Dear Community,

I am posting this short note to let you know that this will be my last post as PlayStation.Blog Manager, as I am moving on from SCEE to have a go at some opportunities elsewhere.

“OK…so what’s the bad news?” I can hear you type in the comments.

That’s a bit of a joke, but the truth is that there isn’t really any bad news – my leaving opens the door for someone to come in with fresh ideas, different opinions and enthusiasm abound. I’m proud to have helped create a social platform that isn’t about individuals, but about bringing PlayStation customers closer to the professionals who make the games they love; hopefully the next in line will take this small idea even further.

However, I would ask you to be patient while my colleagues work through the transition. The department is working very hard to get the right person as quickly as possible, and recruiting good people can sometimes take time. In the interim, we have organised for some contributing editors to steer the ship and, when the next full-time Blog Manager has been appointed, you will be the first to know.

Well…they’ll probably let the successful candidate know first, but you’ll be informed pretty soon afterwards.

All that’s left from me is to say goodbye, thank you for sticking with us through thick and thin, and keep on enjoying your games.

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The European PlayStation.Blog will be down for maintenance from approximately 5pm on Monday, 14 May. This is because we are moving the blog to a new server and our IP address is changing. The exact period of disruption will vary based on each individual’s Internet Service Provider (ISP) and how long they cache our old IP address.

If you are able to access the blog as normal at this time, bear in mind that, while you are free to browse and comment as normal, you may encounter issues, such as comments not saving correctly or not appearing at all.

Please bear with us, and we will do everything we can to ensure the disruption as small as possible. Be aware that this is not related to PlayStation Network and none of your gaming services will be affected.

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PlayStation Home will be offline from 8AM BST on Wednesday 9th May for routine maintenance. Here is what to expect after the update…

Step onto the first floor of the PlayStation Home Mansion and experience the frills of a life lived in luxury. Indulge yourself in a classic game of pool or the darts mini-game that comes included in your new game lounge. Couple that with a sleek juice bar, a library fit for a Greek scholar, and a lavishly decorated bedroom and you’re living life like a king. As an added bonus, each section of the PlayStation Home Mansion includes up to 5 unique gold rewards for you and your guests.

Time for a change? Medusa has everything you need for an image overhaul. For some celebrity cool, there’s the short and spiky David or it’s female counterpart the Victoria, a side-parted, short, sweeping style. To stamp yourself with some urban chic, there’s the manly Lightning Bolt cut or the softer Boho Babe for the ladies – a simple bob given that extra kick with a few carefully placed plaits. Show your sensitive side with the Toby, a face-framing emo look, or become a glamorous siren with the Mermaid, a long fishtail plait.

All styles are available in value packs.

In Alter Ego this week, you can find the perfect anti-hero outfit. Whether you’re saving the world from robots of the future or realising your dungeon slaying dreams, show off your dark side with the Omnislayer, Beam Blade and Soul Hunter armour for male avatars, or the Elvish Fantasy and Special Agent for females. Evil will never know what hit it!

Other updates this week include Granzella’s new one-piece prairie dress suited to highland living, while Konami bring us a selection of unusual masks, ranging from the stern bull to the playful feline and the ever-so-slightly terrifying raptor. You’ll have people wondering just who is behind the mask. Come and join the masquerade!

Conjure up the courage to vanquish the Nightmare Queen in Sorcery, coming to PlayStation 3. With the PlayStation Move motion controller in your hands, you must harness the power of magic in a truly spellbinding adventure. Check out the new Sorcery story trailer in Cinema Auditorium 3 and receive free his and hers Sorcery t-shirts!

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It’s time to sit back and enjoy the weekend – a Bank Holiday one for those of us living in the UK – and I hope you all find the time to get some games in. I’m going to be playing Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (going for the last few gold medals) and watching a lot of sport. How about you?

Here’s your recap.

• SCEE Staff Designs For The Sly Cooper: Thieves In Time Competition – PlayStation people show you that you really don’t need to be Picasso to win this competition.
• God of War: Ascension Live Stream; Online Multiplayer Confirmed – More info on Kratos’ next PS3 epic and the news that the game will include online multiplayer for the first time in the series’ history.
• The SingStore On 2nd May 2012 With Lana, Matt Cardle And More… – Featuring two more tracks by the fantastic Lana Del Rey and another Essentials song pack from Blur.
• Sack It To Me: LittleBigPlanet – A Community Across The Globe! – Celebrate! The Mariachi Costume Returns!
• Free Realms Is Three – Join In The Celebrations – Yes, that’s right folks – Free Realms officially turned three this weekend. Time flies when you’re having fun!
• ModNation Racers: Two Year Anniversary Palooza! – Wow! Two years? Really? Celebrate with us…
• Mortal Kombat Hits PS Vita On 4th May, Our Favorite New Missions – Long-awaited opportunity to create challenges based around the DLC characters that released after the launch of the PS3 version.
• PlayStation Store Royale Contenders Sale – Great discounts on games and downloadable content for characters featured in this game!
• PlayStation Home: Good Guys Dress In Black – On May 2nd, 2012, the Men in Black are coming to PS Home!
• All Starhawk Beta Players Will Receive Free Gifts – Gone gold and will be on store shelves in PAL regions from 9th May.
• The Unfinished Swan Is Coming To PSN – If you’ve been wondering “whatever happened to that weird black and white painting game?” Thanks for waiting…
• Frobisher Says! Now Available To Everyone For Free – A surreal party game, where players must obey the whims of a strange little man called Frobisher.
• ‘Heads-Up’ PlayStation Plus Update – 2nd May 2012 – You will find naught but awesome in May’s PS Plus update!
• ‘Heads-Up’ Game Store Update 2 May 2012 – Gran Turismo fans, start your engines!
• The Art Of Gravity Rush On PS Vita – See how the artwork of this game came together.
• Designing Charismatic Characters For Alien Spidy, Coming To PSN In June – A key factor for a game to be successful revolves around the charisma and empathy of the lead character… in this case a spider!
• VIDZONE UPDATE: March On May, The Month Of Metal Madness – Iron, Copper, Zinc?… or Slayer, Marilyn Manson and Demon Hunter?
• Access Episode 32 – If you’re into your shooters, you’re in for a treat with this week’s episode of Access TV.
• Sony Entertainment Network Sponsors Sundance Festival In London – All the latest highlights from the Sony Entertainment Network Sundance Festival in London.
• The Making Of Sorcery: Technology – This is the first post in a four-part series from the development team about the making of Sorcery.
• Rainbow Moon: Watch The New Trailer Now – Be one of the first to watch the new Rainbow Moon trailer!

• Weekend Essentials 124
• The Characters of Gravity Rush
• First look: Lost Planet 3
• The best downloadable soundtracks on PlayStation
• Go from gamer to racer in GT Academy 2012

• Get all the Black Ops 2 info there is here.
• Ten developers offer their advice on how to get into the games industry.
• Bethesda have finally revealed the first Skyrim DLC info and release date.
• Find all about God Of War Ascension’s multiplayer.
• Boost your library with the 10 best PS3 games of 2012. So far…

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PlayStation Home will be offline from 8AM BST on Wednesday 2nd May for routine maintenance. Here is what to expect after the update…

On May 2nd, 2012, the Men in Black are coming to PlayStation Home! Sony Pictures Consumer Products, in partnership with Activision, Sony Computer Entertainment and Sony DADC LOOT, have joined forces to bring the MIB Headquarters to HOME! Help agents Jay and Kay protect the Earth from the scum of the universe by monitoring alien activity! Play our quiz to find out if you’re considered an alien or agent in the eyes of the agency! Take photos with your favourite agents, then roam the headquarters for sweet rewards and sneak peeks from the new movie Men in Black 3 and the upcoming video game Men in Black: Alien Crisis!

Sick of the same old clothes on your avatar? Why not give your wardrobe a well-deserved revamp this spring with the new season’s finest attire from Billabong? This week we have some up-to-the-minute highstreet trends, such as Revenge – a stripy hoodie – that is sure to bring a breath of fresh air to your existing get-up.

If you love farmyard animals, then you’re in for a treat this week! We have four of the feathered and furry fellas arriving in the Home Stuff store – choose from the Baby Chicken, Pig, Sheep or Donkey companion, or pick up a bundle of all four at a discount. Meanwhile in the Threads store, there are dozens of new hairstyles if you want to spruce up your avatar’s look.

Also this week, Konami brings you back to Silent Hill by releasing two outfits and an iconic Silent Hill location. It seems that this diner has been abandoned for some time, but where has everyone gone? Don’t forget to wear Anne Marie’s Police Uniform or Murphy’s Jumpsuit. Where will your travels through Silent Hill bring you next?

Back by popular demand, Konami also expands their line of Gothic clothing for guys and girls. Dance under the midnight moon in this arcane apparel!

Lastly, To mark the announcement of PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale for PlayStation 3, the happy go lucky folks of the PlayStation Store are slashing prices on over twenty related products by up to 50%. Not wanting to be left out, we’ve made our own contribution, so for the next week you’ll be able to pick up the awesome Killzone Radec avatar costume at half price!

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