As you no doubt know, the PlayStation Network Video Store is now live in the UK, France, Germany and Spain – I’m watching Dumb and Dumber on my PS3 as I write this.

So last night, in true SCEE tradition, we had a launch party to celebrate this fantastic addition to PlayStation Store and allow journalists and people from the film industry to try it out. We were lucky enough to have a fantastic venue in London’s House of St. Barnabas, and our events team decked the place out in its own inimitable style. Hopefully, these pictures give you an idea of their fine work.

Once the space filled up we had Mark Hardy, European Product Marketing Director, announce that the Video Store contains more than 2000 films, both HD and SD at launch and that weekly updates will contain at least 50 titles.

With the announcements out of the way, Little Boots arrived and gave a tiny, packed room a lovely acoustic performance on the grand piano. After that, Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac kept the music going until midnight when I got turfed out and a horde of people appeared out of nowhere and started dismantling the party.

I’ve been putting my feet up and watching some films. I’m thinking of watching 300… I mean the film 300, not 300 films. Is it any good?

I’m really sorry, but I won’t be around to answer any of your questions or comments, but I hope this post gives you a good idea of what a PlayStation house party looks like.

James.

Rate: (Average: 3.67 out of 5)

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With the Digital Comic service coming to PSP soon and Ben Templesmith, creator of the weirdly wonderful Wormwood, visiting London earlier this month, we decided to put two and two together and come up with a video. Ben very kindly took the time to speak to me outside his hotel in London’s Docklands. It’s a beautiful location that happens to be on the flight path to City Airport, which is why we had to make lots of cuts in the final edit.

Wormwood is not one of the Digital Comics launch titles but it will be arriving soon after. While we’re here, and as Adrianna and Pete (who I interviewed just before gamescom) will no doubt be reading your comments, which comics do you want to see included in the service?

Rate: (Average: 3.90 out of 5)

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Last week, EA held their Winter Showcase in West London and Jem and I went along to meet a few developers and play some games. Among others, we checked out Dante’s Inferno, The Saboteur, Army of Two: The 40th Day and Skate 3. I also managed to grab an interview with Jonathan Knight, Executive Producer of Dante’s Inferno, just before lunch. Treat your eyes and ears by clicking play on the video below.

I still haven’t figured out why we had Star Wars characters walking around in the background… in fact, I’ve never seen Star Wars. Is that so weird? Elsewhere, Jem caught up with Tom French from Parisian sandbox title The Saboteur and that video should be live later this week.

Rate: (Average: 3.50 out of 5)

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Last week, two gentlemen from Insomniac Games, T.J. Fixman and James Stevenson, came along to SCEE HQ to talk to journalists about Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time, now that it’s tantalisingly close to release. I caught up with T.J., who has been a Senior Writer on the series since Tools of Destruction, at the tail-end of a gruelling schedule of interviews.

Here’s the whole thing in magical interweb-video form:

Before you cry foul play, the questions you all so willingly submitted last week have been asked — Jem issued them to James Stevenson, Community Manager at Insomniac, and that video will be published later this week. Great game, by the way. Took two weeks of lunch breaks to finish it.

Rate: (Average: 4.25 out of 5)

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On Tuesday, I went along to Stamford Bridge to watch Chelsea play FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League. I got to stand at the side of the pitch while the players were warming up, grab refreshments at half-time, and even attend the managers’ post-match press conference. Suffice to say, it was a top evening.

Why am I telling you this? Because we’re looking to give you people the same opportunity. As you might have seen, PlayStation is one of the UEFA Champions League sponsors. As a result, we’re able to appoint a Young Journalist for matches and want to know if you’d be interested.

All you have to do in return is write a short match report to be posted on the blog the following day.

How Young Journalists are recruited varies between countries, so keep an eye on your local PlayStation.com for updates in the future. In the meantime, share your UEFA Champions League thoughts in the comments.

Anelka Snatches Victory in the Rain

Carlo Ancelotti was typically calm and quiet as he gave his post-match press conference, but he must have been relieved man.

Taking on last season’s quarter-finalists, FC Porto, in torrential rain and on a slick pitch, was not exactly the ideal curtain-raiser to Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League campaign, particularly with Didier Drogba and José Bosingwa both absent through suspension.

The first-half had a cautious feel as a result, with the home team taking the lion’s share of possession, despite the ambition of the Portuguese champions, with the appropriately named Hulk giving John Terry a few problems and Guarin missing a good chance from close range just before the break.

I’d only just taken my seat when Anelka finally broke the deadlock on 48 minutes, striking high into the goal from a tricky angle.

From there, the home side were able to settle in possession. The two full-backs in particular, Ashley Cole and Branislav Ivanović, enjoyed much time on the ball as Chelsea switched the play from one side to the other time and time again.

They did show signs of complacency however, with Essien in particular giving the ball away in his own half on a few occasions, but overall, it was a methodical second-half performance despite spirited opposition and an unpredictable pitch.

Next, the squad will travel to Cyprus to take on UEFA Champions League debutants, Apoel Nicosia, while FC Porto will host Atlético Madrid in two weeks time.

Rate: (Average: 3.76 out of 5)

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