Since the surprising new PS3 exclusive, ModNation Racers, was shown at Sony’s E3 conference gamers across the globe have been waiting with baited breath for any glimpse of this game. Well have no fear we have the latest trailer to help wet your appetites.

The latest trailer does not show a whole lot of new stuff, but instead shows a little more of the customization of each driver and there car. What the trailer does do a good job of is making the wait that much harder till release day.

Enjoy!!

KontrolFreek is all about tweaking your gameplay and giving you an edge whether you play online of offline. A newcomer on the block, their initial products offer an alternative to the traditional controller configurations. Each product is geared toward delivering the most leverage and control. The FPSFreek and SpeedFreek are aptly named. Are these add-ons a revolution in gameplay or is it more of a gimmick?

The FPSFreek and SpeedFreek are both well made controller add-ons. Made of materials that both offer some flexibility yet not too much.  Designed with comfort in mind they should not cramp your gameplay. They feature a plastic ring that will surround the top of your DualShock 3’s analog sticks. A lip snaps them into place on the bottom of the analog stick tips.

Application to the analog sticks proved to be a bit cumbersome. The force that was required to apply the attachment felt excessive. Even after many applications over the course of gaming, every new attempt to apply felt as hard as the previous. On the positive side, once they were on they didn’t slip off very easily.

The FPSFreek add-on basically extend the height and throw distance of the analog sticks. This offers you more room to move the movement and/or look which may be uncomfortable for seasoned shooters while a benefit to the newcomer. The leverage offers allows you to fine tune your shots and movements.

Technically its not require to use both of them, so mix at match to see what works best. The one thing worth noting is if both are attached it makes it more difficult to put both sticks in the “cross-eyed” format. In other words both sticks pointing to each other. In my experience this was better used with just the right analog for looking.  After becoming acclimated I was about to fine tune my shots and obtain better accuracy.

For the driver the SpeedFreek adds a bit more fluidity to your controls. Attached to the ring are small “wings’ that are rounded up in order to place your thumbs into. This allows for more fluid movements and works especially well for some of the newer franchises using the right analog for acceleration.

After some adjustments through several gameplay sessions, I was able to find a comfortable position to lie my thumbs in the controller. Once applied, it is fairly easy to “spin” the SpeedFreek to adjust for your personal needs. I found myself changing configurations, sometimes only using one attachment in stead of both, which I often felt was advantageous depending on the individual games’ controls. Driving games that use the shoulders or face buttons for acceleration will have no need for a secondary SpeedFreek attachment.

Personally I felt the use of the SpeedFreek for steering was slightly cumbersome, but a newcomer who over steers may find this to be a great way to keep your thumb where it should be. This attachment was a perfect fit for Midnight Club: Los Angeles which uses the right analog exclusively for acceleration. I found that turning the controller so the wings lined up at 6 and 12 o’clock allowed for the best acceleration control with Midnight Club:Los Angeles. I am a huge fan of the motorcycle and this attachment allowed for great control with the bike.

These are certainly priced in a manner that new comers and seasoned vets can give them a shot. Like most other controllers and add-ons they may not be the answer in every situation, but they won’t cost an arm and a leg like other hardcore controllers do. It all boils down to personal tastes but you can see they do have a great deal of loyal fans. The FPSFreek and SpeedFreek are available for $9.99 individually or a combo pack for $17.99.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score Well constructed and comfortable. A little tough to get on, but stays on. Adds some options for hardcore and newcomers alike.

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If your like us you loved Borderlands and if so you probably can not wait to get your hands on the newest expansion The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned. Well if you thought your were anxious before feast your eyes on these simply frighting screens.

Be prepared to fight the undead November 24th when the DLC hits PSN for $9.99.

[Source]

Welcome to our weekly PlayStation Deals. With Black Friday looming just days away a few stores seem to be getting into the holiday spirit a little earlier.

This week see’s a lot of the same deals as previous weeks at both Amazon and Game Stop, but what is new this week is Target offering 10 titles for $44.  Madden NFL 10, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, Fifa Soccer 10, NCAA Football 10, NHL 10 and NBA Live 10 can be picked up in stores and online and Dragon Age Origins, Brutal Legend, Tekken 6 and Borderlands are in store only.

Be sure to check out our reviews if you’re unsure of any game.

Best Buy
Rock Band 2 – $19.99
Rock Band Country Pack – $19.99
Rock Band Metal Track Pack – $19.99

Amazon
Uncharted 2 – $49.99 [Review]
Rock Band 2 Bundle – $99.00
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time – $49.99 [Review]
[Prototype] – $36.99 [Review]
Tekken 6 – $45.46 [Review]
Dragon Age: Origins – $49.99 [Review]
Fifa Soccer 10 – $49.99
Madden NFL 10 – $44.00 [Review]
Demon’s Souls – $49.99 [Review]
Brutal Legend – $49.99 [Review]
Beatles: Rock Band – $49.96
Borderlands – $49.99
WWE: Smackdown Vs. Raw 2010 – $49.99 [Review]
Need for Speed: Shift – $49.99 [Review]
Killzone 2 – $49.99 [Review]
Prince of Persia – $19.99 [Review]
Overlord 2 – $29.92 [Review]
BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger – $49.99 [Review]
NCAA Football 10 – $44.00 [Review]
NHL 10 – $44.00 [Review]
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 – $44.00
Rock Band 2 – $19.96
Dragon Ball: Raging Blast – $49.99
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 – $46.99

GameStop
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time – $49.99 [Review]
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves – $49.99 [Review]
Need for Speed: Shift – $49.99 [Review]
Demon’s Souls – $49.99 [Review]
Brutal Legend – $49.99 [Review]
Beatles Rock Band – $49.99
NHL 2K10 – $39.99
Bayonetta (preorder) – $54.99
Way of the Samurai 3 – $39.99
WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2010 – $49.99 [Review]
Borderlands – $49.99
Tekken 6 – $49.99 [Review]
Dragon Age Origins – $49.99 [Review]
Dragon Ball Raging Blast – $49.99
Valkyria Chronicles – $19.99 [Review]
Fifa Soccer 10 – $49.99
Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 – $49.99
Rock Band 2 Special Edition Bundle – $99.99

Walmart
Valkyria Chronicles – $19.96 [Review]
Resident Evil 5 – $39.92 [Review]
Street Fighter 4 – $29.92 [Review]
Rockband 2 Special Edition Bundle – $99.00
The Beatles: Rock Band – $49.96

Target
Madden NFL 10 – $44.00 [Review]
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 – $44.00
Fifa Soccer 10 – $44.00
NCAA Football 10 – $44.00 [Review]
NHL 10 – $44.00 [Review]
NBA Live 10 – $44.00
Dragon Age Origins [Store only] – $44.00 [Review]
Brutal Legend [Store only] – $44.00 [Review]
Tekken 6 [Store only] – $44.00 [Review]
Borderlands [Store only] – $44.00

For PSP deals see page 2

Earlier this year, PS3 owners were delighted to hear that an HD version of No More Heroes would be coming to PS3 and Xbox 360, called No More Heroes: Heroes Paradise. No More Heroes received favorable reviews, and was one of the best games available on the Wii in 2008. The game is scheduled to be released in February but recent chatter from Ubisoft indicates there may be some issues.

G4TV has just learned that Ubisoft will not be publishing No More Heroes: Heroes Paradise for the US. This was revealed by a company spokesperson for Ubisoft.

“Ubisoft will not be publishing either of these versions.”

This could be bad news for the game if Grasshopper Manufacture fails to get a new publisher, or a publisher that isn’t fully committed to the game. Ubisoft hasn’t provided any reasons as to why they have decided not to publish the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game. They have only stated that they are still behind the franchise and will publish the sequel to No More Heroes for the Wii in North America.

[Source]

For the first part of this generation’s life cycle there was not a lot for the PS3 in terms of RPG’s. The PS3 now has a few gems with Valkyria Chronicles and Disgaea 3, as well as a former Xbox exclusive in Eternal Sonata. With age the PlayStation 3 seems like more attractive platform for RPG developers and publishers.

Next year marks a great year in terms of Role Playing Games with the big boys Square-Enix finally releasing Final Fantasy XIII, XIII Versus and XIV. While the Final Fantasy series keeps the series die hards happy it is not the only great up and coming RPG. But that is not the only great RPG to hit the PS3 next year and PlayStation LifeStyle will run down the 5 Most Anticipated RPG’s of 2010 that you need to keep an eye out for. These are in no particular order and few of these have yet to receive a US Release Date but we expect them to come in 2010.

5. Tales of Vesperia

Developer: Namco Tales Studio
Platform: PS3
Release Date: NA/EU – Not Announced, JP – September 17th, 2009

The Tales series is really starting to grow and Tales of Vesperia has added yet another chapter to the book. You play as Yuri Powell in this game as you battle to help out the lower class in the world. Experience a very action packed battle system that has 4 party members moving all at once to defeat enemies on screen.

4. Valkyria Chronicles 2

Developer: Sega
Platform: PSP
Release Date: JP – January 21st, NA/EU – Summer 2010

Following 2 years after the events in Valkyria Chronicles, a real gem for the PS3, Valkyria Chronicles 2 sets up in the middle of a civil war in Gallia. Players take up the fight as 17 year old Avan Hardence as you fight to protect the citizens of Gallia. The game will again feature the unique CANVAS Engine and find a beautiful cross between Strategy and Action in this sure to be amazing game.

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Details continue to come out of the new 3.1 firmware update. In addition to Facebook and more colorful gamercards, this updated has added additional diagnostic features. Error reports can be sent directly to Sony in the event the PlayStation 3 is improperly shut down.

If your PS3 freezes and your are forced to perform a hard reset of your system, you will be prompted with this message next time you turn on your PS3.

For users who experience constant freezing, this could help Sony figure out the problem. Likewise, these error reports could help Sony fix more universal problems, such as the PS3 internet browser freezing. It is not clear what exactly is being sent to Sony in these error reports. The disclaimer that pops up does specify that your email address, information about your PSN account, and information about what is stored on your PS3 will be sent to Sony. Hopefully, Sony will continue to be more active in trying to gamers experience on the PS3.

[Source]

While it is always great to have multiplatform games so that a bigger audience can experience them, it still rocks having those solid games exlusive to your system.  Well it looks like PS3 owners may have another exclusive coming to the table in the future according to a recent ESRB Listing.

The title is called Revenge of the Wounded Dragons and is being put together by A2M, who if you don’t remember worked on the Multi Platform title WET.  The publisher listed for the game is none other than Sony Online Entertainment.  From what can be gathered from the ESRB listing below, this sounds like a classic case of Double Dragon!

This is a 2D fighting game in which players assume the roles of two brothers attempting to avenge their grandfather’s death and rescue their sister from the local mafia boss. Players frequently punch, kick, and throw enemies as they “side-scroll” (i.e., walk) forward through the platform city environments; they can also use bottles, bats, knives, Molotov cocktails, pistols, shotguns, and uzi submachine guns to kill the henchmen. All enemies disappear from the screen seconds after they are defeated. The gun attacks represent the most intense instances of violence, as enemies react to damage with brief blood spurts, screams, and twitches. One still-image cutscene depicts a strip club where women in lingerie can be seen pole-dancing in the background.

Sounding pretty interesting?  PSN or Retail?  What does everyone think?

If you are an RPG lover you have almost certaintly played an Atlus game and if you have then you were treated to a great game.  Though at the same time, there are plenty of Atlus games you prolly missed due to the dreaded Atlus Short Supply.

It seems that with every Atlus game that releases there are always stories of lack of supply and back on the PS2 especially, it was very hard to find one of their games 2 or 3 weeks after the release.  Many people have speculated that the short supply is to keep the value of the game high but Atlus has given their reason for the supply issues that have plagued many of their games.  Aram Jabbari, Manager of PR and Sales at Atlus USA gave this comment recently on the PS.Blog,

As a smaller publisher, we usually don’t manufacture much surplus inventory, but we will never intentionally undersupply the market. We build to launch demand, which is most often dictated by pre-order trends, so if you’d like to make sure you can easily snag a copy (and of course, we understand there are always plenty of games to choose from and that it’s not always as easy to pick up day one), it usually helps to pre-order.

That tells the retailers there is demand for the title, and it better educates what we produce.

So there you have it, all we have to do is pre-order more copies and show a higher demand for the game, in turn making the supply of the game higher.

The Ratchet & Clank series has been Insomniac Games‘ longest running I.P. spanning from the PS2 generation in 2002 into the PlayStation 3 with the Ratchet & Clank Future series. With each on the PS2 surpassing at least one million units, Insomniac is no stranger to sales. But with Ratchet &  Clank Future: A Crack in Time’s sales missing the mark for the NPD numbers, is Insomniac Games disappointed?

The answer straight from the horse’s mouth is a resonating no. According to the community managers on Insomniac’s official podcast, the Full Moon Show, Ratchet & Clank Future:  A Crack in Time was the fastest selling Ratchet & Clank title in the franchise’s history. This should come to no surprise to fans and gamers alike seeing that A Crack in Time could be the last Ratchet & Clank title from Insomniac.

In any case, the Ratchet & Clank series should be applauded for its seven year presence on the PlayStation platforms across seven titles (not counting the PSP iteration by High Impact Games). Did you buy the game? And more importantly, how would you feel if the series is complete? Post your thoughts in the comments below.

[Source]

Netflix has offered instant streaming for quite some time now. The Xbox 360 has enjoyed Netflix instant streams since late 2008. Additionally other consumer electronics devices support the popular streaming service. It was only a matter of time and a natural fit for the jack of all media, the PlayStation 3, to support Netflix.

Netflix Instant Streaming on the PlayStation 3 represents a milestone for the PlayStation Network.  Being the free network that it is, you’d think by default we wouldn’t see a lot of the fancy features from other paid services.  However, it seems Sony wants to do as much as it can for its loyal consumers by making these features available.

In light of Microsoft’s exclusivity agreement with Netflix regarding streaming of content onto game consoles, Sony and Netflix were able to deliver the service using a Blu-Ray disc and BD-Live technology.  This disc gives PS3 users direct access to Netflix Instant Streaming Queue and selections by category, very much like what Xbox 360 offers. The interface is simple and elegant which compliments the XMB interface. Users can add selections to their queue from their PC or the PS3.

The content selection according to Netflix is over 17,000 titles. There is a large selection available in every category. Some of the categories available are: Comedy, Drama, Foreign, Action, Horror, Children, TV Shows and more. The TV selection is very robust with large selection and a decent amount of High Definition programming.  The movie selection is spotty, there are quite a few good movies but there are also many titles you have never heard of. If you are a fan of B-Movies the Netflix Instant Stream will provide you with a never ending supply of content. One thing that is noticeably missing and seems to be common place with streaming service is the lack of 5.1 audio.  Most audio will be Stereo or Pro Logic Surround.

Each selection offers a description screen with a highlight of all the relevant information for that item. The description screen also supports the Netflix 5 Star Ratings as well. Content queues up fairly quickly and the stream offers fast forward and rewind via several minute blocks to chose from. If you stop before the end of a stream you can resume it later. The performance for the streams appear to be on parity with the Xbox 360.

Reports indicate that Netflix will be available directly on the XMB.  In the mean time this Blu-Ray should give you all the features you want from Netflix on the PS3. Between this and the PSN Video Store the PS3 gives you access to pretty much all the film and TV content you could ever realistically desire to watch.

You can have Netflix send you a disc via www.netflix.com/PS3.

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PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score Over 17,000 titles, though not all spectacular. Streams great, not many hiccups or overt artifacts. Simple elegant interface that compliments the XMB.

World of Duty?

To say the Call of Duty franchise has been a success would be a bit of an understatement. The launch of Modern Warfare 2 shattered entertainment business records. Though Activision is content with churning out yearly sequels, it may have bigger plans in store for Call of Duty.

The Los Angeles Times is citing a source “close to Activision” as stating that the company is in fact looking into the possibility of creating a massively multiplayer online game set in the world of Call of Duty. There are currently only a handful of MMOFPS games on the market, and it looks like Activision wants to capitalize on that. Whether or not anything will come of this is yet to be seen, but should any news surface expect to read it on PlayStation LifeStyle.

[Source/Via]

PlayStation owners have been demanding two key features since the launch of the PS3: cross-game chat and cross-game invites. Well, the long wait is over for one of those features.

DLB Network has put together this video showing cross-game invites on the PS3. In the video, the user is able to jump directly from his game of Burnout: Paradise into a friend’s game in Modern Warfare 2. As of now, Modern Warfare 2 is the only game that allows you to send out game invites; however, it appears that you can send invites to friends no matter what game they are playing. Sony didn’t announce this feature, but it was most likely implemented with Firmware 3.0.

[Source]

Now FREE on your PSP!

Hey you! Yeah you! Are you an Astroboy fan? Did you just love the latest movie starring this robotic child superhero? Then you might want to pay attention. Sony is currently giving away a free movie adaptation comic for its just-released digital comic reader. The code you require is available after the jump, and again is absolutely free.

Sony really seems to be ramping up in preparation for the onslaught of comic goodness headed towards the PlayStation Portable. So here is the code you must enter from your PlayStation Portable, not on your PlayStation 3 or even the PC application MediaGo:

FF3N-H7B6-M2JF

Whoa whoa whoa, slow down there! This isn’t a race. No, this code is good for a while and there is seemingly no limit to the number of people who can use it. Happy reading!

[Source]

BIOWARE ANNOUNCES NEW “RETURN TO OSTAGAR” DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT FOR DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS

“Return to Ostagar” Will be Available This Holiday 2009 Season for EA’s Award-Winning Epic RPG Fantasy

Leading video game developer BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc., announced today that the Return to Ostagar downloadable content (DLC) for Dragon Age™: Origins will be available for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC versions this Holiday season in North America and Europe.

The DLC pack, Return to Ostagar, allows players to exact their revenge and embark on a quest for the mighty arms and armor of the once great King Cailan when they revisit Ostagar, the site of the Grey Wardens’ darkest hour, to reclaim the honor and learn the secrets of Ferelden’s fallen king.

“We are very proud of the phenomenal launch of Dragon Age: Origins and we’re pleased to announce the next installment of downloadable content that will be available to fans of the game,” said Ray Muzyka, Group General Manager, RPG/MMO Group of EA, and Co-Founder, BioWare. “The Return to Ostagar DLC pack is a prime example of BioWare’s commitment to give fans a game that continuously offers new experiences and further enriches a storyline that has already received critical acclaim and positive feedback from the players.”

Return to Ostagar, BioWare’s next thread in the Dragon Age: Origins tapestry, summons players to a new quest in which they will return to the fateful battleground in Ostagar where the Grey Wardens were nearly wiped out. Players will discover King Cailan’s top-secret political agenda and go behind enemy lines to revisit a place that many feared had been lost to history.

Return to Ostagar will be available for $4.99 on the PlayStation® Store, for 400 BioWare Points on the PC and 400 Microsoft Points on the Xbox 360 in North America. Return to Ostagar will be released this Holiday season worldwide on the Xbox 360, the PlayStation®3 console and PC. Dragon Age: Origins is rated M by the ESRB and 18+ by PEGI.

For more information on Dragon Age: Origins, please visit www.dragonage.com.