Siliconera brings word from San Diego Comic-Con that more karacters have been added to the roster of Midway's crossover fighter, Mortal Kombat vs. DS Universe. Specifically, the site confirms Jak and Kitana from the MK games are set to appear, along with DC Comics characters Green Lantern and the clown prince of crime himself, Joker. The site speculates that, since villains in MK vs. DC will be able to perform fatalities, Joker could conceivably kill Superman. We're not sure how happy DC would be about that, so don't get too excited.

Never mind that we totally caught Yoda and Vader face to face in a Soul Calibur IV trailer months ago, Namco Bandai's official line has remained: Yoda is in the Xbox 360 version, Darth Vader in the PlayStation 3 one. While some of us assumed both characters could be unlocked in either version (except Ludwig, he pre-ordered both editions just to be safe), Namco Bandai has apparently come up with a better idea. Why not sell Darth Vader as DLC to Xbox 360 owners? (And presumably, why not pimp out Yoda to PS3 players?)

GamersReports has allegedly obtained another "quality exclusive" in three screenshots that depict Vader as a selectable character in the Xbox 360 version of Soul Calibur IV. To be fair, the report only suggests that Vader would be offered as an "add-on download" and does not specify whether or not that would be paid content or a fan service freebie. The site adds, "No word on when, or even if ever it will be released." Oh the suspense!

[Thanks, alvin]

Phillip: Well, here you go, Ms. Patrick, this is where you'll be working.
Tera Patrick: Right, well, that's what I wanted to ask you about. What is it, exactly, that I'll be doing here?
Phillip: You see, Tera, you're a "special producer" on Saint's Row 2, so you'll be ... well, you'll be a producer. But a special one.
Tera: You just wanted to use a picture of my boobs on a poster, didn't you?
Phillip: No, no, don't be ridi--
Tera: Is this computer made of chocolate?

Harmonix announced its tracks for next week's Rock Band DLC and it's a slathering of metal. Yes, we're sure there's a better way to describe these bands than just saying "metal." Alternative metal? Post-modern alternative metal? Thrash pre-philosophy metal? Alternative existential rock? We can't keep track of sub-genres anymore.

Individual songs (160 MS points/ $2)

• "They Say" - Scars on Broadway (160 MS points/ $2)
• "This is it" - Staind (160 MS points/ $2)
• "Electric Crown" - Testament (160 MS points/ $2)
• "Yomp" - The New No 2 (80 MS points/ $1)

Check out videos for these songs after the break. The tracks will be available for download next Tuesday and Thursday for Xbox 360 and PS3, respectively.

After a dozen tips pleaded with us to cover a seemingly scandalous story on Yahoo this morning headlined, "Playstation 2 component incites African war" some of us here at Joystiq HQ thought the story didn't sit right. First of all, we'd already read that story seven years ago when shortages of the newly launched PlayStation 2 were later attributed to coltan, which is later refined into tantalum, a heat-resistant element that (according to a 2001 New York Times story on this very same issue) "can be found inside almost every laptop, pager, personal digital assistant and cell phone."

So how is it that a commonly used material that briefly made headlines in 2001 because of its association with PS2 shortages has now filled our inbox with tips exclaiming, "The PlayStation 2 kills children" (really, we got that tip)? Easy! A major outlet, Yahoo in this case, runs a story on a report by activist site Toward Freedom who include a sensational, albeit predictable, quote from former British Parliamentarian Oona King, who cleverly analogized, "Kids in Congo were being sent down mines to die so that kids in Europe and America could kill imaginary aliens in their living rooms." Of course, we wonder if she offered that quote to them over her mobile ... or maybe email using a laptop computer.

Point being, laying the blame on the PlayStation 2 – built by Sony who, it should be noted, had already begun trying to limit their use of Congolese coltan back in, all together now, 2001 – is scapegoating of the worst kind. Then, citing things like increased prices for coltan – also taken from 2001 (the New York Times story notes that in the Spring of 2001, "the price of coltan crashed, falling from $80 a kilo in March to $8 in June") is selective reporting. That's to be expected from an activist website tasked with a political agenda, but it's disappointing coming from a major video game outlet tasked with, one would hope, providing a more thoughtful consideration of the already besieged industry it's covering.

Source – Playstation 2 component incites African war (Yahoo / 2008)
Source – The Dirt in the New Machine (NYT / 2001)

We are actually excited to bring you the Joystiq Podcast this week. We know, it's shocking. Not only do we start with one of the best celebrity introductions ever, we close with a battle of epic proportions. Oh, and in between, we talk about video games.

Fun fact: This week's brilliant image was sent to us by Eric who, in a fit of rage, we once promised to set on fire. The resulting photoshopping made our hollow threats totally worth it.

Get the podcast:
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Hosts: Chris Grant, Ludwig Kietzmann and Justin McElroy

Music: "Get Ready for Love" by Nick Cave, The Merchant-Off

For fans: Joystiq Podcast Facebook group

See all of this week's links after the jump.

We don't remember Naughty Dog's wise-cracking ottsel brandishing a knife, but hey, we're always open to crazy new ideas. Oh, this is Dexter, the hit Showtime series about a forensics expert who also happens to be a serial killer (of other killers). Whoops.

Anyway, IGN has a story out of San Diego Comic-Con 08 that is sure to put a sour puss on anyone who was waiting for a console game based on the show. Ecko, who acquired the rights to Dexter for game-making purposes back in March, revealed during a panel that the game is only coming to iPhone and iPod Touch. It was also revealed that the game will be episodic in nature – hey, like the show! Coincidence, surely. Mr. Ecko is certainly no stranger to spray paint, but blood spray? Start practicing those stabbing motions with your fancy phones, folks ... but just do it in the privacy of your own home for the sake of not looking like a total loon, 'kay?

[Update: Not so fast, turns out the information cited by TalkPlayStation.com was PS3 Fanboy's Andrew Yoon on the PlayStation Nation Podcast. At around 56 minutes in, Andrew simply reiterated what Naughty Dog's Evan Wells already told us: that the developer was targeting the "middle of next month" to add Trophy support to Uncharted. Additionally, a Naughty Dog rep told us that, while August 22nd very well may be the date, they wouldn't know ... it hasn't been chosen yet.]

TalkPlaystation.com has allegedly confirmed that Trophies will be added to Naughty Dog's Uncharted Drake's Fortune on August 22. Despite a form of "achievements" originally being part of Uncharted, we'd been told previously that the Trophies will not be retroactive, so prepare to play the adventure all over again.

Naughty Dog co-president Evan Wells mentioned previously that adding the Trophy patch for the game was "incredibly easy" because of the medal system the company already implemented in the game. Now that's thinking ahead.

We always think it's so bizarre when fanboys and girls start filling up our tips box with vitriol about the latest unpopular decision made by Sega, Square, Microsoft or practically anyone involved in the gaming industry. "Where do they get all that hate?" we wonder aloud, before going to donate more hugs down at the clinic. They would be a complete mystery to us were it not for Brett Ratner, who, according to a passing mention in a recent press release from MGM, has been tapped to direct the God of War film.

See, we hate Brett Ratner. Well, no, we don't hate the person. We're sure he's a perfectly nice man. But we hate everything he's ever put on film from Money Talks to X3 aka Brett Ratner's First-Person Theatrical Abortion. ... You know what? Forget what we said, we do hate Brett Ratner as a person. And if he directs God of War, it'll be awful, because all of his movies are awful and we don't know why he keeps being allowed to make them. The end.

If there's one entertainment genre that has a worse track record than movies turned to video games, it's video games that have been transformed into movies. At least movies to games have a few bright spots; when people have to summon up Mortal Kombat as the most admirable adaptation of a medium, you know something's gone awry.

So it's with a spirit of mild skepticism that we present the first two posters for Mark Wahlberg vehicle Max Payne. The problem is that we think the above poster (and the one after the jump) look pretty outstanding. AICN has some bigger versions; take a look and let us know what you think.

The Prison Service in England and Wales will not allow prisoners to play 18-rated games after September 30. The BBC reports that well-behaved residents and those at risk of suicide will still be allowed to play games -- we hope the suicide folks aren't playing Persona.

The government apparently spent £10k ($19,763 USD) last year on consoles and games for inmates. Effective immediately, inmates will have to buy their own consoles and games. Those who can't afford the video game distraction are sure to occupy their time with more constructive ventures ... like shiv production.

[Via GI.biz]

We hope you didn't get your hopes up regarding Guitar Hero World Tour's hypothetical set list, which included songs from such bands as REO Speedwagon, Rob Zombie, and whole lot of Tool. Game Informer reports that both Activision and Red Octane have come forward, denouncing the list as a fraud.

While some of the tracks listed will make it into the game, such as Van Halen's Hot for Teacher, the report calls the lion's share of the list "wishful thinking and pure speculation." We're sorry Tool fans, but you'll have to get your progressive rock fix somewhere else.

Honestly, with a new, four-instrument Guitar Hero game just around the corner, we're not exactly sure why you'd sink one more penny into DLC for Guitar Hero III. That is, of course, unless you're so obsessed with the guitar that you think the inclusion of drum and vocals sullies the very name of Guitar Hero. If that describes you, then you may just find today's offer pretty tantalizing.

As you may remember, the Virtuoso Track Pack includes "Surfing with the Alien" as performed by Joe Satriani, "For the Love of God" as performed by Steve Vai and "Soothsayer" as performed by Buckethead. And, as we guessed, you can get the whole lot for 500 points.