The PlayStation 3 no longer exclusively acts as the eerily quiet middleman for your purchases from Sony's PlayStation Store. The PC-based online store (store.playstation.com) has gone live for the US and is ready to absorb your munnies in exchange for PSP games, demos, themes and PlayStation 1 games. Everything you need to get started is right on the front page -- software for transferring the downloaded content from your PC to your PSP, and the ability to create a free PSN account (your PS3 login will work too). Be sure to check out PSP Fanboy's step-by-step guide if Flash-based interfaces flummox you.

The store currently boasts an exclusive PSP game, Syphon Filter: Combat Ops, along with downloadable versions of some UMD-based games (we spy WipEout Pure), several familiar PlayStation 1 titles (also compatible with PS3) and some new themes, demos and trailers, all of which you'll find listed after the break. The amount of content doesn't yet prompt the use of words like "glut" and "avalanche", but it's a solid start. Let's hope Sony keeps the store updated and the content fresh in the coming months.

According to Sony's PlayStation.Blog, Greg Rucka, the author behind Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow will be attending the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) in Seattle, WA this weekend and will be signing specially designed Logan's Shadow comic book covers for fans.

Greg is a long time comic book and novel writer, so there's high hopes for the story in Logan's Shadow. If you're going to be up in Seattle this weekend visiting PAX, make sure to stop by booth #516 between the hours of 11:00am-12:30pm and 2:00pm-3:00pm and say hi. If you butter him up (or bribe him), just maybe he'll tell you some cool secrets about the game's story.

Some time ago, hackers found an interesting beta for the multiplayer component of Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow. The multiplayer feature appears to be incredibly thorough, given its own presentation and title: Syphon Filter: Combat Ops.

There are five game modes in multiplayer, two of which are new to the franchise. In Sabotage, two teams must locate bomb codes and arm the other team's nuclear warhead. The other mode, Retrieval, is a virtual scavenger hunt of sorts, where players must retrieve items scattered throughout the map. In addition, Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and Rogue Agent modes all return.

The servers were taken down, and information about Combat Ops has been hard to find. Thankfully, a user has uploaded a ton of impressive images from the beta to his Picasa album. Inside, you'll find some very impressive graphics, and a plethora of options to choose from. Hopefully, it won't be too long until we get some official confirmation of a Combat Ops beta.

[Thanks, vladimir356!]

There's something truly compelling about the story of Logan's Shadow, the upcoming PSP-exclusive sequel to Dark Mirror. Greg Rucka, the story writer behind Logan's Shadow, talked to IGN at Comic-Con about building Logan's Shadow's story. Interestingly, he was pitched to "salvage" the story and turn it into something far more substantial.

It didn't take long for Rucka to figure out that there was a lot of potential in the Syphon Filter franchise: it just needed to take advantage of the story elements introduced from the previous games. "Coming off of Dark Mirror and the stuff that had happened to the character there, I know of was stunned to be like 'Why aren't you using any of this stuff you set up?' I mean, he now has a kid! He knows that he's a dad! There's all this fabulous character stuff here. So, we discussed that and sort of tried to find a way to use the relationships that really have been building throughout this series and turn them into good story ... that's what we got here."

The story puts into serious question the loyalties of those around him. Although Rucka doesn't want to give anything away, it seems that he wants players to stay on the edge of their seats for yet another Syphon Filter beyond the next installment: "We got, I think, a good, good story for Gabe and I think at the end -- I don't want to give anything away -- it's got a nice ending. It's got the kind of ending that I think -- hopefully -- people will be like 'Where's the next one?'"

Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow technical director Chris Reese has announced on the official PlayStation blog that the PSP title will utilize the handheld's recent firmware update that pushes the clock speed to 333MHz.

The 25% increase in horsepower will allow Havok physics, water rendering, larger environments and faster AI response time, said Reese. The above image is an example, according to Reese, of the hardware augmentation. We're impressed and can't wait to play around with the game on our television screens thanks to the new PSP Lite output feature.

Chris Reese, Technical Director for SCEA's Bend Studio, has posted on the PlayStation.Blog to confirm that Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow will utilize the full 333MHz of PSP power. Reese claims the extra 67MHz will allow Bend Studio to create a look and feel that isn't possible using the original 266mhz. The increase in power will let them focus on adding detail and interactivity to the game's environments.

For those who are confused about 333mhz compatability, let us put your mind at rest. Games utilizing the 333 MHz clock speed will work exactly the same on a normal PSP as on a Slim PSP. The increase in power does mean that the battery in both models will drain more quickly than in other games, but for those who are picking up a PSP Slim you can use your old PSP's battery to lengthen the playtime. This does, however, come with its own problems.

Has there ever been a better time to be a portable gamer? Nintendo DS owners are blessed with an incredible lineup of unique software, and PSP owners are finally getting games that are delivering on the system's promise of bringing console-quality gaming on the go. Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow expands upon the excellent Dark Mirror with a plethora of gameplay improvements that make it one of the most exciting games for Sony's handheld. It's rare to see a handheld game dare to do so much ... and succeed.

Logan's Shadow has a lot to showcase, and does a fantastic job presenting all it has to offer. The game begins with a fully voiced cinematic that already reeks of international politics and betrayal. We loved the writing, and were even more impressed by the incredible voice acting. Afterwards, Logan can be found, manning a minigun in a helicopter. This on-rails segment adds a nice cinematic touch to the game, while having players adjust to the PSP's analog nub. Once on the ground, players will have to take out enemies by brute force.

We were surprised to see the incredible variety of moves that Logan has at his disposal. We were easily able to duck for cover, and start blind-firing at enemies. Much to our joy, we saw enemies also taking cover, trying to intelligently move. Of course, this being a video game, there were conveniently located explosive barrels that helped our fight considerably. Eventually, we were able to get close to an enemy, disarm him, and use him as a body shield. The button commands were easy, and made Logan feel like an appropriately lethal killer. Scattered throughout the levels were quick time events, which have the player pressing on-screen commands, a la God of War. These sequences simply break up the action, and help the game's pacing.

Logan's Shadow is an impressive game that features great graphics, and great gameplay. (Although, this game makes us long for a second analog stick!) Regardless, Logan's Shadow offers a truly compelling gaming experience for portable gamers that will make console owners jealous.