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Rumor: Survey hints at premium PSN subscriptions
Kotaku reports that a survey from IPSOS Online Research has been sent out, gauging interest (again) in premium subscriptions to PSN. One of PSN's most-touted features has been its low price of free, so if Sony's thinking about asking for membership fees, it had better offer some extra goods, right?
Well, the survey hints at such goodies as hour-long trials for full PS3 titles, access to PSOne Classics and cross-game voice chat; the latter being a feature that PS3 gamers have been waiting on for decades but, if this survey is to be believed, would be exclusive to premium members. The survey also discusses the addition of Cloud Storage -- online space that allows users to store saved data, instead of housing it on their hard drive -- and Tokens. These Tokens would be a kind of added currency, which can then be used to redeem goods on PSN. But that's not it! It gets even crazier. The survey also adds member-exclusive programs into the mix, such as streaming Netflix without a disk and special Hulu support, as well as free access to Minis and premium themes.
The survey also details a few different subscription models, including a $69.99 yearly plan and several options for monthly fees. Hit up Kotaku for some supposed screen grabs from the survey detailing the subscription plans.
Well, the survey hints at such goodies as hour-long trials for full PS3 titles, access to PSOne Classics and cross-game voice chat; the latter being a feature that PS3 gamers have been waiting on for decades but, if this survey is to be believed, would be exclusive to premium members. The survey also discusses the addition of Cloud Storage -- online space that allows users to store saved data, instead of housing it on their hard drive -- and Tokens. These Tokens would be a kind of added currency, which can then be used to redeem goods on PSN. But that's not it! It gets even crazier. The survey also adds member-exclusive programs into the mix, such as streaming Netflix without a disk and special Hulu support, as well as free access to Minis and premium themes.
The survey also details a few different subscription models, including a $69.99 yearly plan and several options for monthly fees. Hit up Kotaku for some supposed screen grabs from the survey detailing the subscription plans.
Brutal Legend's 'Hammer of Infinite Fate' DLC arrives with trailer in tow
In celebration of the release, Double Fine has handed over a brand new trailer for the grab bag of multiplayer maps, skins for Eddie Riggs, and items with which to brutalize (as seen above). As we previously noted, the DLC also gives players the opportunity to endow Mt. Rockmore with Tim Schafer's beautiful face. If that doesn't sell you on it, we can't imagine what would.
Gallery: Brutal Legend
How to play Minis on your PS3: a Halfbrick tutorial
As promised, the PlayStation Store has been updated with Minis that actually work on your PS3. The process of finding new and old Minis to play on your PS3 system couldn't be simpler; but, just in case you're a little baffled by firmware 3.15, Minis developer Halfbrick has created a tutorial video explaining the process.
If you've already purchased Minis and want to play them on your home console, all you have to do is go to the Download List of the PlayStation Store. We tested a few Minis on the PS3, and we'd have to say that the PSP upscaling is good, but not perfect. While the games are very playable on a TV, it's clear they're still low-res games being played on a high-res screen. Still, it's a good value-add for those that have both a PS3 and PSP system.
Check out the walkthrough after the break.
If you've already purchased Minis and want to play them on your home console, all you have to do is go to the Download List of the PlayStation Store. We tested a few Minis on the PS3, and we'd have to say that the PSP upscaling is good, but not perfect. While the games are very playable on a TV, it's clear they're still low-res games being played on a high-res screen. Still, it's a good value-add for those that have both a PS3 and PSP system.
Check out the walkthrough after the break.
Assault Heroes is really late to PSN

We're not sure why Konami didn't decide to release a bundle of both titles or something, but at least you've got until 2010 to decide if you're going to meet them halfway on this.
Hands-on: Borderlands' Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot

Gearbox's Randy Pitchford made a pretty bold claim when he said that the new Borderlands DLC, "Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot," would comprise more than just new levels, but an entirely new mode as well. After an hour or so spent battling it out in Moxxi's tournament, we're happy to report that, though it doesn't feel like a brand new game, it provides a welcome shake-up of the main story's quest-based structure.
Read on to see if Mad Moxxi's going to be worth your ten bucks when it arrives on December 28 on Xbox 360 and January 7 on PS3.
Read on to see if Mad Moxxi's going to be worth your ten bucks when it arrives on December 28 on Xbox 360 and January 7 on PS3.
PSN Thursday: Prepping for the holidays ... oh yeah, and Final Fantasy VIII
This will be the final "normal" PSN Thursday of 2009. Next week the update will occur on Tuesday, December 22, and there will be no update the following week.
Let's be honest, though, there's plenty of great downloadable games and DLC available that one week without an update isn't going to be that painful. For those who've been practicing their aversion to fun this year and are ready to accept joy, now's the time to check out some of this year's PSN titles like Fat Princess, Critter Crunch and PixelJunk Shooter. Also, today's update adds Final Fantasy VIII. Any other great downloadable titles from 2009 worth mentioning? Check out the full PSN update after the break.
Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:
Let's be honest, though, there's plenty of great downloadable games and DLC available that one week without an update isn't going to be that painful. For those who've been practicing their aversion to fun this year and are ready to accept joy, now's the time to check out some of this year's PSN titles like Fat Princess, Critter Crunch and PixelJunk Shooter. Also, today's update adds Final Fantasy VIII. Any other great downloadable titles from 2009 worth mentioning? Check out the full PSN update after the break.
Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:
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(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
Golgoth forced to find Toki HD publisher for XBLA

According to Toki HD producer Anthony De Sa Ferreira, the Xbox Live Arcade approval process only allows titles published by Microsoft or an approved third-party company. Following its submission, Microsoft told Golgoth Studio that Toki HD "did not fit with the current needs of Microsoft Game Studio," and suggested the developer contact another publisher. Golgoth tells Joystiq that it is in active conversations with multiple publishers and is confident the game will see life on the Xbox Live Arcade, saying an agreement may be only weeks away.
Ferreira believes Microsoft's approval process may have become more stringent in light of the recent high-profile success of original games on the platform, such as Shadow Complex. "I think it's too bad, because it's the independent studios who helped the XBLA to [meet] the success it knows today," he said, adding that not many indie devs can achieve such an impressive result as the Chair-developed title.
Gallery: Toki HD
Vagrant Story finally coming to PSN in Europe
While most people recognize Square Enix as the company that gave us the Final Fantasy series, there are some who remember the company differently. Some remember Square as the benevolent force that gave Vagrant Story to the world back in the PSOne era. A truly unique action RPG, Vagrant Story brought together a great story and a one of a kind battle system. As such, many gamers (including Joystiq editors) have been slavering for the game to hit PSN. Japan received it earlier this year and now it looks like Europe is next in line.Square Enix has announced that Vagrant Story will hit the PSN in PAL territories starting December 22. The game will be sold for €5.99, an absolute pittance. Let's hope the North American release isn't far behind. Considering the bizarre gaps between regional PSN releases though, we're not holding our breath.
Gunbird 2 Remix flying to PSP in February

Gunbird 2 Remix should be available on the PlayStation Store in both America and Europe next February. For a video of the original arcade game, head past the break.
PlayStation Network begins '12 Days of Christmas' sale today

Check out the entire 12 day sale schedule after the break.
Get the Shatter soundtrack for $1
One of the big PSN surprises of the year was Shatter, a retro-futuristic take on the popular brick-breaking genre. Anyone who's played the game is bound to agree that what makes the game so special is the fantastic soundtrack. From now until Christmas, Sidhe is running a special sale on its site, reducing the price of the DRM-free OST to one dollar. One hundred pennies. Yes, for less than the price of PAIN DLC, you can get the entire 14 track album to play on the go.
[Via @jeffrubenstein]
[Via @jeffrubenstein]
Mega Man 10: First trailer and screens
The last part of the clip gives us an idea of the scope of the new Easy Mode, which is quite a bit easier than we expected. We anticipated reduced numbers of enemies and a greater supply of health powerups, but Easy Mode actually makes the levels less complicated!
In our gallery, you can see new screenshots that hint at many of the stages we'll be challenging. There's an ice stage, a sand stage, a computery stage, a fire stage, and a ... truck stage?
Gallery: Mega Man 10 (360/PS3/Wii)
Final Fantasy VIII 'coming soon' to PlayStation Store
Though Japan finds itself awash in Square Enix RPGs in the PSOne Originals channel of the PlayStation Store, the American PSN is suffering from an inexplicable drought. Fortunately, that situation will be rectified shortly -- according to a recent email bulletin sent out to its customers, Sony revealed Final Fantasy VIII will be coming to the U.S. PlayStation Store. No exact timeframe was given for the game's arrival, but it's listed under a section of the newsletter titled "Coming Soon." We've contacted Sony to try and get something more concrete than that.
[Thanks, Solace.]
[Thanks, Solace.]
Sony's Koller calls 'motion control, 3D gaming, PSN' focal points of 2010
After a strong 2009, Sony plans to focus its efforts in the coming year on some new initiatives -- notably the still unnamed and, with a "Spring 2010 release," curiously under-promoted PlayStation Motion Controller, 3D games, and the PlayStation Network. In a recent GamePro interview, Sony marketing head John Koller said the company will be focusing on these "three big pillars" going forward, and detailed its plans to expand on each. "I think the areas that are going to be really critical to our success will be family games, as well as shooters and sports games ... they're areas that quite honestly, I think Project Natal and the Wii are going to have trouble matching," he said of the company's motion controller plans.
Without getting too specific, the PlayStation Network will apparently be seeing the addition of "a number of very critically demanded features" in the coming year, while the company strives to reach day-and-date release parity between UMD-based PSP games and their digital counterparts from third-party devs on PSN. He even teased the concept of "placing you as a consumer into the game physically" -- an idea he called "the Holy Grail of gaming." We get the feeling 2010 is going to be kind of a weird year, folks.
Without getting too specific, the PlayStation Network will apparently be seeing the addition of "a number of very critically demanded features" in the coming year, while the company strives to reach day-and-date release parity between UMD-based PSP games and their digital counterparts from third-party devs on PSN. He even teased the concept of "placing you as a consumer into the game physically" -- an idea he called "the Holy Grail of gaming." We get the feeling 2010 is going to be kind of a weird year, folks.
Assassin's Creed 2 DLC detailed: fills in missing chapters, adds 'spring-jump'
In "Bonfire of the Vanities" ($4.99), you and Machiavelli will free Florence from "the grip of the mad monk Savonarola" by offing his underlings in ten memories. There's also a new district of Florence, and a new move for Ezio: the spring-jump, as if his similarity to Luigi wasn't already striking enough.
As many have speculated, the two additions fill in the missing sequences (12 and 13) from the game, meaning the DLC is a great buy for people who love murder and people with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
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