Hello, hello.

It feels like it’s been ages since I was last on here. How you all doing? I’m back, my feet are under the table again, and I’m dug in for the long haul. It feels good to be here again

We have a new batch of special offers available this week, with the mini title Yummy Yummy Cooking Jam joining the fun. This is the first mini title joining the special offers section, and marks the first of many that will be making an appearance over the coming weeks and months.

As mentioned earlier in the week on the blog, Wakeboarding HD is released and will provide some awesome fun for you. Also released this week is the massive expansion pack for Dragon Age: Origins, Awakening. This pack adds about 25 hours of story related missions, as well as new characters and skills.

Finally, as also mentioned on the blog earlier this week, Patchwork Heroes is released for the PSP, and again looks like it’s going to provide hours of fun.

As usual, I’ll be around all day checking out your comments, so I’ll probably catch you around.

Cheers all, have a good week!

PlayStation Store via PS3

Special Offers

(Available until the 1st of April)

• 1942: Joint Strike (was – £7.99/€9.99 now – £3.99/€4.99)
• Prince of Persia: Epilogue (Pack) (was – £7.99/€9.99 now – £3.99/€4.99)
• Street Fighter IV Complete Costume Pack (was – £9.99/€12.99 now – £4.79/€5.99)
• Shaun White Snowboarding Mile High Pack (was – £3.99/€4.99 now – £2.39/€2.99)
• HAZE Destruction Pack (was – £7.99/€9.99 now – £3.99/€4.99)
• Yummy Yummy Cooking Jam (mini) (was – £3.99/€4.99 now – £2.49/€2.99)
• Splinter Cell Essentials (PSP) (was – £15.99/€19.99 now – £7.99/€9.99)
• Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs™ (PSP) (was – £15.99/€19.99 now – £7.99/€9.99)
• Exit (PSP) (was – £11.99/€14.99 now – £6.29/€7.99)
• Full Auto 2 Battle Lines (PSP) (was – £11.99/€14.99 now – £7.99/€9.99)
• Crush (PSP) (was – £11.99/€14.99 now – £7.99/€9.99)

Downloadable Games

• Wakeboarding HD (£11.99/€14.99) Rating: PEGI 7

Availability: All locales

Trial and Unlock

• Brain Challenge (£3.99/€4.99) Rating: PEGI 3

Availability: All locales

minis

• NormalTanks (£3.99/€3.49) Rating: PEGI 7

Availability: All locales

Add-On Game Content

• Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening Expansion (£31.99/€39.99) Rating: PEGI 18

Availability: All locales

• Need For Speed Shift – Exotic Racing Series (£7.99/€9.99) Rating: PEGI 3

Availability: All locales

• Dante’s Inferno – Relics Triple Pack (£2.39/€2.99) Rating: PEGI 18

Availability: Not available in Russia

• Dragon Ball: Raging Blast – Ultimate Warriors Pack 2 (free) Rating: PEGI 12

Availability: All locales

• Dark Void – Survivor Missions (£3.19/€3.99) Rating: PEGI 16

Availability: All locales

• Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce
  • Additional Quests 1 (free)
  • Additional Quests 2 (free)

Rating: PEGI 12

Availability: All locales

• Rock Band
  • All Of This by Shaimus (£0.59/€0.79)
  • Control by Mute Math (£0.99/€1.49)
  • It’s Not My Time by 3 Doors Down (£0.99/€1.49)
  • Lady Gaga’s ‘Poker Face (South Park Version) (£0.59/€0.79)
  • Oh Yeah by The Subways (£0.59/€0.79)
  • Rock & Roll Queen by The Subways (£0.99/€1.49)
  • Lady Gaga Pack 01 (£3.49/€5.29)

(contains the following tracks which are also sold separately)

• • Bad Romance (£0.99/€1.49)
  • Just Dance (£0.99/€1.49)
  • Monster (£0.99/€1.49)
  • Poker Face (£0.99/€1.49)

Rating: PEGI 12

Availability: Not available in Czech Republic, Greece, Luxembourg, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and UAE

• Guitar Hero 5
  • Flogging Molly Track Pack (£4.39/€5.49)
  • (No More) Paddy’s Lament (£1.59/€1.99)
  • Requiem For A Dying Song (£1.59/€1.99)
  • The Seven Deadly Sins (£1.59/€1.99)

(contains the following tracks which are also sold separately)

Rating: PEGI 12

Availability: Not available in Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and United Arab Emirates

• Karaoke Revolution
  • Beat It (£0.79/€0.99)
  • Billie Jean (£0.79/€0.99)
  • Born To Be Wild (£0.79/€0.99)
  • California Dreamin’ (£0.79/€0.99)
  • Girls Just Want To Have Fun (£0.79/€0.99)
  • Lips Of An Angel (£0.79/€0.99)
  • More Than A Feeling (£0.79/€0.99)
  • Stickwitu (£0.79/€0.99)

Rating: PEGI 12

Availability: All locales

Videos (free)

• Yakuza 3 Characters Of Yakuza 3 Trailer
• Yakuza 3 Locations In Yakuza 3 Trailer
• Section 8 Section 8 Cinematic Trailer
• Split/Second Shipyard Trailer

Dynamic Themes

• Heavy Rain™ Mars Dynamic Theme (£1.59/€1.99)

Premium Themes

• Disruptive Themes Atomic Blast (£1.19/€1.49)
• Disruptive Themes Clover Fractals (£1.19/€1.49)

PlayStation Store via PSP and Media Go

Special Offers (also available via the PS3 store)

(Available until the 1st of April)

• Yummy Yummy Cooking Jam (mini) (was – £3.99/€4.99 now – £2.49/€2.99)
• Splinter Cell Essentials (PSP) (was – £15.99/€19.99 now – £7.99/€9.99)
• Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs™ (PSP) (was – £15.99/€19.99 now – £7.99/€9.99)
• Exit (PSP) (was – £11.99/€14.99 now – £6.29/€7.99)
• Full Auto 2 Battle Lines (PSP) (was – £11.99/€14.99 now – £7.99/€9.99)
• Crush (PSP) (was – £11.99/€14.99 now – £7.99/€9.99)

Downloadable Games (also available via the PS3 store)

• Patchwork Heroes (£6.29/€7.99)

Rating: PEGI 7

Availability: All locales

• Bomberman Land (£8.69/€10.99) Rating: PEGI 3

Availability: Not available in Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal and Russian Federation.

• Lego Batman: The Videogame (£15.19/€19.99) Rating: PEGI 7

Availability: Not available in Portugal and Russian Federation.

• Luxor: Pharaohs Challenge (£11.99/€14.99) Rating: PEGI 3

Availability: Not available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Russian Federation, Spain and Switzerland.

• Spongebob Squarepants: The Yellow Avenger (£11.99/€14.99)

Rating: PEGI 7

Availability: Not available in Portugal.

• 7 Wonders Of The Ancient World (£11.99/€14.99)

Rating: PEGI 3

Availability: Not available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Russian Federation, Spain and Switzerland.

• Super Collapse! 3 (£11.99/€14.99) Rating: PEGI 3

Availability: Not available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Russian Federation, Spain and Switzerland.

• Undead Knights (£29.99/€34.99) Rating: PEGI 16

Availability: Not available in Germany.

• Smackdown Vs Raw 2009 (£29.99/€34.99) Rating: PEGI 16

Availability: Not available in Portugal.

Add-On Game Content

• Echoshift
  • Shuttle Level Pack (free)
  • Space Level Pack (free)

Rating: PEGI 3

Availability: All locales

• LittleBigPlanet PSP

• Metropolis Theme (£2.39/€2.99)
• Metropolis Costumes (free)

Rating: PEGI 7

Availability: All locales

• Buzz! Quiz World – Rock Idol Quiz (£3.19/€3.99) Rating: PEGI 12

Availability: Not available in Czech Republic, Greece and Russian Federation.

minis (also available via the PS3 store)

• NormalTanks (£3.99/€3.49) Rating: PEGI 7

Availability: All locales

Hi PSP-wielders!

I have some great news for you: KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep is coming to Europe (as well as all other PAL territories) this summer, exclusively for your beloved handheld system.

The game, released in Japan just a few months ago, is the latest installment in the KINGDOM HEARTS action-RPG series, and explores the origins of the saga.

The events of this new chapter take place before those of all other games in the series, and are centred around the three aspiring Keyblade Masters Terra, Ventus and Aqua. The three heroes will attempt to unravel the mystery of the missing Master Xehanort, fighting their way from world to world with their own unique combat abilities.

New characters, maps and environments are introduced, including the worlds of Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. And if this were not enough, the game also sports four multiplayer modes, offering endless battles to up to six players, wirelessly connected.

We’re still in the process of building the game’s official site, but you can have a glimpse of KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep’s stunning looks from these screenshots. Once we’ve got some more info to share, you can bet we’ll be back to tell you about it here on the PlayStation.Blog!

We know you’ve been waiting to find out more after seeing the GAME posters in Home Square; well, we’re pleased to confirm that this week will see the launch of the GAME Moonbase in PlayStationHome! The Moonbase, set on the Moon’s surface, is a fantastic place for gamers of all types to hang out, socialise and pick up all the latest info on upcoming releases.

On the ground floor of the Moonbase you will find an information hub, with posters, internet terminals and a video screen. On the second floor you’ll find everything you need to let your hair down: a dance floor, meeting places and more.

Being devoted to gaming, the Moonbase will also host a number of interactive elements and at launch you’ll be able to jump straight into the Lunar Leap mini game. Take giant zero-gravity leaps across a crater full of special pads to complete the goals. Beat the time limit and you’ll be rewarded with an exclusive GAME space suit outfit.

That’s not all. Also launching into Home this week is the Warhawk personal space, along with a range of furnishings. There’s no better way to enjoy your Warhawk apartment than dressed up as a Chernovan or Eucadian, so head for Threads where you’ll find costumes for both – or alternatively take to the skies and have a go at the 2 player co-op airbourne assault mini-game, which comes packaged with the personal space – the choice is yours.

In the mall you’ll also find a selection of ornaments from Uncharted 2, including the Silver Llama, Coatimundi Treasure and a Golden Monkey. Check out the screenshot below:

A large range of clothing from Namco Bandai also arrives this week, including Pac Man, Dig Dug and Galaga shirts.

The Hustle Kings Ball Dodge Challenge continues this week. If you haven’t tried it out yet, what are you waiting for? With Hustle Kings gaining Game Launching support this week, now’s the perfect time. To get you started, here’s a quick look at what you can expect:

Finally, this coming week is your last chance to visit the Heavy Rain: Evidence Analysis and White Knight Chronicles event so if you haven’t paid them a visit yet, get moving!

Dearest compatriots of the Blog of PlayStation,

From the moment he walks into the room, all eyes are on him. Their attention hangs on his every word. They laugh at every joke, cry at every tale of lament. With a swing of his sword, it is thought he can just as easily fell a tree as cut a few blades of grass.

He is… THE MOST INTERESTING HERO IN 3D!

If you enjoyed this vignette, friends, we’d ask you to check out our first video, “Natural Sword Enhancement”. We have more vignettes in the works, PlayStation.Blog readers… so stay tuned! Please don’t forget to pre-order your copy of 3D Dot Game Heroes, coming to PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system coming to the UK 14th May 2010 and join the Facebook group, http://www.facebook.com/3DDotGameHeroes

Check out the US PlayStation.Blog to see a video walkthrough of the game from GDC.

To coincide with the release of Yakuza 3 (in shops today!), I wanted to give you a peek into the world of Horitomo (real name Kazuaki Kitamura), real-life tattoo artist, whose designs have been used in all the Yakuza games.

Horitomo-san began tattooing in 1992, although at the time he was not versed in the art of traditional Japanese tattooing. Instead, he focused his studies on the western style of tattoo artistry at a street tattoo studio. At that time studios which advertised their services openly on the streets of Japan were a real rarity.

Following his initial studies, Horitomo-san went on to work at various tattoo studios based in Tokyo and Osaka. In the meantime, he was also actively taking part in various tattoo conventions, including shows in Amsterdam and Spain. In 2001, he finally began to learn traditional Japanese tattooing from a master of the style.

Four years later, Kikuchi-san (producer of the Yakuza series), saw some of Horitomo-san’s work in a magazine which featured several of the best traditional Japanese tattoo artists of the time. He was impressed by what he saw and decided to get in touch with Horitomo-san at his workplace in Yokohama and ask him to be a part of the team for the first Yakuza game. He has continued his relationship with the team ever since that time.

I’m also happy to be able to share with you some high-resolution imagery of Horitomo-san’s designs that were used in Yakuza 3. If you’ve got tattoos or want one and you’re feeling really adventurous, you could print them out and take them to your local tattoo parlour and have them re-created on your very own body.

If you happen to be on holiday in the USA and want to get ‘inked’ by the man himself, Horitomo-san is currently working at “State of Grace” in Japan Town in San Jose, California. You can view some of his incredible designs here.

Now, that’s not all; I’ve been given an opportunity to interview Horitomo-san and would like to give you guys a bite of the cherry. If you’ve a question for Horitomo-san, whether about his in-game work or real-life, post them here and I’ll collate the best ones and send them over to him.