Friday , March 29 2024
A good week on the PSN, especially for Canadian buyers!

PlayStation Network Update: 05/01/2008

Well this is a pretty good update, content wise, but a GREAT update if you are Canadian (like moi – both official languages FTW). SCEA, which stands for Sony Computer Entertainment America (and Canada is part of North America) has finally dropped the Canadian PlayStation Store prices to match the US prices, as our dollar is very nearly at parity. This is great news considering I held off buying a number of titles due to the 12-22% price difference we saw. For the future, I am excited to also be able to buy the huge games coming out this year on the PSN at a fair price.

On to the content, surprisingly Sony actually delivered this week. Microsoft had no XBLA content due to the release of GTA IV, but we see a new game in the form of Echochrome, the requisite Rock Band songs and another parcel of Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore songs. Lastly, on the interactive content front, we finally see the Dark Sector demo that has been rumored to hit, and I’m excited to try this one.

On the media side, we have a large number of videos looking at Echochrome, Battlefield Bad Company, Turok, NBA Ballers, Kung Fu Panda and Dead Space. We also have a heap of wallpapers, free of course, for Kung Fu Panda and Echochrome.

This is a very nice update, and it should be noted that on the store this week there are 2 distinct versions of Echochrome, one for the PS3 and one for the PSP. Each has distinct levels and slight tweaks and both feature the ability to create your own levels for their platform. Sony needs to keep this momentum going and keep having updates of this caliber. It almost makes me not think about Home or in-game XMB… almost!

Downloadable Games

Echochrome ($9.99)
Featuring an elegant black and white art design, Echochrome is a puzzle game unlike any other. With game play based on optical illusions, players must utilize 5 simple laws of perspective to join walkways, hide dangers, and create new paths to reach the goal. Once you’ve mastered the 5 laws, use them to create your own mind-bending levels to play and share with friends using the custom level editor. Available for PlayStation 3 and PSP systems.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 86.4 MB

Add-on Game Content

Rock Band
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

* “Zero” – Smashing Pumpkins ($1.99)
* “Time-Sick Son of a Grizzly Bear” – The Mother Hips ($1.99)
* “Red Tandy” – The Mother Hips ($1.99)

File sizes: 15.5 MB – 36 MB

Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore downloadable songs ($1.49 each)
Plug in the microphone and live out your dream as a singing sensation! Expand your Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore library by purchasing tracks from the in-game store. For music credits, visit the Karaoke Revolution section of www.konami.com. Full list of tracks (42) after the jump.

Game Demos (free)

Dark Sector Demo
Dark Sector thrusts players into the role of Hayden Tenno, an operative sent on a dangerous assassination mission into Lasria – an Eastern European city on the brink of ruin that hides a deadly Cold War secret. Attacked by an unknown enemy, he awakens to find part of his body altered by an infection that has granted him inhuman abilities. Now, Hayden must learn to evolve along with his powers, to survive and to become a hero.
ESRB Rated M
File size: 483 MB

Game Videos (free)

Echochrome Trailer
Featuring an elegant black and white art design, Echochrome is a puzzle game unlike any other. With gameplay based on optical illusions, players must utilize 5 simple laws of perspective to join walkways, hide dangers, and create new paths to reach the goal. Once you’ve mastered the 5 laws, use them to create your own mind-bending levels to play and share with friends using the custom level editor.
File size: 37 MB (1080)

Battlefield Bad Company Redford Blog
Sergeant Redford has seen plenty of action while in B Company, maybe even too much, and having squad members like Sweetwater and Haggard in his crew doesn’t put his tensions to rest. With only a couple weeks left in the Army, Redford is on his last string and will let nothing come in his way of a peaceful retirement…or will he?
File size: 97 MB (HD)

Kung Fu Panda Trailer
Check out the trailer for the new action-packed Kung Fu Panda game, based on the DreamWorks Animation movie!
File size: 68 MB (HD)

Dead Space Announcement Trailer
Dead Space brings the terror to your PS3.
File size: 91 MB (HD)

Dead Space Ship Date Trailer
Dead Space brings the chills on Halloween 2008.
File size: 78 MB (HD)

Turok – “Kane” Gameplay Trailer
The “Kane” Gameplay Trailer highlights the struggle between Turok and his former mentor Roland Kane as Turok fights to survive on a mysterious planet controlled by Kane and overrun with ravenous dinosaurs.
File size: 5.5 MB (SD), 30 MB (HD)

Turok “Bring It” Trailer
The Turok CG Trailer showcases the overwhelming odds of Turok’s fight to survive on a mysterious planet overrun with ravenous dinosaurs.
Wyclef Jean talks about his experience with the PLAYSTATION 3 system.
File size: 5.72 MB (SD), 29 MB (HD)

NBA Ballers: Chosen One TV Spot
Live the Game. Play the Life.
File size: 23 MB (HD)

Wyclef’s “Fast Car” Music Video
Wyclef’s latest music video, “Fast Car”! Visit PlayStation.com to view exclusive behind the scenes footage and interviews with Wyclef.
File size: 195 MB (HD), 323 MB (1080)

PS3 Wallpaper (free)

Echochrome Wallpapers (x4)
Customize the background of your PS3 system with this new Echochrome Wallpaper.
File size: 20 KB – 500 KB

Kung Fu Panda Wallpapers (x3)
Customize the background of your PS3 system with this new Kung Fu Panda Wallpaper.
File size: 334 KB – 4.76 MB

About Michael Prince

A longtime video game fan starting from simple games on the Atari 2600 to newer titles on a bleeding edge PC I play everything I can get my hands on.

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