Hey people,

I’m here to announce a very special community event. It’s called: Operation: Dogs of ‘nam!

Over the next three weeks we’re challenging you to get out your dog tag collecting skills in a competition on Battlefield Bad Company 2: Vietnam. Taking part we have EA’s very own EA_ActionMan alongside PlayStation Community chaps MusterBuster & Yaster.

The aim of the game is to collect as many dog tags from the “targets” as you can. The more dog tags you get, the better chance of winning the top prize – a trip to Sweden to meet the developers of the Battlefield franchise, DICE. Everyone who takes part will be entered into a prize draw to win a pair of Logitech F540 Wireless HeadPhones for PlayStation 3. And of course, if you do manage to get our dog tags (it wont be easy!) we’ll send a set of real dog tags with our name on to love and hold forever.

You’ll need to have serious skills though, so now is the time to practice. Standing between you and our dog tags are a squad of Battlefield Veterans featuring community members, partners and press.

So – to discover how to take part and register for a spot in the event, just visit our Battlefield forum and follow the instructions there.

Good luck, and see you on the field. I’ll be the one running around with my hands in the air, squealing.

MB

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First of all, I have realised that Mass Effect 2 is not available in PlayStation Store as promised. We are very sorry for this – it turns out there was an issue with the game file that we need to upload to PlayStation Network. People are working on this as a matter of priority and the game should be available to download soon. Here’s your recap.

PlayStation.Blog.Europe Weekly Content Recap

• DC Universe Online Video: Hive Moon Base – The ever-changing world of DC Universe Online presents a new challenge for its heroes and villains.
• Codemasters Needs You! – Get the chance to play DiRT 3 before anyone else.
• This week On The SingStore (19 January 2011) – Nina brings a new selection of party hits to the SingStore.
• Spare Parts: Simon Pegg, Robots, And Co-Op – Read about this new co-op action adventure from EA.
• ‘Heads-Up’ Game Store Update – SCEE January Sale 2011 – Yet more discounts from Ross and his digital boutique.
• FirstPlay Episode 41 – The latest video features from the FirstPlay team.
• Final Fantasy XIII-2 Coming Next Winter – A brand new instalment in the Final Fantasy series is announced.
• DC Universe Online Alert: Bludhaven – The ever-changing world of DC Universe Online presents a new challenge for its heroes and villains.
• About A Blob Bouncing Onto PSN Soon – Yet another intriguing platformer making its way onto PSN.
• Movie Poster of the Week: The Best of 2010 – Adrian Curry presents his favourite film posters from 2010.
• Digital Comics Store Update (19th January 2011) – Pauline brings a new batch of comics for your PSP.
• ‘Heads-Up’ Game Store Update 19th January 2011 – Ross keeps his weekly appointment with you lot.
• LittleBigPlanet 2 Launch Week Fun: Reviews And The LittleBigMap – Find out exactly what is being created and where.
• PlayStation Plus Mid-Month Treats For January – The other James has a few mid-month bonuses for PlayStation Plus subscribers.
• PlayStation Home: LittleBigPlanet Invades Home Square! – Home Square has had an LBP makeover.
• First Look At The FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 Trailer – The first trailer for Final Fantasy XIII-2 debuts on the PlayStation Blog.
• LittleBigPlanet 2 Launch Week Fun – Behind The Scenes At Media Molecule – See where the magic happens at Mm.
• VidZone Update: Welcome VidZone Virgins! – Ben brings his first VidZone update of the year and welcomes all new PS3 owners.
• DC Universe Online Alert: Oolong Island – The ever-changing world of DC Universe Online presents a new challenge for its heroes and villains.
• PlayStation Video Store Update – Lindsay presents a Resident Evil styled Movie Store update.
• SHIFT Extended: Turn Your Brain Upside Down! – Check out this innovative new mini that plays with opposites.
• The UnderGarden Origins & Inspiration – We get the lowdown on what inspired this relaxing new PSN title.
• PlayStation Monsterpedia: Fangs For The Memories – Sid from the US PlayStation Blog brings us a guide to his favourite monsters.
• PlayStation Official Magazine UK Issue 54 – They’ve got the first review of Killzone 3 this month!
• DC Universe Online Alert: Smallville – The ever-changing world of DC Universe Online presents a new challenge for its heroes and villains.
• Mass Effect 2 Launches On PS3 Today – the long-awaited action RPG arrives on PS3.
• LittleBigPlanet 2 Launch Week Fun – New Trailer, TV Ad, Out Now In UK & Ireland! – If you haven’t watched the History of Videogames trailer yet, do that now!
• Killzone 3 Open Beta Coming To The PSN On The 3rd Of Feb – Everyone gets a chance to try out the Killzone 3 multiplayer before the game’s release.
• The Friday Debate – Happy Trails – What makes a good trailer?
• Brand New Killzone 3 Multiplayer Video – Check out this incredible collection of killstreaks.

• Weekend Essentials 62 - Unleash your creativity with LittleBigPlanet 2, win your own 3D cinema
  screening and vote in the PlayStation Community Awards. Who says January’s
  quiet?
• Coming to PSP in 2011 - Check out seven of the finest titles set to hit PSP this year.
• FIFA Interactive World Cup becomes a record breaker - In January 2011, the FIFA Interactive World Cup was officially recognised
  as the largest videogame tournament in the world.
• First Look: PlayStation Move Heroes - Join Jak, Ratchet, Sly Raccoon and friends in an all-star blast on
  PlayStation 3.
• Hands on - We get our mitts on Angry Birds, Mass Effect 2 and Football Manager 2011
  and Buzz!: The Ultimate Music Quiz on PSP.

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Can’t wait for the official Killzone 3 launch? Multiplayer Open Beta still too far away? Don’t worry, we’ve got something to tide you over! Let this video guide you through Killzone 3‘s third multiplayer map, Bilgarsk Boulevard. Stick to the alleyways and building interiors, though, because the long sightlines make crossing the boulevard a dangerous proposition…

Killzone 3 features eight diverse multiplayer levels, including MP03 Bilgarsk Boulevard and the MP05 Frozen Dam map that comes with the Multiplayer Open Beta. For more details on Killzone 3′s multiplayer maps, check out the full briefing at Killzone.com.

We’ll unveil more details on the Killzone 3 Multiplayer Open Beta soon (along with some surprises), so stay tuned.

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Hands down, my blog highlight of the week was the History of Videogames LittleBigPlanet 2 trailer that we debuted on here earlier today. I’d heard a few weeks ago that there was something a bit special planned, and the end result has left me clockwatching for the rest of the afternoon and itching to go home and play the Mediterranean Street Racing level. Oh wait. I have a PS3 on my desk – I totally forgot about that.

Anyway, before I digress too far, this week’s topic up for discussion is around trailers – what makes a good one and can you suggest any notable examples?

That’s it! I’ll leave it with you as I have to… go to a meeting… or something…

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It’s Friday and it is a good news day! Between the 3rd and the 15th of Feb you will be able to download and play the Killzone 3 Open Beta from the PlayStation Store.

This Beta will offer you exclusive early access to the MP05 ‘Frozen Dam’ multiplayer level from Killzone 3, including all three online multiplayer modes – Guerrilla Warfare, Warzone and Operations – as well as the offline multiplayer mode, Botzone. A sprawling asymmetrical map set in an old dam facility, the playing field in MP05 has been carefully tailored to fit each of the multiplayer modes.

These are the four multiplayer modes included with the Open Beta:

Guerrilla Warfare (16 players)
Guerrilla Warfare is a standalone multiplayer mode similar to classic Team Deathmatch: You and your teammates must try to kill as many of the opposing team as you can before the timer runs out. In this mode, only the downstream monitor houses and repair bay are accessible, giving the map a very frantic pace.

Warzone (24 players)
If you’ve played Killzone 2, you may already be familiar with Warzone. It’s a round-based multiplayer campaign that consists of five randomly ordered mini-missions. In this mode the power house and penstocks directly under the dam are accessible as well, so there’s more room to come up with different strategies and approaches to your goal.

Operations (16 players)
Operations is a new multiplayer campaign which aims to deliver a more cinematic, story-based gameplay experience, similar to that of Killzone 3′s single-player mode. It consists of a sequence of linear mini-missions, in which the ISA must try to secure the docks and destroy the dam, while the Helghast must try to protect the dam facility.

Botzone (one player and up to 15 bots)
Botzone is an offline multiplayer mode ideal for those looking to get to grips with the controls, the weapons or the map layout before going up against live players. Each of the aforementioned multiplayer modes can be played offline, against CPU-controlled opponents.

For details of all the maps in Killzone 3 see our feature on Killzone.com.

Over the next couple of weeks keep your eyes on the PlayStation Blog and Killzone.com for more information.

Have a good weekend.

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