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Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond dated for Jan. 6

by Richard Mitchell { Dec 1st 2009 at 3:00AM }

D3Publisher's Matt Hazard: Blood Bath & Beyond now has a date with both Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network. It will arrive on January 6 and 7 on Microsoft and Sony's platforms, respectively. Playing on the same camp featured in the original retail Matt Hazard game -- which parodied other games and featured an aging video game star -- Blood Bath & Beyond is a 2D shooter in the same vein as many classics like Contra and Bionic Commando.

Alongside the release date, D3 has also revealed Dexter Dare, Matt Hazard's burnt out sidekick with a sordid history -- including a prolonged "Mana abuse problem" that we're probably supposed to find hilarious. Check out some new screens and Dexter Dare character art in the gallery below.

Gallery: Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond (11/30/09)

Still undecided? Here are some more PSP Digital Comic samplers

by Xav de Matos { Nov 28th 2009 at 12:45PM }

If you're on the fence about Sony's upcoming PSP Digital Comics service, the PlayStation UK blog has a few more sampler comics to decide whether the feature piques your interest. Available for lucky users in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are two sampler comics, featuring the service's highly touted Autoflow feature -- which mimics the way your eyes read a page. Following the release of the PSP's 6.20 firmware, PlayStation released comic samples of Transformers: All Hail Megatron and Aleister Arcane.

Free sample first-issues of Star Trek: Enterprise Experiment and Astro Boy: The Movie Adaptation are available until December 16. In order to grab your sample, make sure to first download the Comic App via the "Extras" section of the XMB (or through this link) for your PSP and use the redemption codes available on PlayStation's UK blog. Then prepare to use your amazing 3D hardware to ... read!

Fun with math: Some Rock Band UK packs inconsistently priced on PSN

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 27th 2009 at 3:00PM }

It appears that, in some cases, the PSN Rock Band track packs in the UK are receiving a price hike in comparison to the individually purchased songs. An EU PlayStation forum user notes the discrepancy, which applies no discount to pack purchases, making it cheaper to purchase all of a pack's tracks individually. The issue had previously been contained to packs with over three songs, but next week's update appears to break that trend. However, reviewing previous weeks with track packs of three, it appears that the EU and UK pricing were accidentally reversed for next week, but we won't be able to confirm that until the update goes live.

We've confirmed the pricing anomaly for the UK PSN Store and we're following up with Harmonix to figure out what's going on. Check out examples of the pricing inconsistencies after the break.

[Thanks Si]

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Shoot on sight: PixelJunk Shooter's first level

by Xav de Matos { Nov 26th 2009 at 6:30PM }

For those anticipating the release PixelJunk Shooter, VG247 has footage of the first level in action to whet your appetite. Or drive you bonkers because you aren't the one playing it. Clocking in at around 12 minutes, the video gives you a taste of the game's unique blend of shooting and puzzle solving.

Sadly the game isn't set to hit the PSN until December 10, according to VG247. So for now, all we can do is wait... and dream of a brighter future. Check out the game in action after the break.

Gallery: PixelJunk Shooter

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After Burner Climax rated by OFLC and Korean board, possibly coming to PSN

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 25th 2009 at 4:00PM }

Though it might lose some of its magic without the full chair-and-tinted-window-equipped arcade cabinet, we're still pretty pumped about the possibility of getting our hands on a port of Sega's classic flight combat sim, After Burner. According to the OFLC and the Korean Game Rating Board, it's only a matter of time before our wish is fulfilled -- GamerBytes recently noticed that both groups have rated Sega's After Burner Climax for home console distribution.

According to the Korean board, the rating was applied for by Sony, leading some to believe the title's planned launch platform is the PSN. However, considering the multi-platform release of Outrun Online Arcade, we wouldn't be surprised if Sega decided to share the aerial dogfighting love with the 360 as well. We've contacted the hedgehog-loving developer to find out exactly what its plans are for the title.

Comet Crash demo lands on PSN

by Randy Nelson { Nov 24th 2009 at 8:15PM }

Pelfast (what an odd name!) has made it so you officially have no more excuses for not trying its excellent PSN tower defense game, Comet Crash, by today releasing a demo version of it on the PlayStation Store. In fact, the timing couldn't be better, since if you like what you ~~see~~ play, the game happens to be on sale for $4.99 (down from $9.99) through December 2.

If you're going to get the game (and we couldn't recommend it more, really) and have some Amazon credit or a gift card at the ready, Comet Crash is also going to be available via the online mega-retailer starting later today -- at the $4.99 price, to boot.

The time-lapse evolution of a Castle Crashers boss

by Randy Nelson { Nov 24th 2009 at 8:15PM }

The Behemoth, purveyor of fine classic-style action games with lovely high-res 2D artwork, has posted a nice time-lapse video on its developer blog showcasing the evolution of one of its Castle Crashers boss characters. In it, we get to see The Painter come a long way from his meager palette-sporting beginnings to the giant roller-wielding, toolbox-for-a-head monster we've come to know and despise.

It's not often that we get a glimpse at this aspect of the development process -- perhaps because a time-lapse video of an artist creating the 3D model for, say, the Joker from Batman: Arkham Asylum would be the length of most theatrical releases. The Behemoth's video, after the break, is thankfully only seven-and-a-half minutes long.

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PSN Tuesday: Turkey Thursday 2009 edition

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 24th 2009 at 6:38PM }

[atomicshark]

Thanks to Turkey Day this Thursday, the PSN update is going live a couple days early. Gobble up the savings as several PSN titles are priced perfectly for tryptophan overdose relaxation. Check out the full PSN update after the break to find more things to do while avoiding family obligations this weekend.

Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:

(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

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Spend your scratch on New DJ Hero DLC

by Randy Nelson { Nov 24th 2009 at 5:20PM }

A DLC three-pack of tracks by French DJ David Guetta is available today for DJ Hero across PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii. The original works "When Love Takes Over" featuring Kelly Rowland, "Sexy Chick" featuring Akon, and "On The Dancefloor" featuring will.i.am and apl.de.ap make up the mash-up pack, which goes for 640

($8) and $7.99 on Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Store, respectively (the tracks are not offered for purchase separately). Each track is sold separately for Wii at 300 Wii Points ($3) apiece.

Also out today for Wii are the two tracks from last month's Extended Mix Pack 01: "All Of Me" by 50 Cent featuring Mary J. Blige vs. "Radio Ga Ga" by Queen, and "DARE" by Gorillaz vs. "Can't Truss It" performed by Public Enemy. Those will set living room DJs back 300 Wii Points, as well.

The knowledge that your DJ Hero controller is a million times cooler than the Tony Hawk Ride board is, as always, priceless.

Sony replaces faulty Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines download

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Nov 24th 2009 at 5:00PM }

"Yes, there was an issue with the original download," a Sony Europe spokesperson has told Eurogamer. Said issue, which rendered PAL digital copies of Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines dead on arrival, was rectified by replacing the PSP file on the European PlayStation store -- though this came at a cost to those who had already been greeted by the defective copy's never-ending loading screen. According to the spokesperson, "It was pulled from the store and we are issuing replacement codes for those people who purchased the content before 12PM GMT on November 20."

Developed by Griptonite Games, Bloodlines follows the protagonist of 2007's Assassin's Creed, complete with 3D free-running and an Altair native control scheme.

Flower, Comet Crash & other PSN titles half-price this week

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 24th 2009 at 4:18PM }

It seems the PlayStation Store got a little jealous of the brick-and-mortar retailers who were offering discounts during this week of ~~Black Friday~~ Thanksgiving. Beginning with today's specially-dated Tuesday PSN update, a handful of downloadable PS3 titles will be offered for half-price until December 2. Here's a list of the encheapened games, and their temporarily slimmed-down prices:

Bomberman Ultra – $4.99
Comet Crash – $4.99
Flower – $4.99
Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao – $7.49
The Last Guy – $4.99
Prince of Persia Classic – $4.99
Smash Cars – $7.49

Check out Joystiq's Black Friday Game Deals Hub or jump to a retailer guide below:

For more Black Friday coverage, check out Black Friday Deals, Cyber Monday Sales,
And other Black Friday 2009 stories today from Walletpop.com

Rumor: Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep not releasing on PSN

by David Hinkle { Nov 23rd 2009 at 9:00PM }

There's a rumor circulating around the wild wild web right now that says Square Enix may not be looking to offer Kingdom of Hearts: Birth by Sleep via digital distribution on PSN, possibly adding insult to injury for all PSP Go owners out there. The rumor originated from Twitter user Magunus, who apparently attended a recent PlayStation event in Japan (we can't figure out which event this is referring to, and there's no mention on the official Japanese blog) where a clerk confirmed it, citing "copyright issues."

This strikes us as odd not only because of the tenuous nature by which this has been reported, but because a lot of Disney Interactive's titles have been made available via digital distribution in the past. We've contacted both Square Enix and Disney Interactive about this and will be sure to let you know what we hear back.

[Via Sankaku Complex (site NSFW)]

LittleBigPlanet PSP coming out on PSN tomorrow, patch available now

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 23rd 2009 at 6:20PM }

This past week has been one long LittleBigDisappointment for early PSP Go adopters due to unforeseen technical snafus which prevented SCE Studio Cambridge's adorable platformer from jumping onto the PSN. Fortunately, the latest "Sack it to Me" news update brings word that the game will finally be available to download tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 24.

Perhaps even more newsworthy than that is the fact that the studio has already launched a patch for the title which "will improve the performance of some of the physics and tools in the Create mode." To download the game-specific update -- a fairly new feature on the handheld -- make sure you're connected to the internet, select the game's icon on the XMB, press Triangle, and select "Update." Now, sit back, and prepare to witness unthinkable technowizardry in the palm of your hand. Or hands, should you still be using the original double-wide PSP.

Revenge of the Wounded Dragons side-scrolling onto PSN tomorrow, Nov. 24

by JC Fletcher { Nov 23rd 2009 at 2:30PM }

A few days after its mysterious appearance on the ESRB database, the Sony Online Entertainment–published Revenge of the Wounded Dragons has been fully revealed -- and it's coming out this week. Tomorrow, in fact! Developed by A2M-owned Wanako Games, Wounded Dragons wears its inspirations on its sleeve, with a rescue-your-girlfriend story straight out of Double Dragon and single-file waves of enemies à la Kung Fu.

Wounded Dragons appears to feature a more involved combo system than its forebears, though, along with modern niceties like Trophies, custom soundtracks and leaderboards. Like NES fighters, however, the game is limited to local play -- yes, despite, ironically, being published by SOE. Revenge of the Wounded Dragons will be released on the PlayStation Store tomorrow, November 24, for $9.99. Hit the break to watch the trailer.

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Trophies: Peggle

by Andrew Yoon { Nov 23rd 2009 at 1:27PM }

	0 Platinum 1 Gold 6 Silver 8 Bronze	Difficulty: Very Difficult Online Trophies? Yes Time to Completion: 20 hours DLC Trophies? Yes* *Trophies requiring DLC are highlighted in yellow.
	View Trophy List	Read More About the Game