasutra

A just dropped some details on its upcoming title The Godfather II, complete with a release date update and information on pre-order incentives.

Godfather II follows in the footsteps of the 2006 Godfather title in premise and theme, but takes a major detour in terms of gameplay. The sequel plays out in the 1960s and encourages players to get inside the mind of a don, build a crew and work towards becoming the crème de la crème of the mob world. Members of your “family” can be controlled directly in battle, or sent off to do your bidding (bombing rivals, attacking businesses and generally being intimidating) in different cities.

In an attempt to avoid the pitfalls that plagued the first game – namely the feeling that the primary goal was to run around and beat people up – EA has augmented the action gameplay  with new strategic mechanics. Implemented in the form of  “Don’s View” – the feature will necessitate basic management skills, requiring you to coordinate strategy, build your family, watch over your businesses and establish relationships with corrupt government officials all at once.

SOURCE: Game Informer

Is it Burnout Paradise, even though they never inserted a crash mode into their game? What about Fallout 3? With its insane graphics and crazy storyline, these are the few games that GameSpot and The Urban Daily looked believed deserved mention for 2008′s “Game of the Year.”

The question is: Who will win?

After a long year of deciding whether to be a good or evil, fighting aliens World War II-style and creating your own world of possibilities, GameSpot and The Urban Daily decided to bring to you the year’s most disappointing games of 2008. Hope next year finds those brains on full dream mode!

Click Here For more Best of Everything 2008

GridCast TV service to deliver high-value Internet video to over 36 million homes today using existing devices.

Video delivery platform provider GridNetworks today announced support for GridCast TV on the Sony PlayStation 3. The GridCast TV service, which launched last month, enables content distributors and owners to stream video directly over the Internet to viewers’ TVs without requiring a set-top box or any other additional hardware. GridCast TV uses existing UPnP (universal plug and play) devices such as the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Internet-enabled TVs.

GridCast TV can now be viewed by anyone with an Internet-connected Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3. With combined support for these two gaming consoles, which hold a majority of console market share, GridCast TV can reach over 36 million homes worldwide, with roughly half of those in the U.S. These numbers are also growing quickly, with Microsoft recently announcing the biggest Black Friday ever for the Xbox 360, with record sales on one of the biggest shopping days of the year for U.S. retailers.

“Microsoft and Sony know that today’s console gamers are perfectly suited for new TV offerings,” said broadband media expert Colin Dixon in a report for TDG, a market planning and research firm that is a leading voice regarding the diffusion of broadband video. “The segment is dominated by males between the ages of 18 and 35—a prized advertising demographic—with little sense of loyalty to their ‘local’ cable or telephone company. They are also heavy viewers of online video and quite comfortable spending money for online digital media.”

Dixon’s report for TDG further quantifies this dynamic, with numbers that underline the opportunity available to video content distributors who can reach gaming console audiences:

• Approximately 190 million households will use a next-generation game console by 2012;
• 80% of these households—148 million—will have this console connected to the Internet; and
• 75% of connected-console households—more than 110 million—will use console-based video services at least a couple times each week.

GridNetworks CEO Tony Naughtin said, “Support for the PlayStation 3 further broadens the Internet reach we give content owners into their viewers’ living rooms. And just as with GridCast TV over the Xbox 360 and Internet-enabled TVs, our customers don’t have to give their content to a third party, or negotiate with cable or satellite providers. They remain in control of their brand, content, and revenue.”

Sony Computer Entertainment and its Santa Monica studio recently released the first gameplay trailer for the much-anticipated God of War III, the third installment in one of Sony’s biggest exclusive franchises. The last game ended on a pretty big cliffhanger with Kratos heading off to take on the gods at the top of Mount Olympus, so there should be plenty of intense battles in store for us.

With the franchise being so popular and important to the PlayStation 3′s library, nevermind the fact that a bunch of us here are huge fans of the series, we thought we’d share our take on what we want to see in the game.

Branching Quicktime Events
The Quicktime events are staples of the God of War franchise. Matching on-screen button cues with your own button presses while Kratos rips apart a baddie in the background has always resulted in an awesome sight, but we’d like to see this taken to the next level. Instead of simply matching the button icons, we’d like to have the sequence work as a branching act where you’re essentially choosing where and what Kratos does next. So, if he’s just climbed up to something’s chest, Square might take you down its left arm, Circle might take you down the right, while Triangle would send you right at its head. Some options would be better than others, while others would end poorly. It would be tricky implementing this so that the player can always expect what will happen next, but seeing this done right could be awesome.

A Proper Ending
We’re tired of game after game these days ending without an actual, you know, ending. We’re not clamoring for the end to Kratos’ adventures, but we really want to see God of War III properly finish off this trilogy with a fantastic and solid finale. Don’t string us along and leave us hanging. We want an actual outcome (preferably one where Kratos stabs the Earth in half to kill everyone).

Focus on the Blades
The trailer shows off a hefty set of gauntlets, which look cool enough, but the extra weapons aren’t what makes Kratos the badass that he is. It’s the Blades of Chaos (or Athena) coupled with his anger that make him practically unstoppable, and we want the focus to remain on that combo. Extra weapons are cool to mess with and can present interesting puzzle solutions, but we absolutely don’t want Kratos’ blades to be overshadowed by some crazy amount of extraneous armaments. Please, Santa Monica, keep Kratos as pure and raw as he’s always been and everything will be all right.

Want to know what else is needed for the newest game of the new year? Be sure to go to IGN.com and check out their article.

Aussie gamers today received an early Christmas present with news that Warner Bros. has had F.E.A.R. 2 successfully classified MA15+, overturning last month’s ban and putting the title back on track for its February 2009 release.

After the game was refused classification by the Australian Classification Board in November, on the grounds of ‘high violence’, Warner Bros. appealed the decision and submitted the game to the Australian Classification Review Board. After reviewing the material, the ACRB agreed F.E.A.R. 2 deserved a MA15+ rating. Best of all, the game will be released in its original state – with no modifications being necessary.

Following on from Fallout 3′s recent modification for the Aussie market, F.E.A.R. 2′s successful classification is great news for gamers

Though Metal Gear Solid 4 didn’t take top honors at last night’s Spike Video Game Awards, series creator Hideo Kojima was in attendance and dropped a few details on the Metal Gear Solid movie in an interview with Collider. Via his translator, Kojima said that the movie is “brewing, and it’s moving very slowly.” Asked how much of a hands-on role he plans to take with the movie, his translator relayed that “obviously he’s not going to be in the director’s seat, but he will be very, very involved with the project.” Finally, Kojima addressed the possibility of a new game to tie in to the release of the movie, saying he’s “very interested” in such a project and that it would be “a challenge” for him. Of course, with the movie plans themselves sounding fairly vague, any theoretical game is still in very early planning stages as well. Games as simultaneous movie merchandise tend to flop, but if Kojima is involved with both the movie and spearheading a game to go with it, we may see a good example of a movie/game launch that actually works.

Featuring Iron Mike Tyson. This could stave off the oncoming threat of the new UFC video game. Check out the trailer below.

With 2008 coming to a close, it’s easy to forget about all of the excellent games that were released earlier in the year that you have yet to play. This holiday season is packed with games competing for your hard earned cash. Games like Resistance 2, Little Big Planet, Gears of War 2, Left 4 Dead, Dead Space, Valkyria Chronicles, and Prince of Persia are probably some of the latest games that are on gamer’s minds. This holiday rush of games is going to overshadow the majority of excellent games made in 2008, primarily because they are fresh in people’s minds. However, a lot of great games were made in 2008, and shouldn’t be overlooked. Many of the games listed below are on sale for a discounted price to compete with recent games.

Condemned 2: Bloodshot (Playstation 3, Xbox 360)
Condemned 2 is the sequel to Condemned: Criminal Origins, which was an Xbox 360 exclusive. Condemned 2 is unlike many of the first person games released in 2008, because it’s not primarily a shooter. Although you acquire a few guns in the game, most of the combat is done with your fists, or melee weapons such as pipes, and bricks. The combat is rather enjoyable, as well as brutal, the graphics are very nice, the story is well told, and there is a strong horror vibe to the game, so fans of horror should enjoy this game.

Dark Sector (Playstation 3, Xbox 360)
It’s a bit of a mystery as to why this game didn’t receive more attention from gamers. Dark Sector features a very similar control scheme to Gears of War, or Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. You press a button to run to cover, use the analog stick to pop around the corner, etc. The main difference between this game and Gears of War is the glaive. The main character in Dark Sector is a man named Hayden, and his primary weapon is the glaive, which you acquire early in the game. The glaive is like a three-sided boomerang with blades on it. You’re able to throw the glaive at your enemies, cutting off any limbs in your path. You’re even able to control the glaive itself in slow motion as you guide it towards the specific limb of your enemy that you would like to amputate. While the story in Dark Sector isn’t the best told in the world, neither is Gears of War. The action in Dark Sector is very fun, and if you’re a gore hound, Dark Sector certainly won’t disappoint. This is actually one of the cheapest games on this list. It’s being sold for an insulting $19.99 new in many video game stores.

Eternal Sonata (Playstation 3, Xbox 360)
Although Eternal Sonata has been out since 2007 on the Xbox 360, it has recently been ported to the Playstation 3, therefore it qualifies for this list. Eternal Sonata is an action-RPG set in the mind of Frederick Chopin. It features an enjoyable combat system, an interesting story for the most part, and an amazing art style. The graphics are technically well done, but the art style is absolutely gorgeous. If you absolutely despise anime as an art style, then you will hate looking at Eternal Sonata, but if you’re one of the many anime fans out there, there is no better game than Eternal Sonata when it comes to replicating the anime art style. The combat is relatively easy, and there aren’t many side quests to speak of, so it’s a rather short game. Despite this, Eternal Sonata is a worthwhile RPG, and can be found at a discount for the Xbox 360. The Playstation 3 version is still at full price, but it comes with many bonus features such as new characters available for your party.

Lost Odyssey (Xbox 360)
Lost Odyssey has to be one of the most under rated games of the year. It’s a classic turn based, Japanese RPG. The story of Lost Odyssey is a rather interesting one. It starts off great, and lulls a bit at the end, but overall it’s very engaging. The characters suffer from some RPG standards such as having a quiet tough guy, a comedian, the big breasted woman, the annoying kids, etc, but if you give the game time, the characters are actually well developed over the course of the journey. As stated above, the combat is strictly turn based. If you don’t like taking turns with your enemies in JRPGs, then you won’t like Lost Odyssey. However, if turn based combat is your thing, there isn’t much to dislike. Character, and enemy design is top notch, and the graphics as a whole are impressive. There are many side quests in this game, so if you’re the hardcore type, expect to play upwards of 80 hours. Lost Odyssey is an excellent JRPG, and it’s a pity that it didn’t get the attention it deserved.

Sega Superstars Tennis (Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Playstation 2, Wii)
As the name bluntly points out, Sega Superstars Tennis is all about various Sega characters playing tennis, as well as participating in tennis themed mini games. It features a respectable amount of characters to choose from: ranging from the beloved Sonic to the lesser known Beat from Jet Grind Radio. While the tennis itself is enjoyable for a while, it’s the mini games that really make the game. All of the mini games are inspired by classic Sega games. For example, instead of killing zombies with a gun in the House of the Dead mini game, you repel them back to the grave with tennis balls. This may sound lame, but it’s not. It’s a good time. The Puyo Pop mini game is worth the purchase alone. In addition, there is a lot of multiplayer fun to have with this game.

Silent Hill: Homecoming (Playstation 3, Xbox 360)
When Silent Hill fans heard that Team Silent wasn`t developing Silent Hill: Homecoming, expectations for the game dropped dramatically. It was met with generally positive reviews from critics, with most scores ranging from a 6 out of 10, all the way up to a 9 out of 10. The main problem for fans of the series with Silent Hill: Homecoming is that it shares more in common with the theatrical film than the previous games in the series. For those that enjoyed the film, this may not be a problem. Much like the film, the game focuses on a cult. It`s obvious that Silent Hill: Homecoming was based off of the film in many ways, because many of the effects such as transitioning between the foggy Silent Hill, and the hellish Silent Hill look as though they were ripped straight from the film. The combat system is entirely different than it was in previous games. You are able to dodge, and perform finishers. This may be a bit of a turn off for long time fans, but others may find the new combat system to be a breath of fresh air. The graphics are above average, and the enemy and boss design, are particularly impressive. It may not be the best survivor horror ever made, but it’s certainly worth a play through for fans of the genre.

Click Here For more Best of Everything 2008

In a move ballsy enough to put Soulja Boy to shame, 50 Cent has issued a challenge to gamers to beat him at his own game…which isn’t even out yet.

50 Cent: Blood on the Sand isn’t due to drop until January 19th next year, but Fiddy’s apparently already had enough experience with it to know that he can trounce all comers.

“I actually had the opportunity to play it, and I’m pretty good at it,” the hip-hop mogul said in an interview with MTV. Good enough, apparently, to back his claims with his cash. “If anybody out there wants to create a challenge or wants to bet some money online, we could play the game right now.”

50 also spoke on some of the influences on his game, which centers on an destructive escapade to recover a crystal-encrusted skull in a fictional Middle Eastern nation. “The actual aesthetics, the scenery, was inspired by “Blood Diamond” on some levels,” he said. “Blood Diamond“, a film about a war-torn African country and the rampant corruption therein, and the 50 Cent videogame? They both use precious gems as a central motif, I suppose.

Straight out of left field influences aside, 50 remarked that he was extremely pleased with the way the game is turning out. “I’m happy with the videogame,” he said. “I actually went to Los Angeles to meet with some of the programmers, and we sat down. They showed me some options and some things that they had already developed. I told them this idea that I thought would be cool and to merge the idea into what they already had, and it worked out.”

Let’s hope the “idea” wasn’t a built-in handicap for everyone who challenges him in an online match.

SOURCE: The Escapist

LittleBigPlanet is a massive game that only increases in size with every passing minute. Players can create just about anything they imagine with the extensive editors available in the game–crafting objects, new textures, even music machines or lush gardens to host tea parties in. The possibilities are absolutely endless. We’ve braved the wilds of LittleBigPlanet online to bring to you our Top 50 User-Created LittleBigPlanet Levels (at least, so far). Whether you’re looking for a new challenge or a little inspiration for your next stage, these are some of the best new levels that we could track down.

50. Super Mario Bros. Worlds 1-4

Name: Super Mario Bros – World 1-4

Author: eken_

This classic Mario remake is a perfect example of what we love to see in LBP but it is unfortunately a bit broken. The spinning rods of fire are largely ignorable, while the first platform caused us nearly endless frustration because most of it was on fire. To top things off, the jump over faux-Bowser at the end of the stage was made impossibly difficult due to a poorly implemented rising platform. We give it points for design and layout, but the actual gameplay that it supports needs some work.

To check out the rest, please head over to UGO.com.

Sony has granted the open beta of Home a firm release date, with the software going live to all PlayStation 3 users from December 11.

First revealed at last year’s GDC, and in development since 2005, Home has been heavily delayed and missed a succession of release windows – but from tomorrow onward it will be available to the general public.

Speaking of the launch of the open beta, Sony’s Kaz Hirai said, “PlayStation Home is truly a promising network community service on the PlayStation platform, made possible with the powerful combination of PS3′s overwhelming computational power and PlayStation Network that covers many countries around the globe. We are committed to providing PS3 users with exciting gaming experiences with PlayStation Home and together with our partners and users, expand the new world of interactive entertainment as we move forward.”

Sony also announced a number of media partnerships, with Diesel set to supply designs for avatar’s clothing and Ligne Roset to provide in-game furniture. Red Bull has crafted a space dedicated to its Air Race series, and games publishers are expected to soon follow suit in creating areas themed around top titles.

The beta will be free of charge.

Q’s views about the newest Tomb Raider game are pretty much on point. Check out the review below:

Several year ago, the Tomb Raider franchise was trying to overcome the debacle called Angel of Darkness and the stagnation of the Tomb Raider franchise. Then developer Crystal Dynamics took over with Tomb Raider: Legend, followed with Tomb Raider: Anniversary and restored the franchise to its former glory with updated gameplay and great story. Now they’ve returned with Tomb Raider: Underworld and a bag of cool stuff to go with it.

The story revolves around Lara and her adventure of solving a mythological mystery and finding out her mother is. It’s actually a pretty intriguing story that would work as a Hollywood film. From the start of the game, you’re into the story waiting to find out what happens next.

One of the most noticeable additions is Lara Croft ability to stay underwater and complete puzzles and missions. In previous games, Lara was only able to stay underwater for as long as she can hold her breath. There’s also a plethora of new animations and movements added to the game including the ability to shoot at two different targets simultaneously, perch on swing bars, the ability to rappel down walls and melee kicking for close quarters combat. The new additions make Lara so much more fun to control.

Just like previous Tomb Raider games, the puzzles are simplistic in nature, but sometimes it’ll take a moment or two to figure out. Some of them will have you on the brink of heading online to find out what to do, but if you take another moment, it’ll come to you.

To read more of Q’s views, please check out the review at Video Game Examiner.

Sony is to close 10% of its manufacturing sites, losing some 8,000 jobs in the process as the Japanese company feels the effects of the deepening economic crisis.

Sony is still believed to be incurring a loss on every PlayStation 3 that it sells, and financial expert Katsuhiko Mori told BBC that although “the number sounds big, this staff reduction won’t be enough. Sony doesn’t have any core businesses that generate stable profits – the next thing we want to see is what is going to be the business that will drive the company.”

The cutbacks come as Japan feels the impact of the global recession, with the country’s economy reportedly shrinking by some 0.5% in the past three months. Expected to be implemented by April 2010, there has been no confirmation where the cuts will take place, nor what impact they will have on Sony’s gaming division.

SOURCE: IGN.com

They were first leaked through a Spanish PlayStation community site about a week back, and now Sony today confirmed that four Street Fighter II Sackboy costumes will be available for Little Big Planet this Thursday. Costumes based on Ryu, Chun-Li, Guile, and Zangief will cost $1.99 each, or you can get all four in a discounted pack for $5.99.

Mysteriously, the PlayStation Blog hints that there are more costume announcements “in-store” (their deliberate use of quotation marks, not ours) this week for Little Big Planet. Evidently they’ll be announcing them tomorrow, so stay tuned.

For now, though, check out the Ryu Sackboy above, and the other three costumes at 1UP.com.

The long-awaited PlayStation Home may be getting ready to launch by December 17, according to a report from Times Online. The story, which was published on December 7, stated the application “is slated for release in the next 10 days.” This isn’t official word from Sony, of course, but the company itself isn’t exactly denying the claim.

VideoGaming247 reports that a Sony Computer Entertainment Europe representative said, “we’re not commenting on that story, I’m afraid.” The story certainly seems plausible enough. Sony has repeatedly insisted that Home is slated for 2008, and opening it to a wider audience with the November Qore certainly seemed to be laying the groundwork for a fully open beta.

It’s also worth noting that, though the window of 10 days seems broad, this coming Thursday (December 11) is the only remaining one in that time frame. If this report is accurate, and if Sony plans to release Home on a Thursday like its usual updates, then we may be seeing it in only a few days. Don’t bank on that knowledge, though, because it comes with plenty of “ifs.” We’ll let you know when we hear a firm — and official — release date for the social networking tool.

Depending on your affinity for live-action Nickelodeon shows, the Rock Band DLC offerings from earlier this week probably won’t go down in history as appealing to a very broad range of faux rockers. Fortunately, next week’s batch of songs are just around the corner, and they’re of a much more mainstream persuasion than the Naked Brothers Band and iCarly soundtracks.

The previously announced No Doubt compilation is scheduled to hit Xbox Live next Tuesday, and the PlayStation Store on Thursday. Including 13 tracks from the band’s The Singles: 1992-2003 album, the total package will cost $19.99 (1600 Microsoft points), while individual songs will run the standard $1.99 (160 Microsoft points). The entire listing of next week’s tracks includes:

• “Just a Girl”
• “It?s My Life”
• “Hey Baby”
• “Bathwater”
• “Sunday Morning”
• “Hella Good”
• “Underneath It All”
• “Excuse Me Mr.”
• “Running”
• “Spiderwebs”
• “Simple Kind of Life”
• “Don?t Speak”
• “Ex-Girlfriend”

Younger gamers might roll their eyes at the thought of a ska band fronted by the woman responsible for such atrocities as “Hollaback Girl”, but those of us who came of age in the ’90s tend to have much fonder memories of No Doubt. Even the biggest Gwen Stefani detractors would have a hard time denying how relentlessly catchy some of this stuff is. Go ahead and try going the rest of the week without humming the chorus to “Sunday Morning” at least once.

You’ve seen the footage, you’ve read the hands-on coverage of Killzone 2, but you haven’t gotten any details on when the anticipated first-person shooter from Guerrilla Games will be released. That information has finally been revealed thanks to the PlayStation.Blog. According to Mike Graham, Associate Producer at SCEA Santa Monica, Killzone 2 will officially be released on February 27, 2009 in the United States. Dates for other regions weren’t released, but it sounds like the beginning of March will be filled with the screams of Helghan warriors being shot by ISA guns

A cryptic teaser hinting at the “next Metal Gear” has appeared on the Kojima Productions website, but quite what it means is anyone’s guess. The website page shows a mathematical sum, with two alert symbols equalling what looks like a power symbol. Not much to go on you might think, but the symbols are in green and the power symbol bears more than a passing resemblance to the Xbox 360 ring, albeit with a smaller alert symbol at the top. Could it mean Metal Gear Solid 4 is finally coming to Xbox 360? We certainly hope so, but similarly it could also mean something completely different.

As far as the PSN is concerned, Sony’s fledgling service has had serious ups and downs in its two year existence. In many ways, the largest advantage is that PS3 owners get an online service, complete with browsers and search engine, as well as messaging and friends lists for free. The inclusion of Life with PlayStation (which is the evolution of the widely acclaimed Folding@Home project) was a great touch, and the recent addition of Trophies provides bragging rights and rewards for playing PS3 games. Even the video and voice chat is an excellent option for friends that want to communicate.

Despite all of these items, the service has stumbled in a number of ways. Chief amongst them is the constantly delayed release of PlayStation Home, Sony’s 3D virtual community that will contain avatars and other digital spaces. Remote Play integration between PSP and PS3 still seems relatively shaky if not completely forgotten, and items like Qore, Sony’s interactive digital magazine, don’t deliver nearly enough content for the price paid for each episode. However, one of the largest problems lies within its striking lack of content on the PlayStation Store in comparison to the Xbox Live Marketplace. Although the Store is updated every Thursday and offers a variety of items for download, most updates have tended to include a large amount of add-on content, videos and themes instead of full games. Similarly, while the addition of the video download service was added in June 2008, the number of high profile films has not impressed.

This, of course, got us thinking: where the hell are the big games and movies for the PSN? Obviously, some games, like Castle Crashers, are exclusive to the Xbox Live Marketplace, but the release of other titles is completely up to the whim of the developer and publisher, which makes it incomprehensible that the love hasn’t been shared on Sony’s console. Similarly, even with Sony’s deals with motion picture studios, there’s no excuse for the lack of major blockbusters that hit the PSN each and every week. Below, we’ll highlight some of the games and films that have managed to mysteriously dodge the grasp of the PSN — hopefully we’ll see these turn up in an update sooner rather than later.

To check out what games the Playstation 3 should offer, check it out here…

Source: IGN.com

French Gaming website JV247 reports that Sony Computer Entertainment shared some information regarding an upcoming PS2 Emulator for the PlayStation 3 with them.

Apparently, they were told that Sony would update the PlayStation 3′s firmware with the functionality to play PlayStation 2 games if they decided to sell PlayStation 2 games on the PlayStation Store.

We’ve been longing for a resurrection of the arcade sports games genre for a while now. With the digital distribution platforms on consoles today favoring quick, online-enabled titles, games like NBA Jam seem to be a perfect fit. And yet, for whatever reason, no one has stepped up to the plate… until now. By some sort of divine intervention, a brand new EA 3-on-3 hockey arcade game for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 has been revealed.

IGN has word that my countrymen at EA Canada are preparing 3 on 3 NHL Arcade, a throw-back to the old-school arcade-style hockey games like NHL Hitz and Rock the Rink. The game is scheduled to land in February for $9.99 (800 Microsoft Points) and will be fully-licensed with real teams and real players. The “no rules” style of play will feature the huge hits, over-the-top special moves, and power-ups that define any good arcade-style sports game. A welcome return to a more simplistic, button-based control scheme and online multiplayer support round out the package.

This is extremely exciting. These kinds of games should be available in droves for the Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network; I’m hoping that EA’s move will prompt other companies to react. The only thing that could top this would be a full HD revamp of NBA Jam with online multiplayer. Midway, you need money, right? Follow EA Canada’s lead here. My wallet is already open and anxiously awaiting February for this one.