Shoot Many Robots developer Demiurge will host a "Control Scheme Throwdown" at the upcoming PAX East. The throwdown is in response to feedback the studio received, which CEO Al Reed detailed in a blog post, arguing the merits of a twin-stick control scheme for the game over the single-stick method found in the game. In a couple of weeks, the studio will have a special build of the game rigged with both control schemes at the show, with head-to-head competitions of Shoot Many Robots featuring both styles of play.

Reed wrote, "To show that we're willing to put our money where our mouth is -- if we end up patching Shoot Many Robots (which is not a certainty in the console world), we will include controller configuration in the patch and we'll set the default to whatever wins at PAX!"

"Our user-testing failed to capture that some of the people who preferred the twin stick controls loathed the single-stick ones. It's also worth noting that you can't judge twin stick to be better until you've tried it yourself," Reed told Joystiq in a follow-up conversation. "It's one thing to say 'I don't like the controls,' it's another to go so far as to say 'the developer was foolish, this scheme I thought of would be better.'"

Well, in a couple weeks, real-world consumer testing will deliver an answer (or simply add more gasoline to the debate). Either way, we hope the game gets patched so both sides can live in harmony and shoot many robots.

Sony may be on the verge of closing down its shooter studio, Zipper Interactive. According to Kotaku sources, there's been "chatter for several days" about an impending closure and the possible cancellation of a current project. Sony has not commented on the situation.

Those with short memories may recall Zipper Interactive for it PS Vita shooter, Unit 13. But the company's roots go much deeper -- Zipper Interactive was founded in 1995 and spent the remainder of the '90s making Windows games. In 2002, Zipper created a little PS2 game for Sony called SOCOM: US Navy Seals and, after spending the next few years pumping out sequels, it was acquired by the publisher in 2006. The developer completed work on the large-scale multiplayer shooter, MAG, in 2010.

Warren Spector recently told GamesIndustry.biz that over 700 people worldwide were working on his next game, which of course turned out to be Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two. To us, that seemed unfathomably vast -- it's larger than Capcom's estimate for Resident Evil 6 by 100 heads. So, in order to get a handle on it, we asked Spector how that roster breaks down.

"'Breakdown' is a good word for it, actually," he joked. "The internal team size at Junction Point is about the same as it was on the first game. To have any chance [with an AAA game] -- I'm not saying we did succeed or will succeed, that's for you guys to decide -- you need 150-200 people these days. You just can't do it with less."

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In retrospect, it's obvious that Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two would be a musical. It's the natural path toward making the Disneyest thing possible, and that's where Junction Point creative director Warren Spector's interests lie. Before I played a demo, I and other press were presented with a cutscene setting up the story.

The Mad Doctor makes a dramatic return to Os Town, amidst rumbling earthquakes (thanks for physically making my seat rumble in the theater, Disney), claiming to be reformed and seeking a hero to help him save the people from some unknown calamity.

And all this claiming and seeking is done in song. "Help ME, help YOU!" he sing-talks in heavily accented English. It works to convince Oswald to join him, and it worked to convince me that Warren Spector is all about the principles of Disney. I guess I didn't need much convincing there anyway.

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Waiting for characters to be announced is so 2011, you guys. Nowadays, hackers figure out a game's roster by themselves, using nothing but a demo and sheer willpower. According to neoGAF user Sectus, alternate costume data mined from the Dead or Alive 5 demo has revealed the fighter's entire character list.

Every character from Dead or Alive 4 supposedly returns, along with series newcomers Mila and Rig, and Virtua Fighter veterans Sarah Bryant and Pai Chan. Each character also has around 6 costumes, assuming this all checks out, of course. Jump past the break for the complete list of uncovered characters.

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When it was released earlier this month for PlayStation 3 and Vita, MLB 12: The Show encountered some significant issues with its online pass, which gives users access to online multiplayer. At least, that's what it's supposed to do, but Vita players encountered a curious bug, namely that their online passes were unredeemable on the Vita. The pass could be redeemed via a PlayStation 3, albeit with one tiny problem: It unlocked online play for the PS3 version instead.

The problem has since been fixed for those who have yet to redeem their online pass, according to the PlayStation forums, but at least one user tells Joystiq that related problems persist. Vita owner Benoit redeemed his pass on March 6 before the fix, thus unlocking online play for the PS3 version, which he doesn't own. Per the advice on the forums, Benoit waited a week for the problem to be resolved before finally contacting customer service.

The chain of emails that followed saw Benoit promised a replacement code that was never delivered, after which he was asked to provide photos of his receipt and the online pass itself. Upon providing these, he was told the proof was invalid. Now, nearly three weeks after release, he remains unable to play the game online. We've contacted Sony to see what players in Benoit's situation can do.

This isn't the first time an online pass has caused unnecessary trouble for legitimate customers. Just this week, users complained that online pass codes for Ninja Gaiden 3 are broken. A similar issue cropped up for numerous DLC packs in Batman: Arkham City last year. Now, thanks to the Vita's ability to Cross Play with the PlayStation 3, it looks like we have a whole new class of online pass issue.

Did you encounter an error when trying to import your Commander Shepard into Mass Effect 3? Did you spend hours trying to recreate him or her, only to reach the conclusion that he/she just don't look right? There is hope, friend, as BioWare community coordinator Chris Priestly has revealed that the face import problem will be fixed in the next Mass Effect 3 patch. Unfortunately, the release date for said patch is still up in the air, as it still has to undergo certification at EA, Microsoft and Sony.

The error arises for players who attempt to import faces from Mass Effect 2 that were previously imported from the original Mass Effect -- a sensitive issue given that these players are probably pretty attached to their Shepards by now. Rest assured, we'll be keeping track of the patch's progress. In the meantime, maybe it's finally time to finish that Mass Effect 2 Renegade run you've been putting off.

The first Epic Mickey made extensive use of the Wii Remote's pointer, to control the direction of Mickey's paint and thinner. The PS3 version of Epic Mickey 2 will use the PlayStation Move accessory to replicate that experience, though I was unable to see this functionality in my hands-on demo this week.

The Move support is optional, however -- you're free to control Mickey's paintbrush with the right analog stick of the DualShock 3 as well. The regular controller even retains a bit of motion control, allowing you to shake the DualShock to do a spin attack.

Junction Point reps told me that Kinect support wouldn't be part of the Xbox 360 version, so don't expect to wave a real paintbrush around.

The Simpsons Arcade Game took the top spot in the list of downloaded PSN and PS3 games for the month of February, though there is no mention of whether free PlayStation Plus downloads are considered. [Update: Sony has confirmed that PlayStation Plus downloads were not factored into this list -- this list is all sales.] Following The Simpsons is Gotham City Impostors and House of the Dead 3, according to the PlayStation Blog.

With the launch of the PS Vita last month, Sony is now ranking downloads for that platform in its own specific, monthly list. Escape Plan was the most downloaded Vita game for the month, followed by 3G freebie Super Stardust Delta and Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack.

Hit up the PlayStation Blog for the full list.

Gaijin Games has been toiling away on Runner2 since we last saw it (and working up a nice buzz in the process), polishing up the look with particles, new animations, and other tweaks in preparation to show it to people other than us at PAX East. You can see the results above, and then compare them to the earlier version here.

Perhaps even more exciting than fancy effects: in this new video, you can see CommanderVideo's "dance" mechanic demonstrated for the very first time. You can also see his new rainbow cape. Did you know the rainbow trail from Bit.Trip Runner was a cape? We didn't either.

A lot of red coats gave their lives for you to enjoy these new Assassin's Creed 3 screens, which leaked today on NeoGAF. But more important than the stylish slaughter of soldiers is canoeing. You can totally ride in a canoe!

The entire catalog of Square Enix titles on Steam is half off for the entire weekend, with daily deals today through Sunday on top of that already ridiculous sale. Today, the complete Hitman franchise is 75 percent off, at $6.25 for Codename 47, Blood Money and Silent Assassin.

The Square Enix Hit Collection, which includes Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Thief: Deadly Shadows and more, is 76 percent off today, for $75 instead of the standard $314.

Foosball, the table game with a surprisingly rich history, is coming to PS3 and Vita this spring in the form of Foosball 2012. Developed by Grip Games, the game features a "World Tour" single-player mode with 30 locations, and multiplayer support for up to four players with online and couch co-op.

It'll also support the PlayStation Move and allow players to control Foosball 2012 exactly like they "would control a real table football, with 1:1 movement precision." We don't think the Move warranty covers spinning the controller like a drunken madman and the ensuing breakage as it hits the floor.

For those without Move, the DualShock 3 and Vita controls will be identical and the game supports cross-platform play (pay once, get both). Also, out of curiosity, we looked up how much a decent Foosball table costs, and they run from hundreds to thousands of dollars. We expect Foosball 2012 to cost significantly less.

Sega and Platinum Games issued a spectacularly flashy reminder of Anarchy Reigns' existence today, showing off the inclusion of Bayonetta (as free bonus DLC in Japan; details are forthcoming elsewhere).

She's as bombastic, overpowered, and frequently nude as ever, and her combos seem to transition into Anarchy Reigns' system just fine. Now you'll be able to experience the MadWorld/Bayonetta crossover fight you never thought to want. The game is due in July.

The "crews" Max Payne 3 players form in mulitplayer mode will transfer directly to Grand Theft Auto V multi, Rockstar co-founder and fancy mansion owner Dan Houser told IGN. Grand Theft Auto V will share Max Payne 3's crews via Rockstar's Social Club.

"Multiplayer is an ever-more important part of all our games moving forward," Houser said. "And by creating crews through Social Club, the crews that you create in Max Payne 3 will be ready and available for you to play in Grand Theft Auto V from day one."

After news of this crossover, we can imagine other Social Club integration possibilities -- Red Dead Redemption would have majestic horses galloping through the glittery streets of Los Santos, dodging bullets and rampaging cars alike. Horses; horses everywhere.

Teamwork and synchronization is essential in Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. The entire campaign hinges on an understanding that you can't go this alone. Since communication and stealth are king, what happens when one person doesn't subscribe to the team-oriented playbook?

The whole house of cards falls down.

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