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This probably wasn't what fans had in mind when they demanded an Uncharted game for Sony's handheld. A series of new ESRB ratings reveals a new pinball franchise, most likely under the PSP Minis label, based on various first-party PlayStation properties. Pinball Heroes: Uncharted is the most noteworthy of the bunch which according to the ESRB descriptor, is based on Drake's Fortune. "Players use flippers to hit the ball around a crashed airplane, into silhouetted character targets, and off bumpers shaped like gold coins to score points."

In addition to Uncharted, other franchises will be getting the pinball treatment, including High Velocity Bowling, PAIN and Hot Shots Golf. Wait, no Pinball Heroes: God of War? That's a missed opportunity!

Unfortunately, no further details of the Pinball Heroes franchise can be garnered from the ESRB listings. We're submitting a few questions to Sony (like "how much?" and "why?") and will update when we hear back.

[Via GamerBytes]

Don't call it a comeback! Well, okay, call it a comeback if you must -- after last week's sorry showing, the European PSN releases from this week are fairly phenomenal. There's a pair of demos for Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time, new content for DJ Hero, EyePet and PAIN, as well as the full version of LocoRoco Midnight Carnival. Check after the jump for the full list!

Idol Minds, known best for the PS3 downloadable game PAIN, has laid off more than half of its staff, according to a report by Kotaku. The original team of 46 has been reduced to a mere 20 through a series of layoffs, the latest of which affected seventeen developers.

Kotaku's sources point to budget cuts from long-time publishing partner Sony Computer Entertainment. However, it's hard to ignore the irony of the team's namesake: other than a few expansion packs to PAIN, no major releases or game announcements have come out of the studio since 2007. What this means for the future of the PAIN franchise is unclear for now. Calls to both Idol Minds and SCEA were not returned.

During Sony's second press conference at the Tokyo Game Show, Capcom's Jun Takeuchi took the stage to demo the PlayStation 3's new motion controller with his game, Resident Evil 5. That's right, Sony will be bringing motion control to a handful of existing titles, including a re-released RE5 in Resident Evil 5: Director's Cut this coming Spring.

Sony also showed off LittleBigPlanet being controlled by two people, one wielding a motion wand while the other used a DualShock 3. Apparently a mess of other titles will be getting the motion treatment -- 13 in total (seen here, mostly in Japanese see update below) -- with Flower and Pain standing out as notable examples.

Update: We've got the full list right here.

Oh, my! Although the release of Turtles in Time and Silent Hill on PSN this week is certainly noteworthy, it's the appearance of George Takei in PAIN that takes the cake. The original Star Trek star will be at your disposal to shoot from a canon and ... seriously, why would you want to hurt George Takei? He's awesome! The Andy Dick hurtable PAIN DLC character from a couple weeks back was a far more understandable option. Check out the rest of the update after the break.

PAIN has some of the worst Trophies ever. However, things are going to get oh-so-slightly easier for PAIN veterans thanks to an unlikely partnership with AXE. (Yes, the deodorant company.) A new character, "Smooth Jarvis," will get a brand new set of AXE-inspired moves that will net you bonus points. These bonus points, in turn, can be helpful in unlocking PAIN's "Affliction Addiction," "D-Town Destruction," and "PAIN in the Park" Trophies.

We're certainly fans of this kind of in-game advertising (versus what WipEout HD offered). But, we beg the guys at Idol Minds: please make the "King of PAIN" Trophy easier. Please!

"I appreciate PS3 owners getting pissed off because it's not on their platform immediately, but that's up to Sony I guess to address that," Team17 studio head Martyn Brown said in a recent interview with VideoGamer.com. According to Brown, exclusivity is just a fact of life. "People on Live Arcade can't play Super Stardust [HD] or PAIN or a bunch of titles ... it's just the way the world works really." he added. Addressing concerns that his company was paid off by Microsoft for the timed exclusivity of Alien Breed Evolution on XBLA, Brown answered ... "bollocks" (British for "nonsense"). Instead, Brown credited the exclusivity deal to "early faith" from the publisher.

Specifically, Brown stated, "In exchange for exclusivity we get a lot more promotion ... it isn't the case of here's some cash in a suitcase, It just doesn't work like that -- It would be nice if it did!" No suitcases full of bank notes, Mr. Brown? Oh, that's right, GTA IV's exclusive DLC used up all of Microsoft's petty cash for a bit. Sorry, guy!

The most popular PlayStation Network game of 2008 is finally finding a home on retail disc ... in Europe. A Blu-ray version of the physics-based action game will be out June 24th in Europe, June 25th in Australia and New Zealand, and in the UK and Ireland on June 26th for €24.99/£19.99.

The offline collection will include all the expansions released so far: Abusement Park, Movie Studios and Sore Spots. You can expect a few DLC characters to be included as well, such as Tati, Ginger, Cookie and the Ded Baron. However, while the package is a rather comprehensive offering of PAIN, it will not include the next DLC pack, Museum, coming this summer.

[Thanks, Daniel G.!]

PAIN has come a long way since launching with just one level, two characters, and no online multiplayer. It's managed to rank at the top of PSN downloads through a consistent stream of content add-ons, which -- you guessed it -- have added new levels, new characters, and online multiplayer. We got our hands on the next update, the "Sore Spots" level pack, and its new characters at Sony's recent Gamers' Day in Los Angeles.

Read on for our full preview and to find out what's coming next from developer Idol Minds. (HInt: A heckuva lot more crotch-related agony.)

Looks like PSN's #1 game of 2008 is getting yet another expansion. The next expansion, "Sore Spots," will add two environments: the Morningwood High School gymnasium and the alien-infested Area 69. The expansions will also introduce a few new modes, such as the "Fun With Explosives" inspired "PAIN Science" mode.

The official PAIN blog features more details on the upcoming expansion, but we've taken a peek at the new Trophies for the upcoming expansion. To see Idol Minds' devilish new achievements, check past the break.

PSN's best-selling game of '08 gets an extensive update today, adding voice chat, a lobby system and online play. Idol Minds' Travis Williams explains that the large amount of physics data that is used in the game will demand a hefty internet connection: a minimum of 256k upstream will be required.

Many new online modes will be introduced, including a paid PAIN content pack, dubbed the "Smack Pack." This premium content will include both Fortress and Darts modes of play. See a video of Fortress, after the cut.

[Thanks, Andrew L.!]

From the "moments too late" category of stories comes the news that Andy Dick has recorded voice-over for his likeness in the PSN game, PAIN. Tragically, it comes after Dick has purportedly sobered up and gotten his life on track.

We would have loved to have put Dick in a giant slingshot just a few months ago when he was a total disaster. Now we're too nervous that our download of the "beat the crap out of Andy Dick" DLC is gonna be the one that pushes him off the wagon.

[Via Kotaku]

Looks like the folks at Idol Minds just won't stop expanding PAIN. (Makes sense, considering it's the biggest download on PlayStation Network in 2008). One of the upcoming expansions to PAIN is a new Darts mode. This new mode looks to mix up the fun of Mime Toss with the competitive nature of Bowling. Also new to this mode: online multiplayer, a first for PAIN.

There's still no word on release date or price. Stay tuned as we'll be sure to update you when we find out.

First David Hasselhoff, now William Shatner?

If VG247's supposed PlayStation Network calendar is to be believed, Star Trek star and Priceline.com spokesperson William Shatner will be the next celebrity offered for download in PAIN. SCEE hasn't confirmed the validity of this information, only saying "the PSN roadmap is for internal purposes" and "it's all subject to change." VG247 notes the Shatner addon will be available on March 19th.

[Via Joystiq]

Whether commanding starships or green aliens into bed, there's no mistaking William Shatner, even if he is a greasy smear on the side of a building. The man who invented the Corbomite Maneuver will soon put his body in players' hands in PAIN, reports videogaming247.

While still unconfirmed, Shatner's ragdoll alter ego would join The Hoff as the latest celebrity to be broken by the -- true fact! -- most popular PSN title ever. James T. Kirk is scheduled to smash into Sony Europe's PSN on March 19th, though a Sony representative tells us the release schedule "is for internal purposes only" and "subject to change." Khaaaan you believe it?