We’ve got a healthy dose of news for you today, including a few new updates that should be hitting the PlayStation Network later today. Keep reading for the headlines:

• Following the release of Bejeweled 2, Popcap has announced that another popular casual gamewill be making its way to the PSN: Zuma.
• This week’s LittleBigPlanet update will see the release of the previously announced WipEout HD costumes, as well as some bonus stickers.
• SingStar is going wireless, with new wireless mics coming out in March.
• Mirror’s Edge is getting another dose of DLC, with a second batch of time trial maps.
• Next week’s PSN update will see the release of the PSP space shooter No Gravity.
• On March 5 a new content pack will be hitting Unreal Tournament 3, which adds new maps, units, vehicles, characters and Trophies.

Post from: EveryJoe

Today in PlayStation: February 19, 2009

It’s finally Friday, which for most of us means a weekend full of gaming up ahead. If you haven’t played WipEout HD yet, be sure to download the PSN demo that was released yesterday. It really is one of the best games on the PS3. Here are today’s headlines:

• Resistance 2 is getting a patch, which should help some multiplayer and balancing issues. Get all the details here.
• Burnout Paradise is also getting patched, with a whole heap of updates for the open world racer.
• The sci-fi tower defense game Savage Moon should be hitting the PlayStation Network in the next few weeks.
• A new space is coming to Home, and it looks like some sort of cafe.
• Tenchu 4 is coming to North American PSPsthanks to publisher Ubisoft.

Post from: EveryJoe

Today in PlayStation: January 23, 2009

Though it may appear to be a simple platformer at first, LittleBigPlanet is so much more. The game provides a wealth of level creation tools and a YouTube-style level sharing system, giving players an almost endless supply of levels. Add in an absolutely adorable art style and terrrificly whimsical soundtrack, and you have the best PS3 experience of 2008.

Runner-Up –  Burnout Paradise

Best PS2 Game - Persona 4

The PlayStation 2 may be on its last legs, but that didn’t prevent Atlus from using it craft the best role-playing experience of the year. The game builds upon its predecessor, offering an improved battle system and a much more in-depth story line. It’s dark, it’s weird, and it’s a truly great title that should not be missed.

Runner-Up – Kingdom Hearts RE: Chain of Memories

Best PSN Game – Pixeljunk Eden

2008 was the year when the PlayStation Network finally came into its own, offering a wealth of great games. Leading the way was Pixeljunk Eden, a stylish platformer that exemplifies what a great downloadable game should be: it’s perfect for quick bouts of gaming, but is substantial enough to keep you interested for hours.

Runner-Up – WipEout HD

Best PSP Game – Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

Square-Enix hasn’t had much luck when it comes to building on the Final Fantasy VII mythos, but they finally struck gold with this PSP prequel. Crisis Core does a great job of adding to the backstory of FFVII, fleshing out characters like Zack, who were only briefly mentioned in the original. The game also has a unique and addictive battle system, along with arguably the best production values yet on Sony’s handheld.

Runner-Up – Patapon

Post from: EveryJoe

PlayStation Monger Game of the Year Awards

Well, Friday is finally here, and as the snow quickly forms mountains outside it feels like the perfect time to do some serious gaming. Thankfully the PlayStation Network has plenty of great new games, add-ons, and demos to spend some time with. Here are the headlines for today.

• LittleBigPlanet has received an update, which improves the search functionality in the game and adds an in-game store, the LittleBigStore, naturally.
• In other LBP news, next week will see the release of Metal Gear Solid themed costume and item packs.
• If you’ve yet to play the terrific WipEout HD, a demo will be hitting the PlayStation Network on Christmas Eve.
• If you need some help getting in the holiday spirit, check out the latest SingStore update, which will bring all sorts of Christmas themed songs to sing along to.
• Capcom has announced that Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix has shattered sales records, selling upwards of 250,000 copies since launching on the PSN.

Post from: EveryJoe

Today in PlayStation: December 19, 2008

5. Fallout 3

The post-apocalyptic Washington D.C. portrayed in Fallout 3 offers a huge sandbox for gamers to play around in, even if it is teeming with radioactive mutants. This large world offers dozens of hours of gameplay, as it would take quote a while to explore the entire area. Even better, the game begs for multiple playthroughs, as you can get a totally different experience based on whether or not you play as a good character, a bad one, or somewhere in between. The only downside is that it is a full price release.

4.WipEout HD

It’s no secret that we are big fans of WipEout HD, and there’s good reason for it. Not only is it one of the best racers on the PS3, it is also a steal at just $19.99. And with 8 different circuits and some great online multiplayer, it’s a game that will last you well into the new year.

3. The Orange Box

Now it’s really hard to deny this deal. Take one of the best first-person shooters of all time, Half-Life 2, add in the great multiplayer mayhem of Team Fortress 2 and the awesomeness that is Portal, and you have possibly the best gaming box set on the market. The best part is that most retailers are now offering The Orange Box pretty cheap, so you can grab all of these great games for $29.99 and under.

2. Burnout Paradise

Sure, it may be just a racer, but it’s a racer with a metric ton of content to go along with it. When you pick up Burnout Paradise (which, by the way, is available for download on the PlayStation Network) not only do you get the excellent retail release, but also all of the content that Criterion Games has released since its launch. This includes a bunch of new cars, the addition of motorcycles, and a few new game play modes. Not bad for $29.99.

1. LittleBigPlanet

But when it comes to bang for your buck, it is really tough to beat the value of LittleBigPlanet. This absolutely charming platformer offers a plethora of new content every day thanks to the magic of user generated content. This ensures that there is always new levels for you to try, a lot of which are quite good. Sure, it’s a full priced game, but it’s one you can play almost infinitely.

Post from: EveryJoe

The Top 5 PS3 Bargains

In this weeks edition of how-to, we show you a cool way of customizing the look of your PlayStation 3. We all know that WipEout HD is a beautiful looking game, which makes it all the better that it also includes an in-game photo feature. Over the following steps, we’ll show you how to take those futuristic racing pictures and use them as wallpaper for your PS3. (Note: you will need a copy of WipEout HD for this how-to)

1. To start, boot up WipEout HD and start a race. When you get to a point you want to photograph, pause the game by pressing the Start button. From here you can select the Photo Mode option, which is the fifth option from the top.

2. Once you are in the Photo menu, you can adjust aspects like camera placement, blur and exposure, or even make use of some photo effects options. Play around with it a bit to get things just the way you want. Once you are settled, hit the X button to take a picture.

3. The photo will be saved on your hard drive, so to access it you will have to exit the game. Go to the Photo section of the Cross Media Bar (XMB), the third option from the left, and find the folder containing your newly snapped picture. It’s most likely the one on the bottom.

4. From here, select the picture you want to use as a background by hitting the X button, which should bring up a full-screen image of the picture. Hit the triangle button, and a menu will pop up on screen. Select Set as Wallpaper, which is the sixth option from the left, in the top row.

5. Once you have selected that option, the picture can now be adjusted to better fit your particular display. Hit the X button once everything is how you want it. A prompt will come up asking you if you want to overwrite your old wallpaper. Select Yes.

And voila! There you have it. The angular crafts and futuristic backdrops of WipEout HD make for a great wallpaper, though you may have to play around with it a bit in order to get that perfect picture.

Do you have any PlayStation related questions? Anything you can’t quite figure out on your PS3? Let us know in the comments or via email, and we’ll tackle it in the next edition of How-To.

Post from: EveryJoe

How-To: Use WipEout HD Photos as Wallpaper

5. Lengthy Installs

There’s nothing worse then downloading a new game off of the PlayStation Network, getting ready to play, and then realizing it still has to install. This process tends to take as long, if not longer, then the actual download. But what’s worse, unlike downloading, this process can’t be done in the background, meaning you are stuck staring at a slow moving bar.

4. Frequent Game Updates

Now this is something I ran into not once, but twice last night. I played a little of both LittleBigPlanet and WipEout HD, and before being able to play either game, I had to download a mandatory update. I couldn’t do it later, I had to do it now or I couldn’t play. And like the installs, this can’t be done in the backgroung. These updates seem to happen way too often, and though they obviously improve the quality of the game itself, the frequency and length of them prevents you from enjoying a game right away.

3. Dust!

We’ve all seen the pictures of the dusty PS3 that was refused warranty by Sony. And while that’s an extreme example, the shiny black surface of the PS3 sure seems to attract dust bunnies. Even though mine is locked away behind a sheet of glass beneath the television, I still have to dust it almost daily.

2. USB Cord

One of the best, unhearalded innovations this console generation is the fact that wireless controllers are now the norm. Playing without a wire is just so damn convenient, so much so that it can be tough to go back to classic wired controllers. Which is what you have to do if your Sixaxis or Dual Shock 3 ever runs out of juice. The controller has to be plugged in to be charged, which is reasonable. But what isn’t reasonable, is that the cord is only a few feet long, meaning that I’m stuck with burning eyes from sitting too close to the screen.

1. Lack of Backwards Compatibility

Now this is  may not be a problem for those of you lucky enough to have purchased a launch window PS3, but those of us with newer models are stuck not being able to play PS2 games on our PS3. Considering how many great games Sony’s previous console had, this is really a shame. What’s worse is that I’m stuck with yet another console under the TV so that I can still have random SingStar parties or lengthy Disgaea marathons.

Post from: EveryJoe

The Top 5 PS3 Annoyances

5. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue

The pre-eminent racing sim out there, Gran Turismo leads the way when it comes to driving physics, visuals, and customization options. The fifth entry in the series ups the ante in all those aspects, and is one of the best looking games of the current generation. Unfortunately, the only edition available right now is the Prologue, which is essentially a glorified demo with less cars and tracks. But for GT fans, it’s a good, albeit expensive, way to kill time until the real GT5 comes out.

4. MotorStorm: Pacific Rift

Sometimes it’s fun to just hop in a monster truck, and run over things. Thank you Motor Storm: Pacific Rift. The sequel to the PS3 launch title introduces these massive vehicles, which join a cast full of bikes, ATVs, buggies, rally cars, big rigs, racing trucks, and mud pluggers. The new version also switches up the setting, throwing gamers onto a tropical island making the game much less brown then its predecessor. The new boost mechanic also adds a new level of strategy, as your vehicle can be cooled off by running through water.

3. Pure

But if you’re looking for a simpler, more accessible off-road racer make sure to check out Pure. Sure, it doesn’t have the vehicle selection of MotorStorm–you can only race ATVs in this one–but its simple control scheme and intense sense of scale make it one of the most entertaining racers in recent memory. Check out our review for more details.

2. WipEout HD

This PlayStation Network racer is probably the fastest thing available on the PS3. WipEout HD is the latest entry in the futuristic racing series, though in reality it’s just a much prettier version of the PSP games. Not that that’s a bad thing. In fact, WipEout HD is one the best PS3 games period. Not bad for a game that’s only $19.99.

1. Burnout Paradise

But if you can only buy one racer, it really should be Burnout. The game features an incredibly large city explore, full of tons of events and secrets to find. It also is good fun with a buddy or two, featuring hop-in/hop-out online multiplayer. But the best part of Paradise is the constant updates being made by developer Criterion. There has been a steady stream of compelling DLC released for the game, including the introduction of motorcycles, new cars, and several new gameplay modes. And there’s more to come, meaning that Burnout Paradise is a racer that could last you well into next year.

Don’t forget to check out last week’s Top 5, which looks at the best PlayStation Network palette cleaners.

Post from: EveryJoe

The Top 5 PS3 Racers

5. WipEout HD

Racing games are great when you only have a short amount of time to play. You can squeeze in a race or two in no time, especially in a game as fast as WipEout HD. The only problem is that one race can quickly lead to five, which then leads to you forgetting to pick up the kids from school. Woops!

4. Mega Man 9

Old-school gaming is great, because the game mechanics are easy to grasp, but hard to master. And though Mega Man 9 is a brand new title, it brings that same old school mentality–not to mention delightfully pixelated 8-bit graphics. The best part about playing MM9 with limited time is that you can get a lot out of only a few minutes of play. In 10 minutes time you can die upwards of 14 times.

3. flOw

If you aren’t in the mood to get frustrated dying a few dozen times, you may want to try a more relaxing experience. Enter flOw. This aquatic life simulator combines soothing tones and subdued visuals for what amounts to a truly unique experience. It’s not so great for long sessions, but in short bursts can be perfect for a gamer plowing through all of  AAA holiday releases.

2. PixelJunk Eden

 A step up from flOw challenge wise, Eden is still a very chilled out experience, only with a little more game behind it. You collect pollen in order to open up new areas, which are accessed by swinging and jumping off of plants. The game also features a beautiful abstract aesthetic that is perfect from getting away from the photorealistic look of most modern games.

1. Everyday Shooter

There’s nothing like a twin-stick shooter to freshen you up before moving onto the next big, time-consuming game. Unfortunately, most of them can be frustratingly hard. What’s great about Everyday Shooter is that it is very accessible, so that you don’t have to spend lots of time memorizing enemy patterns or learning how to use multiple weapons. It’s just a straight up shooter, that happens to sport some of the most unique graphics on the PS3, not to mention one kick-ass soundtrack.

Don’t forget to check out last weeks Top 5 Reasons to Keep Your PS2.

Post from: EveryJoe

The Top 5 PSN Palette Cleansers

If there is one thing that the futuristic racing genre is good for, it’s creating the sensation that you are moving incredibly fast. Your sleek racing machine blasts across incredible landscapes so quickly that you can barely get a glimpse of the world around you before it’s already gone. And while WipEout HD does just this, it does so without causing nausea or an absurd difficulty level like, say, F-Zero GX.

It’s a good thing that WipEout HD isn’t any faster though, because then you’d miss the beautiful surroundings. From the slick asphalt and flashing billboards, to the setting suns in the distance, it’s clear that WipEout HD is one fine looking game. This is especially true when it comes to the vehicles. There are a number of different styles, each of which is unique and interesting. But what’s great about the vehicles is that they all sport the same boxy, weathered look made popular by the original Star Wars trilogy.

Though all of the eye candy is great, and really adds to the experience, it would mean nothing if it wasn’t built upon a solid foundation. And thankfully, it is. The races are difficult without being too frustrating, and there are enough different types–time trial, speed lap, single race, etc.–to keep things fresh. What does get a bit old though, is the lack of track variety. When going through the campaign you will race through the same tracks multiple times, and this is doubly frustrating if you played either of the PSP versions of WipEout, as all of the courses are taken from those games.

The campaign mode does provide an ample amount of gameplay though, as unlocking new tracks and vehicles, and trying to get those ever elusive gold medals, can prove to be an addictive task. And since you will be spending a lot of time in the game, the addition of custom soundtracks is a godsend. The in-game soundtrack is composed entirely of electronic music, so if you’re not a fan of the genre, you can blaze through the tracks to music of your own choosing.

Despite the fact that WipEout HD is a downloadable game and costs just $20, it is still one of the best racers on the platform. It has a wonderful balance between difficulty and accessability, and man does it look good. Combine that with an online multiplayer component and the promise of additional content in the future, and this could be the best $20 you spend all year.

Post from: EveryJoe

Mini-Review: WipEout HD brings the speed