Having bought my Playstation 3 on Boxing Day, I’m a bit new to the whole Playstation Store thing. Sure, I’ve dabbled in it via the Media Go software before, when I had to receive my review copy of Gran Turismo, but I can no longer access the store from that infernal piece of hardware now. Thankfully, my PS3 has rendered it obsolete, and I can not only get to the store, but try some of the things that they’re trying to sell us. I’ve also learned a couple of other things: for one, Sony offers a lot of stuff on the Playstation Store! Secondly, a lot of it is a waste of time and money.
Playstation 3 – Full Game – The biggest name addition to the store lineup this week is a full, new PS3 game called Matt Hazard: Blood, Bath & Beyond, which was also released on XBox Live on Wednesday. I managed to play some of the demo, and unlike the previous Matt Hazard title, is a straight up 2.5D shooter that is reminiscent of Contra, if Contra made you shoot enemies in the background as well. the big lure of this game is that it’s essentially taking the piss out of both movie clichés and gaming clichés, while adding in some gratuitous violence and cursing for thirteen year olds of all ages (the hardest difficulty level is literally named “Fuck This Shit”). My brief experience with the game before time ran out was that it was a sloppy shooter with loads of cheap hits, with a completely juvenile sense of humour and horrible one-liners to boot; it’s like Duke Nukem and Gex had a love child. While I applaud their effort, I’m not seeing any quality. However, fans of old-school shooters will at least want to give the demo a try to see if this is their cup of tea.
Playstation 3 – Demos – Outside of the Matt Hazard demo is a demo for the coming Capcom title Dark Void. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to try this demo yet, as it won’t be downloaded or installed by the time this piece goes up, but I will instead refer everyone to our E3 preview of the title.
Playstation Store Sales: Three $10 games are half price this week: Cellfactor Psychokinetic Wars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time, and Prince of Persia: Classic. The latter two games are the names that will turn the most heads, and are both worth $5. Reviews around the internet were mixed for TMNT, but our own Mark B. liked it, and I trust his word more than anyone on any other website. Meanwhile, I can personally attest that Prince of Persia Classic, while not what newer fans of the series are used to, is definitely worth $5, and is a classic game that was way ahead of it’s time when it was new.
Qore – One thing I wasn’t aware of going into this piece was Qore, which takes gamers “behind the scenes” of the making of their favourite games. This week’s update contains in-depth looks at Dante’s Inferno, Heavy Rain and Bioshock 2. Unbelievably, this carries a $2.99 price tag on it, with an annual pass being $24.99. Against my better judgement, I bought this week’s episode, to see exactly what it was, and sure enough, I paid Sony for the right to advertise games to me. There is nothing really interesting in these episodes, and what’s more infuriating is that the show is produced specifically to get people more excited – read: more excited to part with their money – for upcoming Playstation games. This is the kind of thing you put up on Youtube for free, but Sony is charging real world money for the right to watch this. Do yourselves a favour: skip this crap. For those that did purchase a season pass, next season, do us both a favour: send ME the money, and I promise that I will put it to better use.
As for smaller things like song DLC and avatars, we’ll go into bullet-points.
Regular Add-Ons:
* Borderlands The Underdome DLC ($9.99)
* Dragon Ball: Raging Blast Androids Pack (free)
* MX vs ATV Reflex Track Pack 1 ($4.99)
* PAIN Mae Ryder Character ($0.99)
Rock Band Add-Ons:
(# = Compilation pack of all of the songs above it; for example, all of the songs above the Going Country 2 pack are in that pack)
* Good Time – Alan Jackson ($1.99)
* Cry Lonely – Cross Canadian Ragweed ($1.99)
* She’s Country – Jason Aldean ($1.99)
* I Told You So – Keith Urban ($1.99)
* The Gambler -Kenny Rogers ($1.99)
* This One’s For the Girls – Martina McBride ($1.99)
* Any Man of Mine -Shania Twain ($1.99)
# Going Country Pack 2 ($10.99)
* Adam’s Song – Blink-182 ($1.99)
* First Date – Blink-182 ($1.99)
* I Miss You – Blink-182 ($1.99)
# Blink-182 Track Pack 2 ($5.49)
* Band on the Run (Live) – Paul McCartney ($1.99)
* Jet (Live) – Paul McCartney ($1.99)
* Sing the Changes (Live) – Paul McCartney ($1.99)
# Paul McCartney Pack 1 ($5.49)
* Love My Way – Psychedelic Furs ($1.99)
* Sister Europe – Psychedelic Furs ($1.99)
* Rock ‘n’ Roll High School – Ramones ($1.99)
Premium Avatars:
* LittleBigPlanet Sackboy PSN Avatar ($0.49)
* LittleBigPlanet MyMoon PSN Avatar ($0.49)
* LittleBigPlanet Craft Earth PSN Avatar ($0.49)
* LittleBigPlanet Xmas Tree PSN Avatar ($0.49)
* LittleBigPlanet Santa PSN Avatar ($0.49)
* LittleBigPlanet Giftboy PSN Avatar ($0.49)
* LittleBigPlanet “Sky” Sackgirl PSN Avatar ($0.49)
* LittleBigPlanet “Marvin” Sackboy PSN Avatar ($0.49)
* LittleBigPlanet “Gloria” Sackgirl PSN Avatar ($0.49)
* LittleBigPlanet “Arr!!!” Sackboy PSN Avatar ($0.49)
* LittleBigPlanet “Lily Pad” PSN Avatar ($0.49)
* LittleBigPlanet “Hugo” PSN Avatar ($0.49)
* LittleBigPlanet “Great Blue” PSN Avatar ($0.49)
* LittleBigPlanet “Frost-E” PSN Avatar ($0.49)
* LittleBigPlanet Planets PSN Avatar Bundle ($0.99)
* LittleBigPlanet Festive PSN Avatar Bundle ($0.99)
* LittleBigPlanet Characters 1 PSN Avatar Bundle ($1.25)
* LittleBigPlanet Animals PSN Avatar Bundle ($1.25)
Game Videos
* PULSE 1/7 Edition
* Army of Two: The 40th Day “Jonah Reveal Trailer”
* Army of Two: The 40th Day “Weapon Customization Trailer”
* Avatar Launch Trailer
* Dante’s Inferno Developer Diary Anger Network Trailer
* Dante’s Inferno Developer Diary Gluttony Network Trailer
* Dante’s Inferno Developer Diary Greed Network Trailer
* Dante’s Inferno Developer Diary Hersey Network Trailer
* Dante’s Inferno Developer Diary Limbo Network Trailer
* Dante’s Inferno Developer Diary Lust Network Trailer
* Inferno Pool Endurance Tutorial Video
* Inferno Pool Nominations Tutorial Video
* Inferno Pool Skill Shots Tutorial Video
* Inferno Pool Swerve Tutorial Video
* MX vs ATV: Reflex Developer Diary
* Ratchet & Clank Future: ACIT – Rift Inducer Weapons Video
* Ratchet & Clank Future: ACIT – Spiral of Death Weapons Video
* Ratchet & Clank Future: ACIT – Top 5 Things You Missed Video
* Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing Gamescon Trailer
* Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing Halloween Trailer
* Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing Ryo Trailer
* UFC Undisputed 2010 Teaser Trailer
* UFC Undisputed 2010 Announce Trailer
* Yakuza 3 Teaser Trailer
Themes and Wallpapers
* Azmodeus Dark Angels Premium Theme 2 ($1.99)
* PixelJunk Shooter Theme (free)
* PixelJunk Shooter Wallpaper (free)
* Vampires Premium Theme ($1.99)
Overall, while it’s light on full games, and contains no PSOne games, this week’s update is loaded to the brim with ways to enhance existing games. We’ll see you again next week with another update. Until then, this is Christopher Bowen, saying “Fuck This Shit”.
UPDATED – SAT. JANUARY 9 – Sony also released their list of downloadable movies and TV show episodes yesterday. I look forward to getting you this information in a more timely manner in the future; I’m admittedly working out the kinks in this, as I adjust how to get my information, and get used to Sony’s idiotic update schedule.
FREE NEW ARRIVALS
- 24 | Season 8 - 24 Sneak Peek
- The Bannen Way: Part 1: The Criminal Lifestyle
- The Bannen Way: Part 2: The Offer
- The Bannen Way: Part 3: The Third Strike
- The Bannen Way: Part 4: The Proposition
- The Bannen Way: Part 5: The Assassin Trio
HD MOVIE NEW ARRIVALS
- The Final Destination
- Adam
- Public Enemies
- My One And Only
MOVIE NEW ARRIVALS
- Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
- The Final Destination
- Adam
- Friday the 13th, Part VIII – Manhattan
- The Bannen Way
- My One And Only
- The Great Muppet Caper
HD TV NEW ARRIVALS
- American Dad | Season 5 - Don’t Look a Smith Horse in the Mouth
- Family Guy | Season 8 - Big Man on Hippocampus
- The Cleveland Show | Season 1 - Field of Streams
- The Simpsons | Season 21 - Thursday with Abie
- Brothers | Season 1 - Follow Story
- Brothers | Season 1 - GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS
- Heroes | Season 4 - Upon This Rock
- Heroes | Season 4 - Let It Bleed
- Til Death | Season 4 - No Complaints
- Til Death | Season 4 - The Courtship of Eddie’s Parents
- Til Death | Season 4 - The Ex-Factor
- Til Death | Season 4 - The Buffer
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Season 11 - Quickie
- Mercy | Season 1 - I Saw This Pig and I Thought of You
TV NEW ARRIVALS
- Bowl Bash 2010: The BCS on FOX | Season 1 - AT&T Cotton Bowl (Oklahoma State vs. Ole Miss)
- Bowl Bash 2010: The BCS on FOX | Season 1 - Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (Boise State vs. TCU)
- Bowl Bash 2010: The BCS on FOX | Season 1 - FedEx Orange Bowl (Iowa vs. Georgia Tech)
- World’s Strictest Parents | Season 1 - The Smidts
- American Dad | Season 5 - Don’t Look a Smith Horse in the Mouth
- Family Guy | Season 8 - Big Man on Hippocampus
- The Cleveland Show | Season 1 - Field of Streams
- The Simpsons | Season 21 - Thursday with Abie
- Tough Love | Season 2 - Money Can’t Buy Me Love
- Back at the Barnyard | Season 2 - Get Bessy/A Beautiful Freddy
- Brothers | Season 1 - Follow Story
- Brothers | Season 1 - GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS
- Chef Academy | Season 1 - Squid Pro Quo
- Chef Academy | Season 1 - Meat Your Maker
- Fanboy and Chum Chum | Season 1 - Norse-ing Around/The Janitor’s Apprentice
- Heroes | Season 4 - Upon This Rock
- Heroes | Season 4 - Let It Bleed
- I Want to Work for Diddy | Season 2 - Finale
- Intervention | Season 7 - Sarah
- MythBusters | Season 7 - Boomerang Bullet
- Naoki Urasawa’s Monster | Season 2 - Eva’s Confession
- Naoki Urasawa’s Monster | Season 2 - Of Men and Dining
- Spartacus Motion Comic | Season 1 - Shadows of the Jackal
- SpongeBob SquarePants | Season 7 - Keep Bikini Bottom Beautiful/A Pal for Gary
- Til Death | Season 4 - No Complaints
- Til Death | Season 4 - The Courtship of Eddie’s Parents
- Til Death | Season 4 - The Ex-Factor
- Til Death | Season 4 - The Buffer
- Better Off Ted | Season 2 - Beating a Dead Workforce
- Better Off Ted | Season 2 - Change We Can’t Believe In
- Dirty Jobs | Season 4 - Animal Control Speciailist
- Naruto Shippuden Uncut | Season 1, Vol. 1 - The Death of Gaara!
- Tabatha’s Salon Takeover | Season 2 - Tantrum Salon: Covina, CA
- Bakugan | Season 7 - Earth Invaders
- Campus PD | Season 1 - 105
- Ghost Hunters International | Season 2 - Hitler’s Ghost
- Human Wrecking Balls | Season 2 - Post Office
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Season 11 - Quickie
- Man vs. Wild | Season 4 - Pacific Island
- Mercy | Season 1 - I Saw This Pig and I Thought of You
- Modern Family | Season 1 - Up All Night
- The Real World DC - Looks Can Be D.C.-ving
- The Real Housewives of Orange County | Season 5 - Love and War
- Trick My Truck | Season 5
- Macross Plus
- Clarissa Explains It All – The Best Of
- The State | Season 3
- The State | Season 4
- Tracey Ullman’s State of the Union | Season 2
- RuPaul’s Drag Race | Season 1
- I Want to Work for Diddy | Season 1
Top Movies
- 9
- The Hangover (Unrated)
- Jennifer’s Body
- All About Steve
- A Perfect Getaway (Unrated Director’s Cut) The Final Destination
- Paranormal Activity
- American Pie Presents: The Book of Love
- District 9
- Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Top HD Movies
- 9
- The Hangover (Unrated)
- Jennifer’s Body
- All About Steve
- Paranormal Activity
- A Perfect Getaway
- Angels & Demons
- The Hangover
- Star Trek
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Top TV Episodes
- Family Guy: Something, Something, Something Dark Side
- Family Guy | Season 8 - Business Guy
- Family Guy | Season 8 - Big Man on Hippocampus
- Naruto Shippuden Uncut | Season Vol. 1 - The Secret of Jinchuriki
- Family Guy | Season 8 - Road to Multi-verse
- South Park: Uncensored | Season 13 - Pee
- Family Guy | Season 8 - Hannah Banana
- Naruto Shippuden Uncut | Season Vol. 1 - The Death of Gaara!
- Family Guy | Season 8 - Quagmire’s Baby
- Heroes | Season 4 - Upon This Rock
Top HD TV Episodes
- Family Guy: Something, Something, Something Dark Side
- Family Guy | Season 8 - Business Guy
- Family Guy | Season 8 - Big Man on Hippocampus
- Family Guy | Season 8 - Road to Multi-verse
- South Park: Uncensored | Season – 13 Pee
- Heroes | Season 4 - Let It Bleed
- Heroes | Season 4 - Upon This Rock
- Family Guy | Season 8 - Quagmire’s Baby
- The Cleveland Show | Season 1 - Pilot
- Family Guy | Season 8 - Hannah Banana
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They charge for Qore because they do things like beta access with it, and they have games in some of the episodes.
OK, now let me ask you a question: in some of these episodes, you say they have games. Are these demos?
Nope they are small arcade style games, hidden in there some place. When they had some free episodes up I stumbled on them.
But a few episodes have had demos early if I recall.
You get free PS3 themes as well from Qore; I like this month’s Dante’s Inferno theme. But mostly I subscribe for the free betas.
It’s a sort of extension of the old Playstation Underground subscription service from the Playstation One. As people have been saying, you get early access to certain games and some decent videos, along with the occasional indie-style mini game. The last time I check out with a friend, it featured Resistance 2 access and featured a small mini game that was similar to Pong, but it had some crazy power-ups. In essence, this is pretty much what has placed Playstation Underground.