Sony Drops New, Mysterious PlayStation Teaser

Sony has unveiled a new teaser to the PlayStation Community today that shows some soldiers entering a building in the middle of a wooded forest, dropping off their weapons, and then entering a room full of people.

People with good eyes across the internet have found some weapons on the wall from Resistance and Killzone, Sweetooth’s van from Twisted Metal right outside the INN. A Parappa the Rappa calendar, Ratchet’s wrench, a Metal Gear Solid MK2, a LittleBigPlanet Blue Orb on the desk, Lightning’s sword from Final Fantasy XIII, and a PSN logo on top of the desk.

Nobody is for sure what this trailer actually means, but Sony promised more info on October 5th. Given the fact that the soldiers entered a room at the end with a large community of people, and all of the different game references shown, this probably has something to do with an update to a PSN community aspect. Mainly, people think this is an update to PlayStation Home. We won’t know for sure until October 5th though, but this is no doubt an interesting video!

Sony buys Sucker Punch Productions

Sony has now added sucker punch production’s to there 1st party developer list with sony’s great titles like UNCHARTED, MLB The Show, Gran Turismo, Killzone, Little Big Planet, God of War, SOCOM, Syphon Filter, Twisted Metal, and many more.

What this deal means is you should see more games from the company and maybe them expanding there hit catalog with more great exclusive playstation games. I also expect them to implement more playstation network features into there games, which is great for everyone.

[toggle title="Show Pres Release"]Sony Computer Entertainment Acquires Sucker Punch Productions, Developer of Top Selling inFamous Franchise

Leading Open World Console Game Creators Join Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios to Deliver Amazing Entertainment Experiences to PlayStation® Customers

FOSTER CITY, Calif., Aug. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) announced today that leading game developer and long-time partner Sucker Punch Productions, creators of the top-selling Sly Cooper and inFamous franchises, joins the global development operation of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios (SCE WWS). The addition of Sucker Punch Productions furthers SCE’s long-term commitment to creative excellence in game development exclusively on PlayStation® platforms and marks the sixteenth studio to join the SCE WWS family.

Based in Bellevue, Washington, Sucker Punch Productions is the award-winning developer of the Sly Cooper series for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the inFamous franchise on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, with combined franchise sales surpassing seven million units worldwide. Best known for signature creative talents, including award winning animation and art direction, visual style, immersive storylines, strong characters and highly interactive worlds, Sucker Punch has created some of the most successful games in PlayStation history.

Building on an already strong working relationship between Sucker Punch and Sony Computer Entertainment America, the acquisition brings a studio that has pioneered open world technology innovation formally into the PlayStation family and adds another creative force within SCE WWS. Its day-to-day operations will continue to be run by the current management team and company founders in conjunction with SCE WWS Foster City Studio. Financial terms of this arrangement are not disclosed.

“Sucker Punch Productions is one of the most highly acclaimed development studios in the industry and we have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the company for over 12 years. We are delighted to officially welcome them to the SCE family,” said Shuhei Yoshida, president, SCE WWS. “The addition of Sucker Punch to SCE WWS reiterates our dedication to developing world class gaming experiences that can only be found on the PlayStation platform. With one of the strongest exclusive software lineups in the PS3′s history, combined with the diverse, innovate content in the works for PlayStation Vita, consumers have a lot to be excited about this year.”

“We’ve enjoyed an incredible relationship with Sony that has allowed us to combine our creative design capabilities with their guidance to make some of the best franchises to hit the PlayStation platforms. Equally important, the relationship with SCE has provided us the flexibility and trust to take creative risks and invent new properties,” said Brian Fleming, managing partner, Sucker Punch Productions. “As a part of the Sony Computer Entertainment group we look forward to introducing more innovative content and providing consumers with exciting, new interactive experiences.”

About SCE Worldwide Studios

With over 2,700 employees and 16 studios located across the world, SCE Worldwide Studios is responsible for the global strategy, management and production of computer entertainment software published by SCE companies worldwide for the PlayStation® platforms incorporating the development organizations of Japan, North America, Europe, and Asia. SCE Worldwide Studios’ gaming titles are consistently ranked the highest in the industry by critics and consumers, alike.

SCE Worldwide Studios has developed some of the industry’s most highly regarded franchises, including UNCHARTED, MLB The Show, Gran Turismo, Killzone, Little Big Planet, God of War, SOCOM, Syphon Filter, Twisted Metal, and many more.

About Sony Computer Entertainment AmericaLLC.

Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, the ground-breaking PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system and its online and network services the PlayStation®Network and PlayStation®Store. Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one, PlayStation 2, PSP and PS3 systems for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC. serves as headquarters for all North American operations.

About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes and markets the PlayStation® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system and the PlayStation®3 (PS3®) system. PlayStation has revolutionized home entertainment by introducing advanced 3D graphic processing, and PlayStation 2 further enhances the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP is a handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games, with high-quality full-motion video, and high-fidelity stereo audio. PS3 is an advanced computer system, incorporating the state-of-the-art Cell processor with super computer like power. SCEI, along with its subsidiary divisions Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and Sony Computer Entertainment Korea Inc. develops, publishes, markets and distributes software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the respective markets worldwide. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, SCEI is an independent business unit of the Sony Group.

PlayStation, PS3 and PSP are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.[/toggle]

PlayStation Store Relaunched and Updated in North America

The PlayStation Store is now live in most regions but first to update their cotent is the U.S. PlayStation Store, Europe should be updating their store in the next couple of hours.

I do have to say this is the biggest store update ever with lots of great content and there is said to be another store update on Friday. The Welcome Back program has not launched and is “in the final stages of testing and will be available to download soon”. To get full info on todays update

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PS3 Gets Killzone 3 and Black Ops Double XP Weekend

Some people will have a busy week on PlayStation 3 this weekend, what better way to celebrate PSN being back up than a double XP weekend, in two games? Yep, that’s right, the first game to get a double XP weekend this weekend in Call of Duty: Black Ops, only on PS3 though because 360 users had a double XP weekend while PSN was down and since PSN users never got to take advantage of that time now it’s their turn!

Next up is a double XP weekend for Killzone 3 so that is definitely a ton of points to rack up for PSN users, for users that play both of those games often online you will certainly be racking up a ton of XP, enjoy!

PSN North American Welcome Back Program Info

When Sony briefly detailed the welcome back program a few weeks ago, my guess is that the selection of the free downloadable games probably wouldn’t be too amazing but boy was I wrong! The lists that you can choose from on both the PS3 and the PSP include big time games, some at one point can be found on disc and cost $50 – $60! This is an impressive deal indeed, and that’s just the start of the whole welcome back program! The download details and other goodies are straight below. You’ll be able to get most of this when the PlayStation Store is back up.

All PlayStation Network customers can select two PS3 games from the following list. The games will be available for 30 days shortly after PlayStation Store is restored and can be kept forever.

• Dead Nation
• inFAMOUS
• LittleBigPlanet
• Super Stardust HD
• Wipeout HD + Fury

For PSP owners, you will be eligible to download two PSP games from the following list. The games will be available for 30 days shortly after PlayStation Store is restored and can be kept forever.

• LittleBigPlanet (PSP)
• ModNation Racers
• Pursuit Force
• Killzone Liberation

More content included in the program:

• A selection of “On Us” rental movie titles will be available to PlayStation Network customers over one weekend, where Video Service is available. Those titles will be announced soon.
• 30 days free PlayStation Plus membership for non PlayStation Plus subscribers.
• Existing PlayStation Plus subscribers will receive an additional 60 days of free subscription.
• Existing Music Unlimited Premium Trial subscription members will receive an additional 30 days of free premium subscription.
• Additional 30 days + time lost for existing members of Music Unlimited Premium/Basic subscription free of charge for existing Premium/Basic members.
• To welcome users Home, PlayStation Home will be offering 100 free virtual items. Additional free content will be released soon, including the next addition to the Home Mansion personal space, and Ooblag’s Alien Casino, an exclusive game.

Europe PSN Welcome Back Program Info

So some PSN services have been restored and you’re once again enjoying online gaming, sony have decided to release there information on the welcome back program for everyone in the eu and you will be able to get this content once the store goes live.

Two PS3 games from the following list:

• LittleBigPlanet
• Infamous
• Dead Nation
• Wipeout HD
• Ratchet & Clank Quest For Booty

Two PSP games from the following list:

• LittleBigPlanet (PSP)
• ModNation Racers (PSP)
• Pursuit Force
• Killzone Liberation*

Other Free Stuff:

• 30 days free PlayStation Plus membership for non PS Plus subscribers
• Existing PlayStation Plus subscribers will be given 60 days free subscription.
• For existing Music Unlimited subscribers, you will be given 30 days free subscription.
• PlayStation Home content will be detailed in the near-future.

Playstation’s E3 Preview Week

2011 seems to be PlayStation’s year, with huge releases like LittleBigPlanet 2 and Killzone 3 already released and with another huge hit coming in a couple of weeks, of course that is SOCOM 4. So that becomes 3 of Sony’s top games being released in the first 4 months of the year. And yet they still have Infamous 2, Resistance 3, Uncharted 3, Ratchet And Clank: All 4 One and Twisted Metal all to be released. Sony simply does not have enough time to fit everything in a 2 hour conference at E3 so they have decided to run a E3 preview week all this week.

This week will be featuring early looks at some of this year’s most-anticipated PlayStation 3 titles: inFAMOUS 2, Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One, Resistance 3, Twisted Metal, and UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception. Also we have decided to edit our live events page so if you are away and missed a lot of the news from this week just go check out the live events page, link is at the top of the page or just click here.

Resistance 3 to Get 3D & Sharp Shooter Support

Insomniac games has come out recently and said because of strong community demand that they will be rolling out features like Killzone 3 has done upon its release. First off, they announced that the game will have Stereoscopic 3DTV support for those that are able to afford those things, but luckily prices always fall (but by the time 3DTV’s become affordable, something newer and greater will arrive for TV’s).

Furthermore, Resistance 3 will also support the PlayStation Move controller along with the sharp shooter accessory for the controller upon release. Hopefully more and more 3rd party games will follow suit with support like this but we will have to see!

PlayStation Store Update – Europe

This is the PlayStation Store update for Europe which occurs every Wednesday, the North American Store updates occur every Tuesday.

Noteworthy Content:

• Mass Effect 2 – Arrival DLC
• Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime Trial & Unlock
  
• Killzone 3 Soundtrack
  
• FirstPlay Episode 051
  

The list of full content can be found after the break: 

Read more

SOCOM 4 Promo Code & Open Beta Information

Zipper Interactive has released information regarding how PSN users will be able to soon get into the SOCOM 4 beta if you have not been able to get into it already. As you may know, PlayStation Plus users have already been enjoying the beta for a week now but now the people who got the promo code with Killzone 3 will be able to type that sucker in and claim their code as early as tomorrow so don’t forget!

Next up, everyone will get the chance to take part in this beta when Zipper Interactive publishes the beta for download on the PlayStation Store of all users to get on April 5th. People will get the play the beta until it is closed on April 13th so play it as much as you can before then!