Add-on Game Content

LittleBigPlanet Sack in the Box Costume (free)
A community costume for SackBoy!
File size: 1.04 MB

LittleBigPlanet LocoRoco Costumes ($2.99)
A costume kit for SackBoy!  Contains 5 different costumes.
File size: 1.04 MB

BioShock PS3 Challenge Rooms  ($9.99)
Experience the intense, terrifying world of Rapture like never before with the all-new PLAYSTATION 3 exclusive Add-On Game Content featuring three unique Challenge Rooms and some very cool extras. In “A Shocking Turn of Events,” rescue a trapped Little Sister in a disturbing carnival in Rapture. In “The I in Team”, defeat a Big Daddy using only your wits. In “Worlds of Hurt” plow through eight rooms filled with the worst Rapture has to offer.
File size: 402 MB

Dead Space

• Dead Space Astronaut Pack ($2.99)
  Download the Astronaut Suit and Weapon Skin Pack, featuring an amazing 26th Century Astronaut Suit and new skins for the Plasma Cutter, Pulse Rifle, and Ripper!
• Dead Space Big Gun Pack ($0.99)
  Download the Steam Punk Force Gun, the ultimate in Necromorph-killing destruction.
• Dead Space Heavy Damage Pack ($2.99)
  Download the Heavy Damage Weapon pack featuring a cool new look and massive firepower for the Plasma Cutter, Contact Beam, Pulse Rifle, and Ripper.
• Dead Space Hot Rod Pack ($0.99)
  Download the Hot Rod Weapon Skin Pack, featuring awesome flame graphics for the Flamethrower and Pulse Rifle.
• Dead Space Military Pack ($3.99)
  Download the Military Weapon Pack for a new look and enhanced power for all 7 Dead Space weapons.
• Dead Space Obsidian Pack ($1.49)
  Download the exclusive Obsidian Suit and Weapon Skin Pack now, available only for the PLAYSTATION 3! Includes an upgraded Level 5 suit, and weapon skins for the Line Gun, Plasma Cutter, and Pulse Rifle, all in jet-black PLAYSTATION 3 colors.
• Dead Space Obsidian Weapon Skin Pack ($1.49)
  Download the exclusive Obsidian Weapon Skin Pack now, available only for the PLAYSTATION 3 Includes weapon skins in jet-black Playstation 3 colors for the Line Gun, Plasma Cutter, and Pulse Rifle.
• Dead Space Pedestrian Pack ($1.49)
  Download the Pedestrian Weapon Skin Pack, featuring a fresh new look for the Contact Beam, Plasma Cutter, and Ripper.
• Dead Space Scorpion Pack ($3.99)
  Download the Scorpion Pack featuring an upgraded Level 5 Suit and three powered up weapons, all decorated in an awesome red Scorpion Skin.
• Dead Space Scorpion Weapon Pack ($2.25)
  Download the Scorpion Weapon Pack featuring a faster death-dealing Plasma Cutter, Line Gun, and Force Gun in awesome red skins.
• Dead Space Speed Kills Pack ($2.25)
  Download the Speed Kills Weapon Pack! Includes faster-firing Force Gun, Line Gun, and Plasma Cutter.
• Dead Space Tank Pack ($3.99)
  Download the Tank Pack featuring an upgraded Level 5 Suit and powered up Flamethrower, Force Gun, and Line Gun, all covered in Unitology script.

File sizes: 4.12 MB - 18 MB

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

• “Consoler of the Lonely” by The Raconteurs ($1.99)
• “Hold Up” by The Raconteurs ($1.99)
• “Salute Your Solution” by The Raconteurs  ($1.99)
• The Raconteurs Track Pack ($5.49) - Downloadable Track Pack for Guitar Hero World Tour featuring “Consoler of the Lonely”, “Hold Up”, and “Salute Your Solution” by The Raconteurs. Please Note: Many songs are available both as singles and as a part of a Track Pack, so please carefully consider your purchases before downloading.

Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2
Expand your Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2 library by purchasing these tracks.

• (I Just) Died In Your Arms ($1.49)
• All You Wanted ($1.49)
• Black Hole Sun ($1.49)
• It’s Not Unusual ($1.49)
• September ($1.49)

File sizes: 9.73 MB - 44 MB

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

• “That’s When I Reach for my Revolver” - Mission of Burma ($1.99)
• “That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate” - Mission of Burma ($1.99)
• “Mica” - Mission of Burma ($1.99)
• Mission of Burma Pack 01  ($5.49) - this track pack includes all of the above Mission of Burma singles.
• “Police Truck” - Dead Kennedys ($1.99)
• “Holiday in Cambodia” - Dead Kennedys ($1.99)
• “California Über Alles” - Dead Kennedys ($1.99)
• Dead Kennedys Pack 01 ($5.49) - this track pack includes all of the above Dead Kennedys singles.
• “Gone” - Crooked X ($0.99)
• “Swamped” - Lacuna Coil ($1.99)
• “Forever” - In This Moment ($1.99)
• “Closer” - Lacuna Coil ($1.99)
• Century Media Girls of Metal Pack 01 ($5.49) - this track pack includes

File sizes: 15 MB - 36 MB (singles)

Game Demos (free)

MotoGP 08 Demo
MotoGP 08 brings the premiere motorcycling championship to your home console! Speed down 18 official tracks in 15 countries and challenge others in online races, alone or with friends. Featuring easy-to-learn controls, MotoGP 08 is the most accessible motorcycle racing game to date.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 672 MB

Game Videos (free)

MotorStorm Pacific Rift Features and Strategy Trailer
File size: 70 MB (HD), 118 MB (1080)

Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe: Kreating the Comic Trailer
File size: 129 MB (HD)

Lord of the Rings: Conquest Trailer
File size: 81 MB (HD)

NBA 2K9 Momentous #1 Trailer
File size: 85 MB (HD), 100 MB (1080)

NBA 2K9 Momentous Trailer 2
File size: 116 MB (HD), 155 MB (1080)

Tom Clancy’s EndWar Launch Trailer
File size: 77 MB (HD)

FIFA 09 “In The Game” Part 8 - Online Team Play
File size: 191 MB (HD)

Dew Tour: Orlando - Chad Kagy
File size: 109 MB (HD)

Dew Tour: Orlando - Adam Jones
File sizes: 107 MB (HD)

Dew Tour: Orlando - From Flow to Pro
File sizes: 97 MB (HD)

Dew Tour: Orlando - BMX Dirt Dew Cup Race
File sizes: 125 MB (HD)

Movie and Blu-ray Disc Trailers

Hancock Trailer
File size: 124 MB (HD), 156 MB (1080)

This Christmas Trailer (Blu-ray)
File size: 120 MB (HD), 156 MB (1080)

Tenacious D - The Complete Masterworks Trailer
File size: 30 MB (SD), 112 MB (1080)

Sara Bareilles - Between The Lines Trailer
File size: 50 MB (SD), 261 MB (1080)

Incubus “Look Alive” Trailer
File size: 48 MB (SD), 229 MB (1080)

PS3 Themes

NBA 2K9 Theme (free)
File size: 1.99 MB

Hancock Theme (free)
File sizes: 2.40 MB

Timea Mojorova Theme ($1.99)
File sizes: 5.41 MB

University of California Theme ($1.99)
File sizes: 5.17 MB

Shadowy Graves Theme ($1.49)
File sizes: 5.09 MB

Darklight Fractais Theme ($1.49)
File sizes: 6.14 MB

Mrs. Claus Theme ($1.49)
File sizes: 6.86 MB

GunGirls Theme ($0.99)

Wii to get DiRTy in 2009 originally appeared on Nintendo Wii Fanboy on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video

• Tomb Raider - BENEATH THE SURFACE 4, FREE
• INFANTRY STRATEGY VIDEO BRIEFING, FREE
• TOM CLANCY S ENDWAR LAUNCH TRAILER, FREE
• BioShock Challenge Rooms Trailer, FREE
• MotorStorm Pacific Rift Behind the Scenes Ep 1, FREE
• MotorStorm Pacific Rift Behind the Scenes Ep 2, FREE
• Pain: David Hasselhoff Trailer, FREE
• Linger in Shadows Soundtrack, FREE
• NARUTO: ULTIMATE NINJA STORM TRAILER, FREE

Packs

Bioshock

• BioShock PS3 Challenge Rooms, 6.29/ 7.99

Rock Band

• CALIFORNIA BER ALLES, 0.99/ 1.49
• CLOSER, 0.99/ 1.49
• FOREVER, 0.99/ 1.49
• GONE, 0.59/ 0.79
• HOLIDAY IN CAMBODIA, 0.99/ 1.49
• MICA, 0.99/ 1.49
• POLICE TRUCK, 0.99/ 1.49
• SWAMPED, 0.99/ 1.49
• THAT S HOW I ESCAPED MY CERTAIN FATE, 0.99/ 1.49
• THAT S WHEN I REACH FOR MY REVOLVER, 0.99/ 1.49
• CENTURY MEDIA GIRLS OF METAL PACK 01, 2.99/ 3.99
• Dead Kennedys Pack 01, 2.99/ 3.99
• MISSION OF BURMA PACK 01, 2.99/ 3.99

Guitar Hero World Tour

• THE RACONTEURS TRACK PACK, 3.99/ 5.99
• HOLD UP BY THE RACONTEURS, 1.49/ 1.99
• CONSOLER OF THE LONELY BY THE RACONTEURS, 1.49/ 1.99
• SALUTE YOUR SOLUTION BY THE RACONTEURS, 1.49/ 1.99

LittleBigPlanet

• Sack in the Box, FREE
• LocoRoco Costume Kit, 2.39/ 2.99

Need for Speed UnderCover

• AFTERMARKET BODY KIT PACKAGE, 1.49/ 1.99
• AFTERMARKET HOODS, SPOILERS & EXHAUST PACKAGE, 1.49/ 1.99
• AFTERMARKET WHEELS PACKAGE, 1.49/ 1.99
• COLLECTOR S EDITION UPGRADE, 6.99/ 9.99
• EXOTIC CAR BUNDLE, 3.99/ 5.99
• MUSCLE CAR BUNDLE, 3.49/ 4.99
• PAINT & VINYLS PACKAGE, 1.49/ 1.99
• TUNER CAR BUNDLE, 3.49/ 4.99
• ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE BUNDLE, 6.99/ 9.99
• ULTIMATE VISUAL BUNDLE, 3.49/ 4.99
• PRO HANDLING BUNDLE, 1.99/ 2.99
• PRO POWER BUNDLE, 2.99/ 3.99
• RACE HANDLING BUNDLE, 1.99/ 2.99
• RACE POWER BUNDLE, 1.99/ 2.99
• STREET HANDLING BUNDLE, 1.49/ 1.99
• STREET POWER BUNDLE, 1.99/ 2.99

Themes

• Saints Row 2 Movember Theme, FREE
• TRU - Black&White Theme, FREE
• TRU- Front of Box Theme, FREE

Game

• Sim City 2000, 4.99/ 7.99
• LocoRoco 2 Demo, FREE

Game

• Sim City 2000, 4.99/ 7.99
• LocoRoco 2 Demo, FREE

• Euro PS Store update for November 13
• This week's LBP download haul - Sack-in-the-Box and LocoRoco costumes
  

I don't think I have ever been happy about Jello Biafra losing the case against his former bandmates until this moment, as I'm certain he never would have licensed the rights to Dead Kennedys music for Rock Band. Next week, his loss is our gain as a pack of songs from the politically-charged hardcore punk band makes its way into DLC. The tracks I'll be impatiently downloading consist of "Holiday in Cambodia," "California Uber Alles" and "Police Truck."

The punk doesn't stop there, as Boston-based Mission of Burma has their own pack dropping in. Their 3-pack includes "Mica," "That's How I Escaped My Certain Fate" and "That's When I Reach For My Revolver."

If you have a thing for ladies playing metal, a third bundle of songs we're getting may be perfect for you. The Century Media Girls of Metal pack consists of two tracks by Lacuna Coil (who I suppose are metal, though I've never really thought of them that way), "Closer" and "Swamped," as well as a tune from In This Moment, "Forever."

One last track also arrives next week. The latest single from Crooked X, "Gone," rounds out what appears to be a rather full week for Rock Band.

As is almost always the case, individual songs will run you $1.99 (or 160 MS points) while the packs offer a slight discount at $5.49 (or 440 MS points). The tracks will hit the Xbox Live service on Tuesday, November 18th, followed by their arrival on PSN Thursday, November 20th. 

I don't think I have ever been happy about Jello Biafra losing the case against his former bandmates until this moment, as I'm certain he never would have licensed the rights to Dead Kennedys music for Rock Band. Next week, his loss is our gain as a pack of songs from the politically-charged hardcore punk band makes its way into DLC. The tracks I'll be impatiently downloading consist of "Holiday in Cambodia," "California Uber Alles" and "Police Truck."

The punk doesn't stop there, as Boston-based Mission of Burma has their own pack dropping in. Their 3-pack includes "Mica," "That's How I Escaped My Certain Fate" and "That's When I Reach For My Revolver."

If you have a thing for ladies playing metal, a third bundle of songs we're getting may be perfect for you. The Century Media Girls of Metal pack consists of two tracks by Lacuna Coil (who I suppose are metal, though I've never really thought of them that way), "Closer" and "Swamped," as well as a tune from In This Moment, "Forever."

One last track also arrives next week. The latest single from Crooked X, "Gone," rounds out what appears to be a rather full week for Rock Band.

As is almost always the case, individual songs will run you $1.99 (or 160 MS points) while the packs offer a slight discount at $5.49 (or 440 MS points). The tracks will hit the Xbox Live service on Tuesday, November 18th, followed by their arrival on PSN Thursday, November 20th. 

• "California Uber Alles" (160 / $2)
• "Holiday In Cambodia" (160 / $2)
• "Police Truck" (160 / $2)

• "Mica" (160 / $2)
• "That's How I Escaped My Certain Fate" (160 / $2)
• "That's When I Reach For My Revolver" (160 / $2)

• "Forever" - In This Moment (160 / $2)
• "Closer" - Lacuna Coil (160 / $2)
• "Swamped" - Lacuna Coil (160 / $2)

• "Gone" - Crooked X (80 / $1)

Rock Band Weekly: Dead Kennedys, Mission of Burma, others originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• Dead Kennedys 3 Pack
• California Uber Alles
• Holiday In Cambodia
• Police Truck
• Mission Of Burma 3 Pack
• Mica
• That's How I Escaped My Certain Fate
• That's When I Reach For My Revolver
• Century Media Girls of Metal 3 Pack
• In This Moment - Forever
• Lacuna Coil - Closer
• Lacuna Coil - Swamped
• Crooked X Single
• Crooked X - Gone

• Foo Fighters DLC available for Rock Band on November 11
• Harmonix: Guitar Hero music studio too restricting
  

It's essentially over. Mirror's Edge has been released and from my perspective it ran a very strange campaign.

This is one of our last opportunities to talk about that process while it's still current and hopefully still interesting, although Mirror's Edge itself will be last-gen and boring as early as next January so pretty soon nobody will be talking about the actual game either. These things have a very fragile lifespan.

The debut trailer in May quickly endeared itself to the constituents of Internet City. Clearly it was something different: artistically striking and an original first-person take on a familiar third-person genre. It invited favourable comparisons to Portal (perhaps unintentionally) as both games appeared to have a visual and a gameplay aesthetic in common.

Obviously they shared a female player character and a vivid colour pallete, and it's unfortunate that those are so rare as to immediately link the games together. Otherwise, they were both first-person games with no emphasis on combat, instead preferring environmental puzzles. Where Portal was the definitive first-person action puzzle comedy, Mirror's Edge would likewise be the first-person free-running platformer, capturing the adrenaline-rush primacy of movement and physicality like few games had before it.

Both are minimalist in their design, featuring sparse, bright environments and no HUD. It seemed like a reasonable assumption then to expect that this minimalism would result in a gameplay-endemic storytelling model much like Portal. Early previews suggested that radio communication was an important element, implying, agreeably, that the story would be delivered primarily through voice-over.

It was all supposition; DICE never drew the comparison directly. Until, of course, they set lyrics to the official Mirror's Edge theme song and called it "Still Alive". (Sample lyrics: "Ooh, I'm still alive/I'm still alive.")

After the initial trailer, curiously, every Mirror's Edge press release reflected design decisions shockingly unlike Portal. It was as if DICE felt it had the Portal vote all tied up and needed to broaden its appeal to sway some undecideds.

The marketing strategy that followed, however, was perhaps not the best move. When they had everyone thoroughly bewitched by the potential gameplay, they followed up by unloading a heavy dump truck full of superfluous lore, possibly into a local river or other municipal resource. We couldn't get the innovative platformer without the gritty saga of betrayal and revenge set in a near-future totalitarian police state/extreme skateboarding park in which sisters are framed for crimes they did not commit. My friend Steve Gaynor points out that Mirror's Edge takes less after 1984 than it does Marc Ecko's Getting Up.

Telling such a story entirely in-game presents a writing challenge, as Valve well knows. DICE resolved to opt out of first-person and deliver its narrative primarily in a series of heavily-promoted 2D Flash-style cutscenes featuring extensive expository narration written by Rhianna Pratchett.

For Mirror's Edge historians, a tie-in comic book documents the everyday routine of main character Faith before it was disrupted by a video game plot catalyst. The selling of Mirror's Edge is less about making a cool game available to play and more about launching a grand multimedia franchise event. Also, please buy the original soundtrack.

At the time Portal was released, its story was an unknown quantity. It slowly unraveled and became progressively more involving as you played, and did so while remaining non-intrusive.

When dispatches of fictional backstory are one of the first things published about a game, before anyone's had a chance to play it, and are revealed in a passive format unrelated to the act of play, then it's not a game, it's homework. Please pay attention to all the particulars about these crooked bureaucrats and Faith's designer sneakers because it's totally going to affect the way you climb over fences.

The story is apparently so good, in fact, that it could not be leashed to just one game. DICE quickly assured us that Mirror's Edge was always planned as a trilogy, as if there isn't a game announcement any more cliche and presumptuous.

Reports came in that this was an apparently unforgiving platformer demanding precision, and the heart-pumping adrenaline of leaping across rooftops, fleeing from gunfire and helicopters is always captured perfectly by repeatedly failing at the same jump. DICE made the game's time trial mode a big deal, and promised that there would be special DLC in our future -- platform-exclusive DLC, and so the game gains value as an asset in console wars, which is what video games are all about.

None of it had anything to do with what made the game appealing in the first place, and made the whole package look kind of worse. I'm especially puzzled as to why they pushed the story so hard. My degree in political science almost leads me to suspect that it was damage control -- getting the information out early to preempt journalists from busting open a scoop on how the 2D cutscenes were ridiculous (this isn't what we learned in political science at all.)

Portal was lucky it didn't have similar flaws, luckier still that it didn't have to run the publicity gauntlet that Mirror's Edge has. Portal was never promoted on a triple-A level, otherwise we would have known everything about it.

We'd be indoctrinated in the full history of Aperture Science, and the backstories and motivations of Chell and GLaDOS would be well-documented in trailers and character profiles. Previews would have exhausted puzzle solutions. Penny Arcade would have done a prequel comic and "Still Alive" (the original) would have been Digged to YouTube stardom. Special challenge room DLC would have been announced. As soon as pictures of Chell were published, she would soon be redesigned by fans as a comely fifteen-year-old of nebulous Asian descent.

We've come to demand that level of exposure but it would have ruined Portal's chances at success. Portal slipped in under the cover of Half-Life and Team Fortress. It capitalized on low expectations, and the surprise contributed to players' positive impressions.

Mirror's Edge couldn't work that way. It came up from design documents and out of pitch meetings and was elevated to triple-A status, where it doesn't have the luxury of privacy. When your game becomes a high-profile high-talent cross-media cross-platform franchise trilogy experience, there's a lot on the line.

At the start it seemed reasonable to think that Mirror's Edge could stand entirely on the merits of its brilliant core concept, and not need to include extraneous and negligibly attractive features to appeal to as many people as possible.

But, no, this is the video game business. Mirror's Edge is big time now and it needs to win, and if that means bringing aboard comic book artists, "well-known music industry producers" and Rhianna Pratchett to push it over the edge, well, that's what you do when you run for president.

Prior to the SEMA show, all exhibitors are invited to submit their car for consideration by a select panel of distinguished judges, who pick the top car in each of five different categories, including “Best Domestic,” “Best European Import,” “Best Hot Rod,” “Best Japanese Import” and “Best Truck/SUV.” Judges consist of various respected automotive journalists, and judging for each category is based on the judges’ choice for cars that exhibit a strong balance of performance and style. After the five category winners are chosen, Yamauchi selects his favorite to receive the coveted “Best in Show” prize. This year, the winner of the “Best Japanese Import” went to JR Rocha with his custom 2007 Infinity G37. The “Best Truck/SUV” honor was presented to John Wargo for his 1938 Chevy. The “Best European Import” award was given to Robert Gal this year for his Volkswagon Concept car. The “Best Domestic,” award was given to James Shipka for his 1967 Chevrolet Camero Rally Sport “Big Red.” The final category, “Best Hot Rod,” was awarded to Jason Lavigne for the Factory Five Racing 1933 Hot Rod.

To celebrate the best of the SEMA exhibitors, PlayStation hosted an awards ceremony last Thursday night at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. With drift and rally superstar Tanner Foust emceeing the ceremony, Yamauchi presented the Best in Show award to JR Rocha for his Infinity G37. Yamauchi selected JR Rocha’s car for this prestigious honor because of the passion and dedication that went into making it. JR, and every other Gran Turismo fan, will be able to drive a virtual recreation of his G37 in a future installment of Gran Turismo. Following the ceremony, party guests were treated to a special live performance by hip hop superstar Ludacris, with rock legends Tommy Lee and Dave Navarro helping bring the set to an exciting close. Post-performance music was played by DJ Z-Trip. It was quite a show!!

That’s it for now. We’re already looking forward to discovering next year’s hottest car at SEMA 2009!

I hate reality television with a passion normally reserved for religious cults, firearm nuts and Barbara Streisand fans, but even I must admit I enjoy seeing contestants scatter like spooked deer in Cha$e, the Sci Fi Channel’s new live-action video game show.

The show premiers tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern time, but you can watch the entire first episode online now in all its awkward and awesome glory. Sponsored by my favorite new distopian parkour simulator Mirror’s Edge, the show’s competitors are appropriately termed Runners, tasked with spending an hour evading (and sometimes hiding behind dumpsters from) Hunters, the Terminator-esque agents being continuously dispatched throughout a real life game map. The Runners earn money for every minute they stay alive in the game, but only the first one to make it to the exit point before the sixty-minute mark gets to keep their cash prize of up to $50,000. The Runners also get all sorts of gizmos to help them out, like deflectors which make the Hunters change direction, sonic stunners to freeze them in place for a couple of minutes, and invisibility glasses to make them pretend that “game show heavy” is an important and respected profession, no matter what their sister-in-law “Doctor Sarah” has to say about it, the self-important bitch.

As much as I loved watching Hunter Grant chase Bryan, a frightened and desperate IT consultant, in circles around a parked truck, this show would be much better pitting its “agents” against real life Traceurs and Traceuses, who could show them a thing or two about running, and by running I mean climbing cat like across a railing before back flipping onto a concrete embankment and dropping twenty-feet into a full fledged sprint.