Hello everyone – Mike has left me in charge again this week while he recovers from last week’s birthday celebrations. While I admit that this week the pickings are a little slim, only the pickiest pickers wouldn’t agree that the pickings that have been picked are… er… good.

The normal Special Offers are put to one side this time around as the PSN Store goes Karate Kid crazy – heaps of Kung-Fu content at a cut-down price to keep you all kicking and punching your way through the next fortnight.

So what else have we got? Well if you aren’t a Plus subscriber then today’s your first chance to get hold of the new Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days demo featuring a single player level casting you as everyone’s favourite balding psychopath, Lynch, and the option to try out the ‘Fragile Alliance’ multiplayer mode.

The anthropomorphic animal detectives, Sam and Max, return in the fourth episode of The Devil’s Playhouse: Beyond the Alley of the Dolls – remember you can still pick up the entitlement to the whole season from the Store and grab the previously released episodes too.

The second set of marvellous Marvel outfits fly, ride and ‘thwip’ their way into LittleBigPlanet and if you’re still clamouring for more modifications and doo-dads for your ModNation Racers karts, the Sheriff Sirloin mod makes his debut. Can a cow drive a car without opposable thumbs? Apparently it can – hooves are no barrier to power sliding.

All you Pinball Wizards will be pleased to know that the guys from Zen Studios have added a new table to Zen Pinball. This one is completely out of this world. No really, it’s set on Mars. Add to that the usual selection of Guitar Hero and Rock Band offerings, a couple of free Fat Princess wallpapers and a few new Avatars too.

For you PSP people, if you’ve heard all the good vibrations about Gravity Crash on the PS3 Store, you’re in luck – the game has made its way over to the portable system and you can grab it today. New levels kits for LittleBigPlanet and a new Celebrity-focused quiz for Buzz! Quiz World hit the Store today too. Finally, a quick special mention for the mini Young Thor, launching today – we’ve played it, we love it. Now it’s your turn.

As usual I’ll be here this afternoon to field your comments. While we’re a little light this week – we can only release what’s ready – you’ll be pleased to know things are looking pretty busy for Mike’s return on the 28th. Catch you later!
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Hi guys – we have some awesome new info for you on DC Universe Online – the incoming MMO title for PS3 and PC. Check out the below:

Get exclusive in-game weapons packs, DC Comics Issue #0 DCUO comic book AND the ability to play exclusively as Batman in a 2-on-2 arena battle! How? Pre-order DC Universe Online for PlayStation 3 and PC now!

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has announced an offer that will light up the world of gaming faster than a well-aimed Bat-Signal: a cache of exclusive in-game weapons, a comic book and the exclusive ability to play as Batman for fans who pre-order the forthcoming DC Universe Online for PlayStation 3 and PC. The eagerly-awaited title, which combines the in-depth involvement of Massively Mulitplayer Online gaming with the stunning action and physics of the PS3, will let players step into the world of the DC Universe alongside its most powerful heroes, most devious villains and thousands of other players when it arrives this autumn. The online buzz is already huge as fans anticipate doing battle next to Batman, Superman and The Joker. Now, as of today, gamers can stake out their turf as the world’s next big hero or villain by pre-ordering their copy of the game and choosing their individual character’s allegiance.

Part of the DC Universe experience is earning and selecting the weapons to battle your foes with – and those who pre-order get an immediate headstart in making their mark. If you choose the side of good, you’ll be able to strike fear into your foes from day one with the Hero Pack, featuring the slicing, spinning, Bladed Batarang, the gas-spraying, stun-inducing Bat-Grenade and super-protection for your hands in the form of the Amazonian Gauntlets. If you take the side of evil, your Villain Pack will be equally impressive: You’ll acquire The Joker’s Trick Pistol (this weapon packs a punch, but you don’t always know its direction) the riotous weapon, The Joker’s Confetti Bomb, and the superpower-draining LexCorp Kryptonite Blaster. Whichever side you come down on in the struggle, you’ll get your hands on an exclusive DC Comics’ DC Universe Online comic book – Legends Issue #0, as well as the ability to play exclusively as Batman in a 2-on-2 arena battle.

The DC Universe Online experience is set to be a game like none other. PS3 fans will find it a thrilling introduction to Massively Multiplayer Online gaming, where thousands of players roam an open-ended world, forming alliances, trading equipment and shaping their own destiny in the badlands of Gotham City or the gleaming towers of Metropolis. PC gamers will experience action never before seen in an MMO, as combatants battle with power and speed, unleashing earth-shaking attacks and using anything they can lay hands on as a weapon. Regardless of platform, all gamers will find themselves in awe as they rampage freely through a world created by some of the greatest storytellers and artists of modern times.

The above plans will vary by country, so keep an eye out on the EU blog and at local retailers for more information on how you can get your hands on these exclusive new items!

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This is Teemu from the Virtual Air Guitar Company. I hope you are all having a great summer. For once, it’s burning hot, even in Finland, but nevertheless we are working hard on our new game Kung-Fu LIVE. It’s coming to PlayStation Store later this year, making it possible for all of you with some Bruce Lee spirit to engage in kicking ass in a whole new way.

Kung-Fu LIVE is a unique fighting adventure that uses the PlayStation Eye camera and our patented Freemotion technology to create a totally new playing experience. With accurate tracking and background removal, you are scanned into the game where your actual punches and kicks become part of the gameplay. Super human powers boost your performance so you can jump flips without actually making them, do epic jump kicks, shoot lightning from your hands and so on. You can even slow down time, Matrix style, and kick your opponents’ butts in slow motion. Yet, no pre-acquired martial arts skills are needed, but it IS a fun form of exercise as well.

The style of the game is a mix between realism and cartoons and is inspired by the Kung-Fu comics of the 70’s and 80’s. The story of the game takes you (yes, literally YOU – stay tuned for more on how this is done..) on a journey spanning from the real modern world to an ancient realm and back. You will be fighting against advanced and reactive AI ranging from small to gigantic enemies. Simply flailing about is not a winning strategy in this game.

You can also play single fights with up to five people at a time, where up to four people can control characters with gamepads and fight against the one in the game. It’s something we can’t wait to show off, and while this is still more of a unique hardcore fighter at heart, this is one of the features that really elevate its ‘party-game’ potential.

The player is integrated with the physics of the game world. He can therefore wreak havoc with boxes, rocks, trashcans and other objects by hurling them on top of his enemies. We also have some neat solutions that make it possible to move around inside the game world even though the game is played by staying within the camera’s view. Small movements in front of the camera will move you much further in the game world and you have several assisting powers that can be used for quickly covering longer distances. The game will contain platforming and larger levels as well.

We first announced the game in May with a playable sneak preview in New York. At E3 we demoed it to media and journalists. The reception from both gamers and journalists has been heart-warmingly awesome! You can check some of the highlights here, here, here and here.

So before the end of this year, I invite you to toss away the gamepad for a change and experience what it’s like to be Jackie Chan: punch, kick, jump and pummel your enemies into oblivion using your body as your only weapon.

I can’t wait to show you more of the stuff we are working on. If you are coming to Gamescom in Cologne, be sure to come by and try the game out in Hall 6 – open booth C-033. We’ll be there all day, every day. Costumed gamers are especially welcome! Stay tuned to our Facebook page for more news and updates. And if you like the game, please give us a boost by liking us on Facebook!

Feel free to post questions about the game here. I’ll try to answer them as best I can.

P.S: Freemotion technology can make you extremely fit – just by playing a videogame. Any resulting six packs are unintentional.

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Well, it’s finally here, Gravity Crash Portable is being released via PlayStation Store on July 21st for € 7.99/£6.29.

During the development of the PSP version we made some changes based on feedback from the PS3 version, including things that you guys asked for and things that we felt needed to be looked at. To tantalise you in anticipation here’s a list of some of what has changed:

• We’ve added a third ship. An anti-gravity ship. When playing, if you let go of the Analog Stick you will now no longer plunge to your death.
• We’ve increased the number of special weapon slots from 3 to 5.
• We’ve added a lot more weapon pickups throughout the levels.
• We’ve made the Primary Objectives more recognisable on the radar (BIG FLASHING DOTS).
• We used the old school concept of 3 lives then game over; we have now removed that and If you get Game Over, you can start from where you left off.
• We completely re-wrote the “paint” aspect of the editor, to make it faster and cleverer in relation to holes.
• We’ve added a new game mode, “Survivor mode”, where you have an ever decreasing time limit, but an ever increasing difficulty level, in which to collect 10 gems.
• We’ve also unlocked the hidden game “Gold Grabber” which was only unlocked by completing the game on the PS3 version.

Despite the changes, the game retains the same frenetic gameplay as the PS3 version, perhaps more so due to the smaller screen size. What started off as a making a PSP version has turned into much more, and something we’re truly proud of.

Of course sharing levels is still possible and it’s pretty simple actually, each custom level you create and save is given a unique folder name within the “\PSP\SAVEDATA\” folder of your memory stick, or PSP GO internal storage, like this “NPEG00020DATAxx” (xx is a number), simply copy that entire folder to your friends PSP and they’ll be able to play your level via the “PLAY USER LEVELS” option.

I think I’m done. As I said, we’re incredibly proud of the PSP version and we really do hope you like it. If you have any questions then leave a comment below and I will do my best to reply as quickly as possible.”

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Hello all,

We’ve got three exciting videos for you this week on FirstPlay. Actually we’ve got way more than three, but there are three really exciting ones. First we go hands-on with zombie sequel Dead Rising 2, slashing, drilling and electrocuting our way through a Vegas-style Casino crammed with rotting undead fleshsacks, and getting a very firm grip on the game’s weapon creation system. Saw blades and a lawnmower you say? Interesting …

Then we’ve got previews of period underworld epic Mafia 2, including an interview with the 2K dev team, and some properly incredible footage of SEGA’s awesome looking robot-and-flames shooter, Vanquish. It has a sort of Transformers noise! Amazing.

On top of that we’ve got the second part of our Red Dead Redemption guide – falling to our baser urges, this week involves mostly shooting – plus a look at what’s new on the PSP comic store, selected highlights of the latest downloadable movies and a round-up of your most amazing Skate bails.

Lastly we’ve got our screenshot galleries, which this week include MotorStorm: Apocalypse, FIFA 11, Final Fantasy XIV and, a game I’m particularly hot for having sunk over 90 hours into Burnout Paradise, Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit. All of this comes at our regular, tiny price of 99p, or even less if you take out a 90-day subscription for £8.99. Which all your cool friends already have.

Episode 16 will be up on the Store from this Wednesday. We’d love to hear all your feedback, suggestions for content, and zombie invasion contingency plans, and you can get in touch with us on Twitter at @firstplay_uk, FirstPlay@futurenet.com, or the official EU forums.

See the Future of PS3. First.

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