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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.

French developer Golgoth Studio captured our attention this October when it announced it was working on a complete high-def remake of the classic arcade game, Toki. However, today Joystiq learned that Microsoft has decided against publishing the remake itself and has invited the indie dev to find another publisher willing to put the game on its platform.

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.

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.

PM Studios is bringing yet another retro arcade shooter to PSP via the PlayStation Network in 2010. Gunbird 2 Remix is true to its name and promises "all new 3D/2D hybrid graphics." According to the press release, there will be six different characters to choose from, each with different attacks and storylines, and multiple endings for each.

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.

Starting today, the US PlayStation Network will be featuring a special sale across its Video Store. The "12 Days of Christmas" sale will discount various titles from the entire library. Highlights include $1 movies, like Street Fighter Alpha and Hellboy, and $1 episodes of UFC classics. For $2, you can download Saw and Silent Hill or movies from "Santa's Naughty Movies." Don't worry, we won't judge you.

Check out the entire 12 day sale schedule after the break.

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]

The first trailer for Capcom's multiplatform retro revival, Mega Man 10, has given us a glimpse at all the evil, robotic things we'll be killed by over, and over, and over again. Evil robot castles! Evil robot light bulbs! Also, delightfully, the trailer includes a bit of the new soundtrack, which is as catchy and series-appropriate as that of its predecessor.

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?