PixelJunk Monsters is certainly not the first tower defense game, but it's the game that popularized the genre on consoles. When it debuted on PlayStation Network last year, it became an instant hit. The game was easy to understand, but deceptively challenging, encouraging players to master each level to get that all-elusive rainbow.

The original PS3 game actually was playable on the PSP via Remote Play. However, Q Games is now making a proper PSP version that's optimized for the small screen. For example, the camera is now zoomed in closer to the character. While this means less of the map can be seen at once, it makes seeing the towers and choosing the right ones much easier. It may take some time for PixelJunk vets to get used to, especially when the screen scrolls trying to follow you.

The amount of content being offered in Deluxe is almost absurd, making it the most complete version of Monsters to date. Not only does the PSP game feature allt he content of the original PixelJunk Monsters, it also adds the Encore island and a brand new island exclusive to PSP. Ten new stages are added, in addition to new enemy types and towers.

PixelJunk Monsters is coming to PSP and, as promised, features a ton of new content not found in the PS3 version. The handheld version of the tower defense game will include all the content of PixelJunk Monsters, Encore, and a bit more. Deluxe will add a new island with ten new stages, new enemies and new music tracks. Two new towers will be introduced into the game, which players can utilize in the classic stages and Q-Games will also challenge the PJM hardcore with a brand new boss as well.

Although PSP isn't getting Trophy support yet, Monsters Deluxe will feature a "Medal Challenge" mode that replicates the achievement system used on the console. In addition, unlocking Medals will give players access to unlockables, such as videos, artwork and more.

Finally, PixelJunk Monsters wouldn't be complete without a co-op mode. You'll be able to go online in both Ad-Hoc and Infrastructure modes. Nice!

Import retailer Play-Asia has listed a June release for the upcoming PSP version of PixelJunk Monsters. The handheld version of the popular tower defense game will feature all the content found in the PS3 game ... and then some. Considering the PSP game will be a full UMD release over in Asia, it's going to need a lot of content to justify its non-budget price.

It'll be interesting to see how SCEA decides on distributing the game here in America. echochrome released as a full UMD game in Asia, but released as a PlayStation Network exclusive here. Perhaps a similar solution will be implemented here.

[Via PSPHyper]

The PSN PixelJunk series will be bundled in the PixelJunk 3in1 Pack for the Asian market, reports Siliconera. The bundle will include Racers, Monsters and Eden. All games have English or Japanese language options, but there's no word yet if the disc includes the Monsters expansion or the Eden soundtrack.

Although we've yet to hear back from Sony Europe, Sony America let us know that it has no "official announcements at this time about the PixelJunk series." If the region didn't deserve a hard copy for Siren: Blood Curse's 9 gigglebytes, what chance does PixelJunk have? Ending on a good note: at least PS3 games aren't region locked.

[Update: Q Games president Dylan Cuthbert confirmed to Joystiq that this PixelJunk pack is Asia-only. "Right now, this special bundle is for Asia only."]

People just can't get enough PixelJunk Monsters. PS3 fans fell in love with this charming tower defense game, leading to the release of the Encore expansion pack and subsequent Trophy patch. PSP owners are in for a treat as they'll be receiving their own version of the game later this year.

What will Monsters PSP feature? We're expecting the same content featured in the PS3 games, but Dylan Cuthbert promises there will be even more stuff in the PSP game. In an interview with Core Gamers, he reveals the team is currently "adding 50% more content or more" to the game. Those that have played both Monsters and Encore know well that this is a massive amount of content. How will we possibly get rainbows on all of these levels?

When asked if PixelJunk Eden, the third of Q-Games' downloadable games on PS3, would also receive PSP treatment, Cuthbert seemed doubtful. Eden is a far more complex, processor-intense game. "Never say never of course, but it would be quite a challenge and a number of things might have to be changed."

Nominations for the Independent Games Festival Awards 2009 have been announced today and one of our favorite PSN titles, PixelJunk Eden, has been nominated for three categories. The categories are: Excellence in Visual Art, Excellence in Audio and Technical Excellence. Eden is one of few console games to be nominated in this year's awards, and the only PlayStation Network title to get recognition.

The winners will be revealed at the Independent Games Festival which takes place in San Francisco between March 23rd and 27th. If you want to learn more about all the games on the list be sure to check out Joystiq's IGF nominee run-down. Good luck to PixelJunk Eden, there's some strong competition there.

Looks like more PS3 games are coming to the PSP. The popular tower defense game, PixelJunk Monsters, is heading to the PSP. In fact, there's going to be more content than ever before. This is great news, especially because we're not too fond of using Remote Play to stream games. We can't wait to see more when the game comes out in 2009. To find out more about the game, check out all the news on PS3 Fanboy.

[Thanks, Top_Slacker!]

Looks like more PS3 games are coming to the PSP. The popular tower defense game, PixelJunk Monsters, is heading to the PSP. In fact, there's going to be more content than ever before. This is great news, especially because we're not too fond of using Remote Play to stream games. We can't wait to see more when the game comes out in 2009. To find out more about the game, check out all the news on PS3 Fanboy.

[Thanks, Top_Slacker!]

So ... Did you get that PixelJunk Monsters patch yesterday? Neither did we. The patch is technically live and available for all. The problem is, the only way American users can get the patch right now is to download the game anew. To do that, you'll want to go to the PlayStation Store and click on the "View Downloads" button. Find and install PixelJunk Monsters -- it will already have the patch built in!

If that's too much work, don't worry. SCEA is currently investigating the situation. Hopefully, it won't be long before you can auto-magically get the new challenge and Trophy-enabled patch.

Update: The patch is now available when you launch the game.

As if we don't have enough games to play already right now. The PixelJunk Monsters trophy patch is now live and ready to download. The trophy implementation is a little different to what you've seen in other games. You'll need to complete special Trophy Challenge levels in order to get your grubby mitts on them. The patch also adds new difficulty levels to the game as well as YouTube uploading. All for free and all ready for you to grab right now. If you live in Europe, that is. No doubt the patch will hit the US before the end of the day. We'll keep you updated.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Q-Games' popular tower defense game is getting a brand new mode: the Trophy challenge. This mode can only be done in single player, and has you completing levels with new objectives. This should add hours of new gameplay for those that have already mastered the game. The hidden Trophies can be completed in any game mode: just achieve the task.

Q-Games isn't reinventing the wheel, it's just slapping on a new set of tires, as PixelJunk Monsters and Encore expansion updates hit PSN next week. The October 30th patches will add Trophies and variable difficulties (including a "casual" mode), as promised, but the free upgrades don't stop there. In addition, the tower selection menu will be tweaked (with an option to set the default action), the Ice and Tesla Towers will be re-balanced for the original island, custom soundtracks will be supported, and YouTube uploading has been added (up to 10 minutes of gameplay -- videos can also be stored in the XMB's video folder). Now, about online co-op ...

If you fancy another go with these exciting details -- only this time in Dylan Cuthbert's drab British accent -- then by all means, head for the video preview after the break!

There's at least one PSN game which is universally loved: PixelJunk Monsters. We recently got a chance to play PJM at Q-Games' studios in Kyoto. However, it wasn't quite the same game we've grown to love: it's PixelJunk Monsters -- with an awesome patch.

The upcoming patch adds Trophy support, YouTube recording, new difficulty levels (Easy and Hard), and adjusts the strength of the towers a bit. For example, you'll have the ice tower available (no gems required!). Also, the Tesla tower's range has been increased.

We want to say more about the Trophy mode, but we're still awaiting approval from SCEA on how much we can divulge about that. We will give you one tease: you won't have to worry about these Trophies being retroactive. Update: So, the PlayStation.blog has just updated with the official details on the Trophy patch, which will be available on October 30th, in America and Europe. Watch Dylan Cuthbert talk about the details in this new video.