Pick up a spyglass and see it for yourself below! (Yaargh! etc etc etc):

Stylistically the device shares a lot in common with the PlayStation Portable (no PSP Go-style sliding back-plate here), but there are plenty of new features housed inside the slickly rounded exterior. Most prominently, the NGP features dual-analogue stick (FPSs fans of the world rejoice!). Not so easily apparent from photographs is the fact the screen (a 5 inch 5-inch organic light emitting display) has multi-touch capabilities. Additionally, (as rumoured) a multi-touch pad can also be found on the rear of the device, something that offers some intriguing possibilities for more tactile gaming experiences. It also houses 3G mobile support, built in Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer), three-axis electronic compass and two cameras (one front, one back).

The NGP offers a substantial step up from the now aging PSP in terms of graphical grunt of the PSP, with four core ARM® CortexTM-A9 CPU and SGX543MP4+ GPU providing huge potential for PS3 quality experiences.

Along with the new hardware, Sony was keen to pimp the systems built in software. ‘LiveArea’ will enable users to access to the latest information on games provided from SCE and 3rd party developers and publishers through PlayStation®Network. Additionally, NGP users will be able to view an “Activity” log that is constantly updated with accomplishments from users who are playing the same game, which in turn can trigger active real-time communication among users.

On top of this, ‘Near’ will enable users to identify find out what their friends in the vicinity are playing now or what they were playing recently as well as aiding users to meet friends and new players virtually, regardless of what games they are playing, by sharing their game information across different dimensions of time and distance.

The final piece of news was that the launch of the NGP will be coordinated with the ‘PlayStation Suite’ (or PS Suite) enabled, Android based portable devices (also unveiled at the even). All the games that are available for the latter will also work with the NGP, broadening its library of titles.

We say:

It’s intriguing to see Sony finally stake-out its vision for the future of portable gaming; with the Apple’s iPod and iPhone making huge in-roads in gaming and the leviathan that is Nintendo prepped to take the market by storm with it’s 3DS, the task that wasfacing Sony was undoubtedly a daunting one. From what we know of the device, Sony look to have responding with an interesting balance of the innovation and good, old fashioned grunt. To see a portable finally include a second analogue stick is a significant (and long overdue) step, and should do much to ease the transition of games from home console to handheld, as well as being a god-send for FPS fans. The 5 inch touch screen is also welcome, but it is the rear-touch pad that intrigues us the most, with plenty of scope for developers to explore new control methods and game mechanics.

The NGP looks to further cement Sony’s commitment to console-quality gaming on the go, and once again sees technical grunt going toe to toe with the novelty factor (in this case, the 3D screen of the 3DS) – we’ve not seen a portable face of this kind since the Nintendo DS and the PSP went toe to toe – and we can’t wait to see how it pans out. More importantly, however, we can’t wait to see more of the games…

While we wait for that, check out our gallery below for more pics!

Playing as an Ultraman lookalike known only as the “Guardian of Earth”, Who’s That Flying? initially looks like a rather barebones – if charming – shooter. Flying from left to right you weave around the screen blasting away at amorphous, teeth-gnashing blobs (known as Doom Beasts), chaining shots, unleashing special attacks and watching your high score rise. So far, so ordinary then. The twist comes when you realise that the Guardian of Earth is in fact invincible with no energy gauge of his own; being shot slows you down and prevents you firing for a time, but there is no risk of actually dying. The cities over which you fly are far from invincible though, and take damage if any of the smaller Doom Beasts manage get past you and exit to the left of the screen. In a nod to tower defence titles, let too many get past, and its game over.

On paper, this might sound like a trifling alteration to a well established formula, but in practice it is anything of the sort. The genius comes in Mediatonic’s decision to make only the smallest Doom Beasts a threat to the cities welfare. In shoot ‘em ups it is usually advisable to take out larger foes as a matter of priority, but here the sole purpose of the larger enemies’ is to slow you down and help shepherd their smaller siblings to their target. Elevating the cannon-fodder to such a key role creates a very interesting tension, as you attempt to manage the number of small Doom Beasts while whittling away the body guards that surround them.

Production wise, Mediatonic have crafted a good looking and humorous game with charismatic cartoon visuals and a surprisingly engaging plot. The latter actually shares much in common with the recent Call of Duty: Black Ops. Like that game’s lead (Alex Mason) the Guardian of Earth finds himself under interrogation (in this case, by eight other super beings, each representing a different planet of our solar system) and forced to recount a series of events to prove his worthiness for his titular role. The cutscenes that cover these events are surprisingly well scripted, even managing to make a Uranus/butt joke without it feeling like barrel scraping.

Unfortunately, despite the glossy production and interesting ideas, the game can feel a little repetitive at times, with levels offering plenty of length but minimal variety. This is alleviated to some extent by nicely designed boss characters (events that see the camera pan right back to reduce a hero to a near spec while impressively large foes saunter into view) but there’s only so much mileage you can get from varying the formations and movement patterns of basic foes. In fairness, new foes – with new characteristics – are steadily drip fed into the game (horned blobs that charge you, for example) but the on-screen action could still do with being a little more dynamic at times.

In spite of this, Mediatonic’s achievements here should not be sniffed at; in Who’s That Flying? the developer has created an entertaining, low cost romp that set’s up both an interesting game mechanic and a cast of characters that are more than worthy of being explored further. There is also plenty of game here for the £3.99 entrance fee, with a score multiplier system to appeal to score-hunters, unlockable extras and Infinite and Challenge modes. Ultimately, Who’s That Flying? is a spirited, enjoyable and interesting release that, while not quite managing to mine its central concept to its fullest, is nevertheless worthy of a place in your collection.

God of War: Ghost of Sparta is Ready at Dawn’s second outing in bringing the wonderfully violent saga to the PlayStation Portable. Though 2008’s Chains of Olympus was somewhat maligned for its length, it nevertheless did a sterling job of authentically translating Kratos’ unique brand of rage onto the PSP’s diminutive screen. It also did wondrous things with the system’s processing power, a fact that is only overshadowed by the astonishing visuals of God of War III, a game that arguably raised production values not only for the God of War series, but for videogames in general. Obviously it would be unfair then to expect Read at Dawn to be able to replicate God of War III’s humungous titans on a handheld, but this is nevertheless the series standard that they have been forced to live up to. Astoundingly, ‘live up to expectations’ is something that Ghost of Sparta manages to do with some aplomb – it is every bit as vital, bombastic and spectacular as we’ve come to expect from Mr Angry and co.

Chronologically, Ghost of Sparta is set between God of War I and II and opens with Kratos having recently assumed the role of God of War after defeating Ares. Haunted by visions from his past (specifically of his dying mother and the fate of his brother, Deimos, who was taken as a child and imprisoned by the God of Death, Thanatos) the furious baldy heads out to see what’s what, flaming Blades of Chaos in hand. In all honesty, how the story meshes with the overall saga will likely sail over the heads of all but the most committed of fans, so complex has the tangled web of gods and mortals become. For the rest of us, it is a relatively successful self-contained sub-plot that, at the very least, serves as a sturdy excuse to knock some heads together/off/in-half.

From a technical perspective, Ghost of Sparta is a marvel that frequently exceeds what you would think the PlayStation Portable is capable of. Load times are extremely short and frame rates never less than rock solid, which in itself shouldn’t impress; but when you lay your eyes on visuals that genuinely wouldn’t look out of place on a current-gen console, you know that you’re playing something special. And it’s not just the technical grunt that impresses; every element of the game’s visuals exude a sharp eye for design and veritably drips with detail, with even the most hackneyed of environments managing to draw you in. Lava flows and spurts authentically, powdered snow wafts and drifts and sand is blown around cracked and crumbling temples. Dump a crazed, fire-chain welding Grecian into the middle of the scene, and you’re left with the best-looking PSP game to date, bar none.

Despite the glorious aesthetics, on some levels Ghost of Sparta is quite easy to dismiss as being just another instalment in a series that has long struggled to innovate within its own perfectly realised mechanics. In many respects, such criticism would be well founded; SCE Santa Monica Studios original God of War pretty much nailed the formula to which Ghost of Sparta follows almost religiously. Kratos himself has also changed little, showcasing a move-set that (for the most part) holds few surprises. It is fair to say then that Ghost of Sparta’s primary focus isn’t to innovate; instead, Ready At Dawn has set about polishing and further refining an already gleaming template. Most prominent in how it achieves this is in the game’s pacing, with levels being orchestrated in such a way as to keep over-familiarity and boredom at bay while avoiding frustrating spikes in difficulty. Weapons and magic are intelligently drip fed to you and at any given point and you are never far away from a new set of enemies, some new type of quick-time event or puzzle.

The sense of balance that permeates throughout Ghost of Sparta’s running time is the perfect canvas onto which to paint the OTT hyper-violence for which Kratos is famed. Heads are twisted off, wings are ripped from their sockets, innocent bystanders are pounded into the ground and Cyclops-eyes are popped with flaming Blades of Chaos. Despite many of these actions recycling old animations, that old magic somehow still manages to shine through. Though his eternal rage might be treading dangerous close to becoming self-parody, when Kratos is surrounded by harpies, minotaurs, globe-wielding machinations and screen filling demons, you (as the player) aren’t left with much time to dwell on such things; there’s far too much murder to keep you occupied!

Despite all the praise we feel able to heap on Ghost of Sparta, it is hard not to return to the fact that there is little here that hasn’t been done before; Kratos is surely getting to that point in his life when he really should be trying to broaden his horizons somewhat. Take Mario, as an example – though he has retained his mushroom eating, turtle jumping antics he has constantly managed to evolve and in turn be rewarded with enviable longevity. With God of War, each entry has essentially iterated on what has gone before and in doing so will inevitably fall foul of the law of diminishing returns in terms of consumer interest. While we are by no means suggesting that the next God of War should be ‘Kratos: Play, Create, Share’ or some kind of go-karting spinoff, the series needs to diversify in order to remain relevant.

It is telling that the game’s lack of originality is the biggest criticism we can levy against Ghost of Sparta. The simple fact is this is yet another high quality addition to a series that has rarely, if ever, disappointed, and is a rare example of a developer, franchise and games system working in near perfect synergy. From start to finish its epic production values, rock solid mechanics and impressive attention to detail shine through, making it an essential purchase for anyone who has any interest in the series or who is simply looking for a pristine action adventure to play on the go. So, while it would be nice for something a little fresher, Ghost of Sparta is as good, if not better, than the God of War titles that preceded it, and stands tall as one of the PlayStation Portable’s finest.

Coming only months after the ambitious and much improved 2010 World Cup tie-in, FIFA 11 seems to have taken all that was learnt from that particular effort and tied it into this fully fledged release. Rolling into FIFA 11, you’ll notice none of the lag on menu screens that blighted last year’s smooth finish, and moving into Manager Mode highlights some key differences to the series. Not only is FIFA content with providing, arguably, the most realistic footballing sim on the market (more on that later), but EA Canada have gone much further in bringing the FIFA experience closer aligned to football management sims (Football Manager, for example). ‘Career Mode’ now boasts three different choices of which to delve into; ‘Manager’ (the usual manager mode), ‘Player’ (previous years’ ‘Be a Pro’ mode is now brought streamlined into the main crutch of the game), or ‘Player/Manager’ (an amalgamation of the two). Serving each under the same banner of ‘Career’ is a logical step, but one that has been missing up until now. FIFA 11 might overwhelm new players who just want to start up a game, but for fans of the series there’s no denying that giving the option to play in each of its modes in one place is a nice touch, whereas last year ‘Be a Pro’ felt quite separate to the main game.

Our time in Manager Mode this year was wholly impressive, with a visual overhaul to the face of the news screen; bringing the league table, news articles and latest game information all entwined in one display, whilst the transfer market is now much more active and true-to-life, with contracts having to be settled and rival clubs outbid. We had a problem with how days are simulated through, often being sluggishly slow and protracted, although everything in the build up to the match is otherwise fantastic, building up atmosphere once you enter the stadium with accurately modelled players and a neat presentation. The commentary is just as woeful as it ever has been though; repetition is still a regular occurrence and the commentators will often be rambling on about something that has no relevance to the play.

That play, though, is some of the most fluid, dynamic and dare we say it, realistic, we’ve yet seen. In addition to the general improvements to AI (especially the goalkeeper, who will now react more suitably according to the action), FIFA 11 also marks the start of Personality+, an advanced system that is said to accurately project individual player traits onto the pitch. Sufficient to say, at this point it seems early days and the difference is minimal and barely discernible to you and I. ‘Pro Passing’ also makes its way into the game, requiring you to hold down the pass button depending on how powerful you want the touch to be – removing the magnet-to-metal feel of previous FIFA’s and, actually, results in a more slower (for the better) progression of play; you’ll now have to be more patient in the build up of play to earn success, which we can only applaud.

The system also makes it way into penalties, with a green meter bar having to be stopped in the green in order for shots to maintain their accuracy. How the meter reflects the more tense situations (for example, in the final of a cup) by reducing the amount of green available to the player is also a guaranteed winner in our eyes. Back into the main form of play, players are now much more likely to tussle accurately for the ball, replacing the stinted animations that made the system apparent, in favour of a more physics-based rough and tumble. There are a few bugs that ought to be patched at a later date, such as pop-in issues and long load screens, but this year’s FIFA is one of the most accomplished we’ve seen in some time.

Not urged to stop there, FIFA 11 expands upon its 10 v 10 mode – where 10 players in each team can control a specific position – to where the goalkeeper can now be used. The result is, surprisingly, a well conceived role where the right thumbstick is used for diving and your positioning must be spot on. While it’ll appeal to a more targeted audience, the inclusion is still great, and we can see many 90-minute last-gasp corner’s being taken with the keeper planted firmly in the opposing box.

The last few years have seen the FIFA series come on leaps and bounds. This year is no different, with a welcome update to the visuals and presentation stakes, whilst again, EA have beaten down hurdles to bring gameplay to a delicate balance between realism and fun. The whole package is huge and well worth a purchase, even for those who’ve picked up last year’s. We can’t see where they take it from here, but then we think that every year!

Apache Overkill originally started life as a free to play Flash title and has now been thrust into the commercial arena of the PlayStation Store’s minis library with a £1.99 price tag. It’s free-to-play origins are made apparent as soon as you hit start on the opening menu – within seconds you find your chubby Apache helicopter skimming over a dusty landscape, blasting wave after wave of enemies, with larger foes and bosses tossed into the action periodically. By the time you’ve reached the end of the third world and picked up a limited range of power-ups, it’s apparent that those looking for any complexity beyond dodging and hammering the fire button should look elsewhere.

It would be unfair to use Apache Overkill’s simplicity as too much of a criticism, for two main reasons. Obviously, there is the low price tag to take into account; but more importantly, it’s clear that this is a game aimed at the younger end of the market and casual gamers. In this respect it succeeds through a combination of smooth, accurate controls and big, bold and (modestly) good-looking visuals.

Visually, the game shares much in common with SNK’s much loved Metal Slug Series – with the Apache helicopter of the title being jumbo-sized and proportionally super-deformed. Enemies appear to come from some kind of Nazi faction, and pilot everything from motorbikes and side-cars to (what look like) jet-powered cauldrons, giant blimps, transport planes and (for the boss fights) well armed choppers. Though on the whole they offer very little in the way of challenge, the diversity of foes you get to destroy combined with screen filling explosions and some cheeky sound effects (including wolf-whistles and cackles of laughter from your co-pilot) lend a giddy sense of fun to the proceedings.

It is somewhat disappointing that the generally slick production values couldn’t have been married to slightly more varied and nuanced gameplay, as the levels on show differ only in their backgrounds and the number of foes that are chucked your way. However, while there are far better – and far deeper – side-scrolling shooters out there, as an attempt to craft an approachable entry point to the genre for younger and casual gamers, Playerthree should consider it mission accomplished.

The Flying Hamster is in essence a side-scrolling shoot-em-up produced in a Japanese Anime Style. The game puts you in control of Newton the Hamster, a flying hamster on a mission to save his girlfriend from an evil penguin that keeps running off with her. Granted a fairly generic ‘save the girl’ storyline, however it’s backed up with some quite cute comic-book style cut-scene’s between each level that are successful in keeping you engaged as the story progresses.

Upon opening the game you are greeted with an appealing, brightly coloured menu with Atari-era arcade style backing audio. The game does a brilliant job of creating that old arcade cabinet feeling on your PSP; with the traditional top 10 score board, 3 lives and credits system which immediately creates a nostalgic retro feeling. You are then given a brief tutorial which does a good job of getting you up to speed with the controls as quick as possible and getting you straight into the game in a matter of seconds.

There are six distinctly unique levels, ranging from green meadows to the Egyptian pyramids and the streets of Japan. The levels feature animated backdrops which border on absurdity with everything from bar-fighting cats, to laser eyed owls. What is particularly impressive is how the art has really been honed down for each of the levels. Everything from the enemies and weapons you can use, to the background fits well into the environment and really gets you absorbed into Newton’s world.

Throughout the six levels you gradually gain access to additional weapons, including throwing-bananas, homing-bees, beer, fireballs and more. Each weapon behaves a little bit differently which gives some nice variety to the game play and encourages you to rethink your strategy in terms of how you defeat opponents dependent upon your remaining ammo. In addition each of the weapons has three modes: power-up, single-shot, and rapid fire and this range of different fire modes work well in terms of trying to ensure you balance conserving ammo for survival, with defeating as many enemies as possible to bolster your score. New level mechanics are introduced gradually as you progress through the game including multiple-pathways, obstructing scenery which you need to shoot out the way and pickups which keep you engaged and offer some further game play variety.

As is traditional, at the end of each level is a boss, each with a unique means of attacking the player. The varied attack patterns work well in terms of encouraging you to utilize the level layout to try and avoid attacks. Unfortunately however Newton is not able to shoot backwards. While this is not a problem when you’re constantly moving forwards during the level, it does become quite annoying when you eventually get to a boss battle and the screen becomes stationary. I quite often found myself on the right of the screen after dodging the boss’s attacks, only to have to rush back across the screen so I could actually fire forwards and inflict some damage. In addition the difficulty progression between levels is a little un-balanced. There is a quite steep difficulty curve after the first level which did cause some initial frustration.

Overall however ‘The Flying Hamster’ is a solid side scrolling shooter. It has great graphical charm and addictive core gameplay. The absurdity of some of the characters and backdrops in the game is more than enough to put a smile on your face. However I couldn’t help but wish they had innovated a bit more in terms of the mechanics of the game, at its core ‘The Flying Hamster’ is still essentially just the same as any other side-scrolling shooter from the 80’s with some slightly mad art thrown in and at £5.99 it’s a bit expensive for what it is.

If you already have a number of side-scrolling shooters in your games catalogue then I doubt you’re going to find much more here. However if your new to the genre, then aside from a quite steep initial difficulty curve The Flying Hamster is a nice foray and is probably worth checking out.

Billed as a prequel to the first Kingdom Hearts game, Birth by Sleep focuses on the adventures of three young upstarts – Ventus (or Ven to his mates!), Aqua and Terra, all of whom share the same dream – to become a Keyblade Master. The plot opens with the latter two heroes taking an exam to obtain the Mark of Mastery, a test that is only passed by the blue-haired Aqua with the broody Terra failing on account of the darkness that lies in his heart. Following the test, the Keyblade Master Xehanort goes missing, and Terra departs to hunt him down and to fight against the appearance of a horde of creatures known only as ‘the Unversed’. What follows is a fairly typical Square Enix tale of friendship and self-discovery that, in fairness, manages to just about transcend the standard clichés and remain reasonably engaging. A large contributing factor is undoubtedly the series’ unique selling point – we are of course talking about the blending of worlds, as our heroes come face to face with many of Disney’s most iconic characters.

While Birth by Sleep does have a stab at playing the role of an origin story and exploring the reasons for the coming together of these two very different worlds, newcomers to the series will be able to just accept that it has happened and enjoy the fruits that this concept enables; though there are narrative depths to be plumbed, for many the hows, whys and wherefores won’t be that significant.

Structurally, the game is broken down into three stories (which can be played in any order), as we follow the adventures of Ven, Terra and Aqua that sees the characters enter and explore an impressive variety of famous Disney settings, surfing through space on your keyblade from one to another. In each of these themed worlds, you often have to assume a role within that particular movie’s plot-line; from playing a part in the events that led to Stitch (of Lilo and Stitch) crashing to Earth, hunting for the Seven Dwarves in the woodlands from Snow White or helping Hercules train to be hero. When Ven enters the abode of Cinderella, he is set the task of aiding Jaq the mouse in his efforts to create the hapless housemaid’s ball gown – this particular example (which comes fairly near the game’s opening should you choose Ven’s adventure first) marks one of the game’s low-points, and typifies an opening section that generally underwhelms.

The main problem is that mindless fetch quests are the antithesis of fun – and Ven’s story (which seems like the natural place to start, bearing in mind that he is the game’s poster-boy) starts with two of them; hunting Dwarve’s and searching for buttons/cotton-reels in reasonably indistinct environments could test the patience of even the hardiest of action-RPG fans. If you manage to fight through this drudgery however, there is a rather nice game waiting on the other side that blossoms by blending some genuinely lovely visuals and character art with a combat and character system that can be tweaked to within an inch of its life. It is these two strands – the combat and the visuals – that prove to be Birth By Sleep’s most compelling elements.

To Page 2 >>

Also of note is the release of the rather spangly Space Invaders: Infinity Gene. If you’ve already played this on the iPhone/iPod, then you’ll know how great it could look on a full size TV (not to mention the added bonus of being able to use a d-pad!).

The full update is as follows:

PlayStation Store (via PS3, PSP and Media Go)
Special Offers
(Offer prices available until the 29th of September)
PAIN (was – £6.29/€7.99 now – £3.19/€3.99)
PAIN – Amusement Park (was – £3.99/€4.99 now – £2.39/€2.99)
PAIN – Movie Studio (was – £3.99/€4.99 now – £2.39/€2.99)
Peggle (was – £6.29/€7.99 now – £3.19/€3.99)
Mega Man 10 (was – £7.99/€9.99 now – £3.99/€4.99)
Age of Booty (was – £7.99/€9.99 now – £3.99/€4.99)
World of Pool (PSP) (was – £6.29/€7.99 now – £4.79/€5.99)
Stateshift (PSP) (was – £6.29/€7.99 now – £4.79/€5.99)
WWII: Battle Over the Pacific (PSP) (was – £6.29/€7.99 now – £4.79/€5.99)
Vibes (mini) (was – £3.99/€4.99 now – £2.49/€2.99)
‘Talk Like a Pirate Day’ Celebrations!
(Offer prices available until the 22nd of September)
The Secret Of Monkey Island: Special Edition (was – £7.99/€9.99 now – £3.99/€4.99)
Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: Lechuck’s Revenge (was – £7.99/€9.99 now – £3.99/€4.99)
Monkey Island Special Edition Bundle (The Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2) (Introductory Offer for one week only £6.29/€7.99)
Rating: PEGI 12
Availability: All locales

Downloadable Games (PS3)
Tumble (£7.99/€9.99) Move controller required Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: All locales
Flight Control HD (£3.99/€4.99) Move controller compatible Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: All locales
Space Invaders: Infinity Gene (£7.99/€9.99) Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: All locales
My Aquarium (£3.99/€4.99) Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: All locales
Monkey Island Special Edition Bundle (The Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2) (Introductory Offer for one week only £6.29/€7.99) Rating: PEGI 12
Availability: All locales

minis (PS3/PSP)
Panda Craze (£3.99/€4.99) Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: All locales
PSP Essentials
Championship Manager 2007 (£7.99/€9.99) Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: Not available in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Switzerland and Turkey
Move Demos (PS3)
Heavy Rain – Move Edition Move controller compatible Rating: PEGI 18
Availability: All locales
Echochrome ii Move controller required Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: All locales
Beat Sketcher Move controller required Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: All locales
Sports Champions Move controller required Rating: PEGI 12
Availability: All locales
Kung-Fu Rider Move controller required Rating: PEGI 16
Availability: All locales
Start the Party! Move controller required Rating: PEGI 7
Availability: All locales
The Shoot Move controller required Rating: PEGI 12
Availability: All locales
TV Superstars Move controller required Rating: PEGI 7
Availability: All locales
Racket Sports Move controller required Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: Not available in Russia

Demos (PS3)
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West Rating: PEGI 16
Availability: Not available in Germany
FIFA 11 Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: Not available in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates
PES 2011 Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: All locales
NBA 2K11 Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: All locales
Space Invaders: Infinity Gene Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: All locales

Add-On Game Content (PS3)
High Velocity Bowling – PlayStation Move Key (free) Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: All locales
EyePet
Move Edition Upgrade (free)
Farm Styling Pack (£2.39/€2.99)
Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: All locales
ModNation Racers – Gopher (Mod and Kart) Pack (£1.39/€1.75) Rating: PEGI 7
Availability: All locales
NHL 11 – 20th Anniversary Bauer Boost Pack (£5.49/€6.99) Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: All locales
Rock Band
‘Holy Driver’ by Dio (£0.99/€1.49)
‘Irish Blood, English Heart’ by Morrissey (£0.99/€1.49)
‘Nirvana’ by Juliana Hatfield (£0.99/€1.49)
‘Stand up and Shout’ by Dio (£0.99/€1.49)
‘Straight Lines’ by Silverchair (£0.99/€1.49)
‘That’s Tha Homie’ by Snoop Dogg (£0.99/€1.49)
‘This Charming Man’ by The Smiths (£0.99/€1.49)
‘Writing on the Walls’ by Underoath (£0.99/€1.49)
Rating: PEGI 12
Availability: Not available in Czech Republic, Greece, Luxembourg, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and UAE
Rock Band Network
‘Africa’ by Quartered (£0.59/€0.79)
‘Nightlife Commando’ by Bang Camaro (£0.99/€1.49)
‘Shop Vac’ by Jonathan Coulton (£0.99/€1.49)
‘Swallow the Razor’ by Bang Camaro (£0.59/€0.79)
‘The Final Episode (Let’s Change The Channel)’ by Asking Alexandria (£0.99/€1.49)
Rating: PEGI 12
Availability: Not available in Czech Republic, Greece, Luxembourg, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and UAE
Add-On Game Content (PSP)
LittleBigPlanet – Moon Landing Costume (free) Rating: PEGI 7
Availability: All locales
FirstPlay (PS3)
FirstPlay Episode 024 (£0.99/€1.20)
Availability: Ireland and UK only

Videos (PS3)
Deus Ex: Human Revolution Gamescom Trailer
Vanquish Pre-Order DLC Tri-Weapon Trailer
Dc Universe Online Inside The Studio Vlog 4

Premium Themes (PS3)
Space Invaders: Infinity Geme Custom Themes 1, 2 and 3 (£1.59/€1.99 each)
(Disruptive) Space: The Cosmic Ballet (£1.49/€1.99)
(Von Chrono) Analog Scream (£1.19/€1.49)
(Von Chrono) Elegals (£1.19/€1.49)
(Von Chrono) Globulars (£1.19/€1.49)

Despite its blossoming popularity, the concept of the Ultimate Fighting Championship is rather a hard-sell for those not already enamoured with the thought of sweaty, highly-trained fighters going toe-to-toe in a cage-surrounded ring. Lacking much of the flamboyancy of the WWE and (in terms of videogames) the fantasy elements of heavy hitters such as the Street Fighter and Tekken series, UFC’s combat can initially feel stripped back, or even rather basic. Luckily, this is actually in UFC Undisputed 2010’s favour, its sense of reality is what marks it as a unique proposition in fairly crowded market.

The purity of placing two combatants in a ring in as the heart of the game – it is an exploration of the capabilities of the human body as weapon, and while you may not have fireballs, dragon punches or fatalities in your arsenal, the breadth of moves on show is still impressive. This is not apparent from the outset, however – newcomers launching into their first fight will no doubt find themselves mashing buttons, resulting in a fighter flailing wildly around the ring the Taz the Tasmanian Devil. At this level, the game can feel pretty shallow and – dare we say it – throwaway. This however, belies the games origins – this isn’t a fighter crafted to pull crowds and a quick buck in the arcades; in many ways it could actually be considered more of a simulation than anything else.

Undisputed 2010 on the PSP manages to be as impressively feature-rich as its console counterpart, taking every opportunity to explore the world of UFC and what it means to be a fighter hoping to scrap their way to the number one spot. In terms of sheer numbers, the game features over 100 UFC fighters, an impressive roster bolstered by a comprehensive character creation system. So, if you can’t find a fighter to suit your needs/tastes, you can make your own, tweaking everything from your fighting style, stance, victory celebration, appearance, hairstyles and even tattoos.

The fight system itself is also hugely nuanced, covering the six fighting styles featured in Undisputed 2009 (Boxing, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo and Wrestling) with the addition of Karate, Greco-Roman Wrestling and Sambo. The fact that even listing the fighting-styles is enough to set your head spinning is an indication of the kind of depth that is on offer here. Rather than simply being there to bolster the sales-pitch on the back of the games’ box, each fighting style has strengths and weaknesses and provides a great canvas onto which to project your own fighting style. The game makes good use of the PSPs inputs, utilising every button available at one point or another, and learning how to manipulate your character and pull off combinations of moves – at the highest levels – requires real dexterity.

There are also a wide range of modes into which to take your fighter of choice; ranging from Exhibition fights, tournaments, a career mode and even the opportunity to relive classic matches from the UFC’s past. Although the career mode offers the most meaty and complete experience, the pick up and play nature of handheld gaming results in the exhibition and tournament modes being a particularly good fit.

At this point, fans of UFC Undisputed 2010 are undoubtedly ticking off the game’s content in their heads and concluding that this PSP version sounds like the real deal; in many respects, they would be right in doing so. Obviously the game cannot match the original’s visuals like for like (there is no photorealistic sweat on the fighters’ bodies here, and the textures have been reduced in quality), but nevertheless it still manages to retain the overall aesthetic. Similarly, while the animation might lack the bounce and fluidity of the original, it is still very strong and makes for believable and weighty combat.

Unfortunately there is one rather sizeable cloud casting a shadow over much of this PSP iteration with UFC Undisputed 2010 PSP making the cardinal sin of handheld gaming – by this we are referring to the long and frequent load times. Even with a hefty install (which is optional) the game needs time to load between nearly every menu, every in-game transition and every result screen. While this may well not be enough to deter committed fans eager to hone their fighting skills on the go, it will undoubtedly prove to be a big turn off to many, and does much to hinder the feeling of progression and excitement throughout the whole experience; sure, knocking an opponent out with a particularly dazzling combination of punches is satisfying….but having to wait for 10 seconds for your victory animation to load somewhat deflates the experience.

The fights themselves also don’t feel quite as atmospheric as we would have liked – the in-fight commentator has been removed, and the audio in general feels subdued rather than electrifying. Again, this can be brought back to the constraints of the PSP and the game’s focus on realism, but as a videogame, we can’t help but think that a little bit of artistic licence could have raised the whole experience a notch or two. Also missing is an online mode with the game only supporting ad hoc play over Wifi.

UFC Undisputed 2010 on the PSP is a game that impresses and frustrates in equal measure. The sheer amount of features and the depth of the fighting mechanics mark it as a successful port of the original (a title that is already well established as offering a quality fighting experience); unfortunately it often struggles on a technical level and while it is admirable that Yukes have done everything that can to make the PSP version as authentic as possible, this has come at the expense of the fluidity of the whole experience. Ultimately there is every likelihood that UFC fans will be able to put up with these frustrations and in turn find the portable UFC title they had hoped for. The more casual audience however, might not be quite so patient.

We have to admit to being rather pleased to see Top Gun on there, let’s just hope it can match the schlocky/awesome cheesiness of the movie.

The full details of the update are as follows:

Special Offers
(Available until the 15th of September)
Aqua Panic! HD (was – £7.99/€9.99 now – £4.79/€5.99)
Bejeweled 2 (was – £6.29/€7.99 now – £3.19/€3.99)
Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 (was – £7.99/€9.99 now – £3.99/€4.99)
Resident Evil 5: Untold Stories Bundle (was – £10.49/€11.25 now – £4.79/€5.99)
Aqua Panic! PSP (was – £6.29/€7.99 now – £4.99/€5.99)
Spinout (was – £6.29/€7.99 now – £3.99/€4.99)
Skate Park City (was – £6.29/€7.99 now – £4.79/€5.99)
Monsters (Probably) Stole my Princess! (was – £3.49/€3.99 now – £1.99/€2.49)
Hero of Sparta (was – £3.99/€4.99 now – £0.99/€1.19)

Permanent Price Reductions
NormalTanks (was – £3.49/€3.99 now – £2.49/€2.99)

Trial and Unlock (PS3)
Worms 2: Armageddon (Free trial and £11.99/€14.99 to unlock) Rating: PEGI 7
Availability: All locales

Downloadable Games (PS3)
Top Gun (£7.99/€9.99) Rating: PEGI 12
Availability: Not available in Australia, Belgium, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia and Switzerland

minis (PS3/PSP)
Flying Hamster (£5.99/€6.99) Rating: PEGI 7
Availability: All locales

Demos (PS3)
Quantum Theory Rating: PEGI 16
Availability: Not available in Australia, Germany and New Zealand

Add-On Game Content (PS3)
Mafia II – Jimmy’s Vendetta (£6.29/€7.99) Rating: PEGI 18
Availability: Not available in Czech Republic, Poland or Russia
Dragon Age: Origins – Witch Hunt (£5.49/€6.99) Rating: PEGI 18
Availability: All locales
Transformers: War For Cybertron – Characters And Maps Pack 2 (£7.99/€9.99) Rating: PEGI 12
Availability: All locales
Planet Minigolf – Castle Ruins (£1.59/€1.99) Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: All locales
Buzz! Quiz TV – Puzzle Pack (£3.99/€4.99) Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: Ireland and UK only

SingStar
A-Ha Song Pack (£4.49/€6.99)
Clubland Song Pack (£4.49/€6.99)
Depeche Mode 2 Song Pack (£4.49/€6.99)
Rating: PEGI 12
Availability: All locales

Rock Band
‘Beautiful’ by Snoop Dogg (£0.99/€1.49)
‘Drop it Like it’s Hot’ by Snoop Dogg (£0.99/€1.49)
‘Ridin’ in My Chevy’ by Snoop Dogg (£0.99/€1.49)
‘Sensual Seduction’ by Snoop Dogg (£0.99/€1.49)
‘Snoop’s Upside Ya Head’ by Snoop Dogg (£0.99/€1.49)
‘Tha Shiznit’ by Snoop Dogg (£0.99/€1.49)
‘Who Am I (What’s My Name)’ by Snoop Dogg (£0.99/€1.49)
Rating: PEGI 12
Availability: Not available in Czech Republic, Greece, Luxembourg, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and UAE
Rock Band Network
‘Bleed’ by Meshuggah (£0.99/€1.49)
‘Dr Doom’ by The Acacia Strain (£0.59/€0.79)
‘Valkyries’ by Amberian Dawn (£0.99/€1.49)
‘Wake Up’ by Me Talk Pretty (£0.99/€1.49)
‘We Are The One’ by Anti Flag (£0.59/€0.79)
Rating: PEGI 12
Availability: Not available in Czech Republic, Greece, Luxembourg, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and UAE

Guitar Hero 5
Rock 1 Track Pack (£4.39/€5.49) (contains the following tracks which are also available separately)
‘Blue Monday’ by Orgy (£1.59/€1.99)
‘Epic’ by Faith No More (£1.59/€1.99)
‘I Stand Alone’ by Godsmack (£1.59/€1.99)
‘Last Resort’ by Papa Roach (£1.59/€1.99)
‘Nookie’ by Limp Bizkit (£1.59/€1.99)
‘The Dope Show’ by Marilyn Manson (£1.59/€1.99)
Rating: PEGI 12
Availability: Not available in Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and United Arab Emirates

FirstPlay (PS3)
FirstPlay Episode 023 (£0.99/€1.20)
Availability: Ireland and UK only
Availability: All locales

Videos (PS3)
Brink Developer Diary #5
Dragon Age: Origins Witch Hunt Trailer
Yakuza 4 Can you survive Yakuza 4 Video
Ace Combat Assault Horizon Gamescom Trailer
SingStar The Locnville Story

Premium Themes (PS3)
(Shank Blood Red Theme (£0.79/€0.99)
(Disruptive) Coruscant (£1.49/€1.99)
(Disruptive) Mechatron (£1.19/€1.49)
(Von Chrono) Gaze (£1.19/€1.49)
(Von Chrono) Road Kill (£1.19/€1.49)
(Von Chrono) Zombies on TV (£1.19/€1.49)

Avatars (PS3)
EyePet
Cowgirl Pet (£0.20/€0.25)
Pet Drawing (£0.20/€0.25)
Pirate Pet (£0.20/€0.25)
Pet Face Icon (£0.20/€0.25)
Pet Hatching (£0.20/€0.25)

Wallpapers (PS3)
Singstar The Locnville Story

The game has you assume the role of a vampire known only as The Duke, whose sole ambition is to retrieve the princess that he believes was (probably) stolen from him. After a brief confrontation featuring small amounts of amusing script, each monster launches itself skyward in an attempt to escape. With the chase now on, your jumping skills are put to the test as you climb the tower to reach the enemy; there are no obstacles other than your singular foe, meaning that jumping is – quite literally – all there is per stage. The double-jump is used to damage each boss, and only three strikes are required for victory.

To be fair, some enemies do utilise different tactics; one boss might be more evasive and bound between walls, while another might make use of water as cover, making it less a case of speed and more a case of timing your attacks. Regardless, you’ll usually be leaping about feverishly to extinguish each creature before running out of tower – it really is as simple as that. Things can get frustrating in later stages when platforms become smaller and sporadically placed, yet failure always comes down to you.

The story can be completed in less than ten minutes, so it’s just as well that a score attack mode has been implemented to increase replayability. Taking place over the five environments, these stages are all about landing on as many of the platforms as possible to increase your tally, with a medal awarded at the end should you have performed amicably. A selection of extras can be unlocked and these keep in with the general sense of humour. The fact that a target score is presented and medals are awarded may be enough for some players to become interested for a short time, but make no mistake, the monotonous stages and lack of depth go some way to stifle the game’s most notable asset – it’s impressive presentation.

Featuring cartoon visuals and a bold style, Monsters is no slouch in the graphics department. The dialogue is always just shy of being laugh-out-loud funny, but the amount of charm and sense of identity are certainly among the game’s strong suits. The boss designs and character animations have been handled well, making the game feel incredibly smooth as you hop about like a loon. The music too has been chosen with aplomb, with the likes of a remixed Moonlight Sonata adding to the atmosphere as a whole.

With a quirky style and simple gameplay, Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess is a cutesy tower romp that succeeds on a visual level. It’s still incredibly short and the ten-minute story mode might not be to everyone’s tastes. The tale is rudimentary yet features a twist that you might not see coming, while the gameplay remains a simple case of hopping to the platforms above. The game is undoubtedly accessible but it’s also highly repetitive, making for an adventure that, for many people, will wear out its welcome before long. That said, should you have a penchant for beating your personal score and an extra 240 points to spare, then this Indie outing may well be worth a look. Everyone else can (probably) leave the princess with the monsters.

Read on to find out in our report of Sony’s E3 Press Conference 2010.

Taking to the stage backed by three huge screens, Sony’s Jack Tretton ( President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment of America) was his usual cool, calm and collected self, promising that Sony have a “a lot of action and a lot of great product” to deliver. Emphasising the future proof nature of the PS3, Tretton explained that Sony are looking to be “dazzling and transformative” and that “consumers want all their games, music etc accessible in one device”. That device – unsurprisingly – is the PS3.

It was now Kaz Hirai’s ( Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc) turn to promote Sony two chief tenets – ‘Innovation and Content’, both areas that the company are looking to take to new levels. Sony are the “undisputed leader in 3D”, we were told, and the PLayStation 3 is a “perfect vehicle for 3D distribution” with “35 million 3D-ready PlayStation 3s” already in peoples’ homes. The company was certainly keen to emphasise how serious it is about 3D; in their words, “2010 will be remembered as the year that PlayStation brought authentic 3D to the industry” – a lofty claim indeed.

To back this claim up, Sony revealed a short demo – in 3D for those at the event – of the much anticipated Killzone 3. Guerrilla Games’ Herman Hulst detailed how important an element 3D is in the production of Killzone 3, before a live demonstration of two sections from the game. Set in snow bound, industrial areas and frosty canyons, it was all as loud, dirty and good looking as we’ve come to expect from the series, with the new-fangled jet packs looking like a lot of fun to use. Though we’ve yet to experience the 3D for ourselves, this certainly has the potential to deliver on a pretty spectacular scale to those lucky enough to own a 3D TV. The game is due to launch in February 2011, and will also fully support the PlayStation Move.

The list of games that Sony confirmed will come with full 3D and PlayStation Move support was undoubtedly pretty impressive, including the likes of Motorstorm: Apocalypse, Gran Turismo 5, Mortal Kombat, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, NBA 2K among others. Sony, it seems, are absolutely serious about getting a 3D TV in everyone’s living room, and this was certainly a spirited attempt at convincing early adoptors to part with their cash.

Before moving onto looking at the PlayStation Move in more detail, Tretton noted the 10th Anniversary of the PlayStation 2, which was the “second most played console last year” and one which “continues to provide value”. Luckily for those of us itching to get to the more juicy parts of the presentation, attention was soon shifted to Move.

PlayStation Move:

As a whole, Sony’s PlayStation Move pitch this year was solid, if not particularly mind-blowing. With only a handful of new titles to show, the intention was clearly to cement the technology’s focus on precision, and Sony’s desire for it to bridge the gap between casual and hardcore gamers.

The first new Move title to be shown was Sorcery from developers The Workshop. Clearly aimed at Harry Potter fans, the title focuses on wand-based magic, with wrist-flicks and gestures casting spells. Visually, it looks part-Zelda, part-Fable, and the concepts on show certainly look intriguing.

Also demoed was EA’s Tiger Woods PGA Tour which, we are told, is “no longer about pre-canned animations, but 1-1 movement”. The small, subtle movements that the game looks to facilitate certainly looked impressive. The Move support wil be available via a downloadable update.

Also announced was Heroes On The Move, which looks to be a party game featuring Sony favourites Ratchet, Clank, Sly Cooper, Jake, Daxter and Bentley.

It was at this point that the slightly dry feel of the presentation took a more comical turn, with the arrival of (PlayStation advert star) Kevin Butler. What followed is probably the first videogame-based stand up routine we’ve ever seen, and you know what – it was actually quite funny. “Am I crazy or did I see 100 French acrobats prancing around an arena the other night?” (mocking Microsoft’s recent Cirque du Soleil extravaganza). The PlayStation 3 and Move will enable us all to “box using game characters who have important features likes arms…and necks” we are told, and most significantly, he outwardly declared his – and Sony’s – love of games. This segment worked well, and went a long way to show that you don’t have to give away new consoles to connect with your audience.

To Page 2 >>

Of particular note is the return of everyone’s favourite Mudokon as Oddworld Inhabitant’s much loved ‘Abe’s Exoddus’ hits the store. Those partial to a bit of punk will also be happy to see the Greenday Rock Band demo make an appearance.

Here’s the list in full:

PlayStation Store (via PS3, PSP and Media Go)
Special Offers
(Available until the 9th of June)

Wakeboarding HD (was – £11.99/€14.99 now – £6.29/€7.99)
Numblast (was – £3.99/€4.99 now – £2.39/€2.99)
Magic Orbz – Bundle Pack (was – £9.99/€12.99 now – £5.19/€6.49)
Magic Orbz – Booster Pack (was – £2.39/€2.99 now – £1.19/€1.49)
Magic Orbz – Winter Pack (was – £2.39/€2.99 now – £1.19/€1.49)
Savage Moon: The Hera Campaign (PSP) (was – £6.29/€7.99 now – £3.19/€3.99)
Echochrome Micro (PSP) (was – £6.29/€7.99 now – £3.99/€4.99)
Numblast (PSP) (was – £3.99/€4.99 now – £2.39/€2.99)
LittleBigPlanet – The Gardens Level Kit (PSP) (was – £2.39/€2.99 now – £1.19/€1.49)
LittleBigPlanet – The Sack That Time Forgot (PSP) (was – £2.39/€2.99 now – £1.19/€1.49)
Fortix (mini) (was – £3.49/€3.99 now – £2.49/€2.99)

Permanent Price Reductions

Soldner-X: Himmelsturmer (was – £7.99/€9.99 now – £6.29/€7.99)
Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier (PSP) (was – £24.99/€39.99 now – £14.99/€19.99)
Resistance Retribution (PSP) (was – £24.99/€39.99 now – £14.99/€19.99)
LocoRoco 2 (PSP) (was – £19.99/€29.99 now – £14.99/€19.99)
MotorStorm: Arctic Edge (PSP) (was – £24.99/€39.99 now – £14.99/€19.99)
Gran Turismo (PSP) (was – £24.99/€39.99 now – £14.99/€19.99)

Downloadable Games (PS3)

Planet Minigolf (£6.29/€7.99) Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: All locales
Death Track: Resurrection (£11.99/€14.99) Rating: PEGI 16
Availability: All locales
Downloadable Games (PSP)
Xyanide: Resurrection (£7.99/€9.99) Rating: PEGI 12
Availability: All locales
Me & My Katamari (£15.99/€19.99) Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: All locales
What Did I Do To Deserve This, My Lord!? (£11.99/€14.99) Rating: PEGI 12
Availability: All locales
Block Cascade Fusion (£2.39/€2.99) Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: Not available in Australia and New Zealand

PSOne (PS3/PSP)

Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus (£3.99/€4.99) Rating: PEGI 12
Availability: All locales
Disney Pixar Toy Story 2 (£5.19/€6.49) Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: Not available in Portugal or Russia
minis (PS3/PSP)
Snake Warriors: Training (£3.49/€3.99) Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: All locales
Numba (£1.23/€1.49) Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: All locales
Tehra: Dark Warrior (£3.99/€4.99) Rating: PEGI 16
Availability: All locales
HISTORY Egypt Engineering An Empire (£3.99/€4.99) Rating: PEGI 12
Availability: Not available in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain and Switzerland

Demos (PS3)
Green Day: Rock Band Rating: PEGI 12
Availability: Not available in Czech Republic, Greece, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and United Arab Emirates
Planet Minigolf Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: All locales
Hamsterball Rating: PEGI 7
Availability: All locales

Add-On Game Content (PS3)

Lost Planet 2 – Map Pack 2 (£3.99/€4.99) Rating: PEGI 16
Availability: All locales
Dead to Rights – GAC Pack (£3.99/€4.99) Rating: PEGI 18
Availability: Not available in New Zealand
Way of the Samurai 3 – Weapon Part Set (free) Rating: PEGI 16
Availability: All locales
LittleBigPlanet – Modnation Racers Tag Costume (£1.59/€1.99) Rating: PEGI 7
Availability: All locales
Hustle Kings – Snooker Pack (£2.39/€2.99) Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: All locales
Hyperballoid – Original World Map Pack (£1.59/€1.99) Rating: PEGI 3
Availability: Not available in Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Portugal
Rock Band
Judas Priest – British Steel 30th Anniversary (Album) (£7.49/€10.99)
Alive by P.O.D (£0.99/€1.49)
Spoon Pack 01 (£3.49/€5.29) (contains the following tracks which are also sold separately)
Don’t You Evah (£0.99/€1.49)
Got Nuffin (£0.99/€1.49)
I Turn My Camera On (£0.99/€1.49)
Trouble Comes Running (£0.99/€1.49)
Rating: PEGI 12
Availability: Not available in Czech Republic, Greece, Luxembourg, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and United Arab Emirates
Rock Band Network
Disengage by Suicide Silence (£0.99/€1.49)
Forever in your Hands by All That Remains (£0.99/€1.49)
Get the Hell out of Here by Steve Vai (£0.99/€1.49)
Most Beautiful Girl (In The Room) by Flight of the Conchords (£0.99/€1.49)
The Future Soon by Jonathan Coulton (£0.99/€1.49)
Rating: PEGI 12
Availability: Not available in Czech Republic, Greece, Luxembourg, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and United Arab Emirates
Guitar Hero 5
Stone Temple Pilots Track Pack (contains the following tracks which are also sold separately) (£4.39/€5.49)
Between the Lines (£1.59/€1.99)
Plush (£1.59/€1.99)
Sex Type Thing (£1.59/€1.99)
Rating: PEGI 12
Availability: Not available in Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and United Arab Emirates

FirstPlay (PS3)
Episode 009 (£0.99/€1.20)
Availability: Ireland and UK only

Soundtracks (PS3)
Shatter Soundtrack (£3.99/€4.99)
Availability: Not available in Belgium, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Portugal or Russia

Trailers (PS3)

Blacklight: Tango Down Teaser Trailer
Blacklight: Tango Down Madness of War Trailer
Pure Football Announcement Trailer
2010 FIFA World Cup Official Trailer
ModNation Racers – Australian Event Video (Australia only)
Australian Community Event – God of War III Video (Australia only)
Australian Community Event – Video Store (Australia only)
PlayenglishTrailer (Spain only)

Trailers (PSP)

PlayenglishTrailer (Spain only)

Themes (PS3)

3D Dot Game Heroes Theme (free)

Wallpapers (PS3)

Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype Wallpaper 5
Avatars (PS3)
Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype – Soldner-X 2 Avatar (£0.45/€0.49)
Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype – Avatar Bundle (collects all five individual avatars) (£1.19/€1.49)

Additional Territory Releases (PSP)

Half Minute Hero
Now available in all locales except Germany
Half Minute Hero Demo
Now available in all locales except Germany
Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon
Now available in all locales except Australia and New Zealand
Valhalla Knights
Now available in all locales except Australia, Germany and New Zealand
Valhalla Knights 2
Now available in all locales except Germany
R-Type Tactics
Now available in all locales except Australia and New Zealand

The PSP Go has struggled to make much of a dent on the hand-held market since launch, but this move by Sony will no doubt tempt a few consumers to splash out on the little system. Whether it will be enough to reverse the systems fortunes is a big ask however, especially with the rumours that a PSP2 is soon to be announced…

So…are you tempted? Or will you be saving your pennies for the hand-held treats that (may) lie around the corner?