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Report: Gravity Rush demo falling to European Vitas on May 30


You'll forgive us, but every little drip of information about when we can play Gravity Rush is positively thrilling. Knowing that the game doesn't arrive until late June (ugh), we were totally psyched to see UK retailer GAME reporting a demo arriving on PSN on May 30.

Yes, that does mean we'll likely see a demo here in North America as well, it's just a question of when. We've reached out to Sony to find out (as well as to confirm the EU demo date) and will update this post as soon as we hear more.

In the meantime, might we suggest rewatching the mesmerizing trailer for Gravity Rush just above? That's a pretty thrilling journey for a little apple!

Mortal Kombat PS Vita live action trailer suggests there's a little Kitana in all of us

Image Quick, get her out of us before those fan blades cut up our intestines! ... Continue Reading

Resistance: Burning Skies trailer shows off multiplayer

Image The Chimera's out of the bag now, so enjoy this Resistance: Burning Skies trailer showing off some of the features in what looks to be a comprehensive multiplayer offering. ... Continue Reading

March NPD: Mass Effect 3 tops sales, year-over-year decline continues

The sales figures for March have arrived, and despite several major, AAA releases, software and hardware sales were still down compared to March of 2011, continuing the year-over-year declines seen in both January and February.

Total industry sales during March brought in $1.10 billion, 25 percent less than the same period in 2011. Breaking that total down further, hardware sales accounted for $323.5 million (down 35 percent) while non-PC software sales contributed $553.1 million (down 25 percent) and accessories chipped in $222.5 million (down eight percent).

March marked the Xbox 360's thirteenth consecutive month of accounting for over 40 percent of total console sales, selling 371,000 units. It was also the console's fifteenth month as best selling console, and eighth month as best selling overall hardware platform.

Predictably, Mass Effect 3 topped sales charts for the period, selling twice as well as Mass Effect 2 did during its January launch in 2010. [Update: It sold 943K on Xbox 360 alone, according to Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg.] BioWare's podium-finish was accompanied by two comparatively less expected releases, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City and MLB 12: The Show. As per usual, head on past the break for the list of March's top ten best selling titles.

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Sony expects biggest loss ever, 10K laid off; games a pillar for future

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Sony announced today it would cut 10,000 jobs, approximately 6 percent of its global workforce, as it projects a loss of $6.4 billion for the fiscal year that ended in March. It will be the fourth straight year of losses for the company, which really needs to turn around its money pit TV business over the next two years.

"Sony will change. I've fully dedicated myself to changing Sony," said new CEO and President Kazuo Hirai to press today, as reported by USA Today.

Part of Hirai's turnaround efforts will be a fiscal pilates regimen, focused on strengthening the core businesses of mobile, digital imaging and gaming. The plan is for these groups to generate 70 percent of total sales for the company and 85 percent of income for the entire electronics business.

On the games front, the company plans to increase sales through PSN subscriptions and downloadable content, along with expanding the PlayStation Suite lineup and its compatible devices. For all of Sony's problems, the games division seems to be the least of its worries.

Peek at these Metal Gear Solid HD Collection Vita screens

Image Take a look at how Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 are (re)shaping up on the Vita. ... Continue Reading

PSN Tuesday: Skullgirls, Episodes from Liberty City, Persona 3 FES

This week's content drop is live on PSN. Skullgirls is the headliner, and is joined by World Gone Sour -- a game about some candy making its way into your stomach. We're sure that thought won't give you nightmares at all.

In addition to the standalone PSN games, there's new Uncharted 3 DLC for download, Grand Theft Auto IV: Episodes from Liberty City, and PS2 title Persona 3 FES. PlayStation Plus members get some free Minis: Canabalt and Defenders of the Mystic Garden.

Hit up the source link below for the full list of this week's content.

GameStop to warn California consumers of online fees for used games

GameStop has settled a suit, requiring the company to post signs in California stores warning consumers if certain games have additional fees for online content in a secondary sale. The company will also reimburse "consumers who purchased qualifying used games" with a $10 check and a $5 coupon if they are a PowerUp Rewards members and a $5 check and a $10 coupon if they aren't.

"The in-store and online warnings are an important benefit under the settlement as well, because if GameStop discloses the truth to consumers, it is unlikely that they will be able to continue selling used copies of certain games for only $5 less than the price of a new copy," said Mark Pifko, attorney for firm Baron and Budd and counsel in the lawsuit. "In fact, we already know that not long after the lawsuit was filed, GameStop lowered prices for used copies of many of the game titles identified in the lawsuit."

The firm has set up a Facebook page for affected consumers. We've contacted GameStop for comment.

Vita Street Fighter X Tekken has cross-platform online multiplayer with PS3 [update: screens and video]

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If you have Street Fighter X Tekken on the PlayStation Vita, you'll be able to compete not only against other Vita players but against PS3 players as well. Capcom went to Rome last week to reveal PS3/Vita crossplay for the fighter, using both Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity. Some of those PS3 players will be using arcade sticks. Good luck!

Street Fighter X Tekken on Vita will also have touch controls. Details have yet to be announced, but if they're anything like the touch controls on Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, just don't think too much about it anymore.

Update: We have tons of videos and screens for you of the new Vita game; above, check out an eight-minute "episode" introducing the Vita characters; after the break, check out gameplay.

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Now Playing: April 9 - 15, 2012

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Change your perspective and explore the mysterious 3rd Dimension this week in Fez...

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Zen Pinball 2 flies out of the chute on PS3 and PS Vita this spring

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Fans of faux-bumpin' can bolster their collection of tables soon, as Zen Studios has announced Zen Pinball 2 for the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita platforms. Now, if you've purchased the previous game or Marvel Pinball, fret not -- Zen Pinball 2 will be available as a free update. You may recall Zen Studios taking a similar approach with Pinball FX 2.

Zen Pinball 2 will incorporate the content from Zen Pinball and Marvel Pinball into the new platform. New users can also download Zen Pinball 2 and sample each virtual table, free of charge, via a built-in trial system. In addition to the free gameplay, Zen Studios is offering cross-play gratis. Purchasing any content in Zen Pinball 2 will grant players access on both the PS3 and PS Vita.

Zen Pinball 2 will launch alongside Marvel Pinball: Avengers Chronicles this spring. And, yes, even those tables will work with Zen Pinball 2.

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An Irrational fear of monsters

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"A good monster is a monster you can imagine in repose."

That was the advice acclaimed horror writer and director Guillermo del Toro gave Ken Levine, the creator of the BioShock franchise, during a conversation on the Irrational Games podcast. Levine takes those words to heart in his own creative direction, and before building any terrifying monsters, he makes sure Irrational develops a rich, empathetic backstory that places each of the deformed, viciously homicidal creatures in routine settings, where they perform the most base of actions: contributing to society, petting a dog, relaxing, mourning.

Four Irrational members – Levine, art director Nate Wells, lead artist Shawn Robertson, and sound man Pat Balthrop – gave the PAX audience a glimpse into the secret lives and creation of five major BioShock Infinite villains: the Motorized Patriot, Handyman, Siren, Boys of Silence and Songbird.

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World War Hulk pinball trailer smashes in

Image The upcoming Avengers Chronicles pinball game includes four tables, each based off a story from the Marvel universe instead of a specific character. The "World War Hulk" table features the big green galumphing Dr. Banner seeking revenge against the Illuminati, X-Men, Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, ... Continue Reading

PS Vita 1.66 update now live, reportedly with a fix for PS Minis support

Due to a "technical fault" with PlayStation Vita firmware 1.65 (released yesterday), the update was "taken down temporarily" and later replaced with a newer version (1.66). More exciting than the hullabaloo surrounding its release: firmware 1.66 reportedly enables PlayStation Minis support for PlayStation Plus users on the Vita. Moreover, some users are saying that if you want to snag older free Minis that you got with your subscription, you're able to delete the non-functioning existing version and replace it with a fresh download.

We've dropped Sony's list of updates in the firmware just below the break, should you wish to learn more about its less-than-thrilling specifics. Sony doesn't note the Minis fix, but we've followed up for clarity's sake.

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PSN Tuesday: Wheels of Destruction, I Am Alive, Canabalt

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Sony's Spring Fever promotion brings Wheels of Destruction and discounts on various Mortal Kombat DLC, neither of which sound very "spring"-like to us. Outside of the promotion (but vaguely more appropriate giving its life-affirming title) is I Am Alive, out today on PS3.

In Minis news (yes, really) Canabalt is now available, though it doesn't show up on the Vita's PlayStation Store. Hopefully it can be transferred from PS3, because we would very much like to run and jump forever on the Vita's lovely screen.

Resistance: Burning Skies multiplayer page revealed, removed

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What's that, PlayStation Vita owner? You want to know more about multiplayer in Resistance: Burning Skies? Unfortunately, it seems that Sony isn't ready to share that info quite yet. After updating its game page with scant details on the game mode – Wi-fi-based "8-player online multiplayer across six unique maps and three modes" – Sony later removed said info.

Presumably the details were meant for a coordinated marketing push ahead of the game's May 29 launch date, but, uh, well, here they are! We've reached out to Sony for more info, but don't expect to hear much until the stars align (and Sony is good and ready to say its piece).

[Thanks, Knives Chau!]

PS Vita software update 1.65 adjusts sleep timer

If you've been troubled by your Vita going into sleep mode prematurely while you wait to connect with opponents in Wipeout 2048, listen up. Firmware version 1.65 -- to be released "soon" adds a new option to the Power Saver settings tab, extending the time before the PS Vita goes into sleep mode to 10 minutes.

In addition to the new Power Saver option, a notification alert will be added to the settings area, allowing users to toggle notifications on and off. Oh, and CAPS LOCK is being added to the on-screen keyboard for those times when telling somebody gg kthxbye just doesn't properly convey your appreciation and enthusiasm.

The last addition is an arrow icon that will be displayed when your PS Vita "finds new activities in the LiveArea."

Escape Plan locks up some free DLC April 10

Some free downloadable content is headed to Escape Plan later this month. Entitled "Bakuki's Lair," the DLC is a prequel to Escape Plan and sees protagonists Lil and Laarg trying to exit a (presumably evil) sausage factory.

Bakuki's Lair comes bundled with the Escape Plan Patch 1.01, which also includes improvements to the overall game. The patch features "a host of tweaks and improvements based on player feedback." It sounds like it should address some of our complaints, specifically promising "more pin-point accuracy on tap blocks." Patch 1.01 and Bakuki's Lair will land on PSN April 10.

Now Playing: April 2 - 8, 2012


Get hands-on Force training this week with Kinect: Star Wars...

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PS3/Vita title Warrior's Lair not canceled, says Sony

Sony acknowledged in a matter-of-fact response the cross-platform PS3/Vita title Warrior's Lair -- previously known as Ruin -- has not been canceled. We followed up with the publisher last week after forum murmurings (some since deleted) claimed the game had been canned and over half the staff at developer Idol Minds were let go.

To the first point, a Sony representative plainly stated, "Warrior's Lair is still in development; it isn't cancelled."

As to whether the game is still in development at Idol Minds and if there were any layoffs? Idol Minds has not responded to our request for comment.

Warrior's Lair was revealed at last year's E3 as a Diablo-style RPG with interesting social features.

Update: Idol Minds is no longer on the project. Still no word from the company about layoffs.

Featured Vita Stories

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Now Playing: April 9 - 15, 2012

Posted on Apr 9th 2012 5:00PM

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An Irrational fear of monsters

Posted on Apr 9th 2012 3:00PM

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