Fat Princess is coming!

MUCH anticipated and slightly controversial title Fat Princess, a downloadable game for the PlayStation 3, developed by Titan Studios and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, is out tomorrow (Thursday, July 30).
The game will cost $14.99 in the U.S. and £11.99 in the UK.In Fat Princess, the player joins one of two opposing teams consisting of up to 16 cartoon characters, each with the goal of rescuing their team's princess from the other team's castle (similar in many respects to capture the flag modes found in other multiplayer video games). In order to make their opponents' task more difficult, players can feed captive princesses more and more food so that she will become heavier and harder to carry back to her respective castle.^[5]

Players may change their character classes and abilities on the fly by picking up hats that are generated at their team's base. Hats can also be found on the battlefield where enemies have fallen. The game's five classes include mage, priest, warrior, worker, and ranger. Each class has its own unique set of weapons and abilities.

Uncharted 2 release date revealed

UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves has finally received a release date of October 13 in the US, which usually means a few days after that, we'll get it here in the UK.
Tthe unveiling of the official UNCHARTED 2 box art shows Drake hanging for dear life - but of course this is all in a day's work.


In addition there are added pre-order features to mix up the experience, but these added features are only playable depending on where you pre-order from.

UNCHARTED 2 looks fantastic and appears to have a great single player campaign along with an impressive multiplayer and cooperative mode.

GTA style missions for Assassin's Creed 2

UBISOFT says its time-hopping stealth adventure game Assassin's Creed 2 will release simultaneously on all platforms on November 17, 2009.
The game promises some interesting new additions. The flying mechanic was one of the more interesting parts of the playable demo shown at E3. Using wings created by Renaissance inventor Leonardo Da Vinci, Ezio can swoop and fly through the streets of Venice using the drafts of burning fires to add altitude to his gliding trajectory.

The developers provided some other interesting details about the length of the main quest (longer than the 20-hour original game) as well as the weapons that Ezio will have at his disposal. They mentioned a hammer, axe and long pike among the new arms that Ezio can use to defeat enemy soldiers.
Most importantly, fans will be glad to know that the original pattern of eavesdropping, pickpocket and punching bag missions has been completely revised in this game. No longer will the player have to slog through a line of repetitive subquests -- instead, missions will be doled out by various factions in the city Grand Theft Auto style.


This game is certainly looking promising - let's hope this time its not just more 'style over substance'.

Demos galore for Euro PlayStation Network update

TO MAKE up for a couple of weeks of poor updates, Sony have replied with a great new update to the PlayStation Network in Europe and the UK.
This week we have demos including Ghostbusters, a fun game that my friend keeps harking on at me to buy so we can play online co-op.
Also available to download is a playable demo of Fuel, a Motorstorm-a-like which will get the adrenalin running.
And last up - one I've been waiting for for ages - is Battlefield 1943, the online World War Two first-person battleground game which I know and loved from my PC gaming days.
It's now here in all its Next-Gen glory, and this demo lets you play for 30 minutes for free - or you can snap it up for just £9.99 to play to your heart's content.
Let's hope every weekly update can keep up with the quality of this one!

PS3 backwards compatibility on the cards?

AS ONE of the lucky few(!)who have a PS3 that can play PS2 games, it could be that the rest of you PS3 owners could also soon be playing PS2 games soon

A patent filed on the Emotion Engine technology for Cell Processors by Sony Computer Entertainment in the US, could mean that Sony is gearing up for the release of a potential firmware update that will allow all PS3 users the ability to play PS2 games.

PS3s without PS2 backwards compatibility are missing the Emotion Engine, a chip Sony designed as the PS2’s CPU. What if the PS3’s cell processor could emulate the Emotion Engine, then in theory, all PS3s would be able to play PS2 games even if a console didn’t have the proper hardware.


There aren’t too many reasons why Sony would want the PS3’s Cell processor to emulate the PS2’s Emotion Engine and the key one is backwards compatibility.

Doesn't look like PS1 is catered for, though.

A cool - and chilling -trailer.....

OKAY, I know this isn't strictly (at all) about gaming - but this movie trailer really has to be seen to be believed....

PlayStation Network store update

HERE is this week's PlayStation Network store update for June 18 - and this time I've let you see the US version, so you see what us Euro gamers are missing out on!

Just remember, you can gain access to the US store by creating a new profile with a US address - trawl the net and you should find out how to do this quite easily! Here goes:

Qore

Qore Annual Subscription - June 2009 ($24.99)
Qore: Presented by the PlayStation Network is a monthly interactive video production covering the world of PlayStation. Qore provides its audience with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to developers and their games, from both the SCE Worldwide Studios and the third-party community, where the audience member can freely navigate through the content.
File size: 1.12 GB

Qore Episode 13 - June 2009 ($2.99)
Episode 13 of Qore: Presented by the PlayStation Network showcases a hero’s evolution in inFAMOUS and enters the ring for Fight Night Round 4. Veronica Belmont auditions for the Frag Dolls, and the PSPgo is revealed at last! An exclusive inFAMOUS theme and Qore T-shirts for Home are available to all purchasers. In addition, all purchasers will receive the PSone classic Spyro the Dragon (Limited time offer, expires July 31, 2009). Annual subscribers will also receive the full game of High Velocity Bowling.
File size: 1.12 GB

PSone Classics PS3 / PSP

Metal Gear Solid ($9.99)
The game that helped make Metal Gear into one of the biggest franchises in video game history has been re-born! Experience the first Metal Gear to appear on the PlayStation platform, Metal Gear Solid, marks the series’ jump into 3D graphics and true stealth action gaming.
ESRB Rated M
File size: 780 MB

Game Demos (free)

NCAA Football 10 Demo
Now you can settle who has the most school pride once and for all with NCAA Football 10. The all-new Season Showdown ensures that everything you do counts toward your goal of helping your school become the best in the nation. From all-new risk-reward strategic gameplay options to the revolutionary online create-a-school feature TeamBuilder, make a historic run for the national championship with NCAA Football 10.
File size: 1.90 GB

Add-on Game Content

MotorStorm Pacific Rift Jester Signature Livery Pack (free)
Make your vehicle stand out from the crowd with this exclusive MotorStorm Pacific Rift livery pack, available for a limited time only from PlayStation Store.
Reminder: to use this download, you must own MotorStorm Pacific Rift.
File size: 100 KB

Cross Edge Wanderer Pack (free)
In need of some stronger healing items? We’ve got you covered!
File size: 111 KB

Cross Edge Power-Up Pack (free)
Scale up your skills with these ability-enhancing items.
File size: 111 KB

Cross Edge Departure Pack (free)
Did you bring your handkerchief, tissues, and a few extra cure items? If not, look no further!
File size: 111 KB

Guitar Hero World Tour
For all song credits please visit www.guitarhero.com

• “Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits Theme” - S.U.P.R.A.H.U.M.A.N (free)
• “Fly One Time” by Ben Harper and Relentless7 ($1.99)
• “Number With No Name” by Ben Harper and Relentless7 ($1.99)
• “Shimmer & Shine” by Ben Harper and Relentless7 ($1.99)
• Ben Harper and Relentless7 Track Pack ($5.49) - Downloadable Track Pack for Guitar Hero World Tour featuring “Fly One Time,” “Number With No Name,” and “Shimmer & Shine” by Ben Harper and Relentless7.

File sizes: 32 MB - 44 MB (singles), 110 MB (track pack)

Rock Band
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

• “Back From the Dead” — Spinal Tap ($1.99)
• “Rock ‘n’ Roll Nightmare” — Spinal Tap ($1.99)
• “Saucy Jack” — Spinal Tap ($1.99)
• “Warmer Than Hell” — Spinal Tap ($1.99)
• Spinal Tap Pack 1 ($6.99) - Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack featuring “Back From the Dead,” “Rock ‘n’ Roll Nightmare,” “Saucy Jack,” and “Warmer Than Hell” by Spinal Tap.
• “Bring Me to Life” — Evanescence ($1.99)
• “Call Me When You’re Sober” — Evanescence ($1.99)
• “Weight of the World” — Evanescence ($1.99)
• Evanescence Pack 1 ($5.49) - Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack featuring “Bring Me to Life,” “Call Me When You’re Sober,” and “Weight of the World” by Evanescence.

File sizes: 14 MB - 33 MB (singles), 86 MB - 98 MB (track pack)

Game Videos (free)

Mini Ninjas E3 Trailer
File size: 75 MB (HD)

PS3 Themes

American Pride Theme ($1.49)
File size: 5.71 MB

Jungle Jane Theme ($1.99)
File size: 5.69 MB

Warrior Girls Theme ($1.49)
File sizes: 6.32 MB

Azmodeus Dark Angels Theme 3 ($1.49)
File sizes: 4.35 MB

4th of July Pinups Theme ($1.49)
File sizes: 3.15 MB

PlayStation Store for PSP

Downloadable Games

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 ($19.99) (also available from PS3 storefront)
Scott Mitchell, the leader of the ghosts, is sent south of the Panama border to eliminate guerrilla forces believed to be trafficking high-tech weapons to rebel forces.
ESRB Rated T
File size: 665 MB

PSP Themes

American Pride PSP Theme ($1.49) (also available from PS3 storefront)
File size: 595 KB

Jungle Jane PSP Theme ($1.49) (also available from PS3 storefront)
File size: 425 KB

Warrior Girls PSP Theme ($1.49) (also available from PS3 storefront)
File sizes: 540 KB

Azmodeus Dark Angels PSP Theme 5 ($0.99) (also available from PS3 storefront)
File sizes: 571 KB

Azmodeus Dark Angels PSP Theme 6 ($0.99) (also available from PS3 storefront)
File sizes: 551 KB