Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
Dear Sony, I know this is a crowded season for games, but just a reminder: we like to buy things on the PSN. You know — PS1 classics, new games, expansion packs, and so on. I can tell you we DON'T like themes we have to pay for, or useless Qore annual subscriptions that have a pay for beta invite to Home.
Having said that, this week's offerings feature what looks to be a really weak episode of Qore which many, many people will use as the stepping point to buy the annual subscription just for the beta invite to PlayStation Home. The long promised free LittleBigPlanet costumes are available as well, featuring a Halloween and spacesuit costumes.
Continuing the free trend we have an enlistment pack for the promising game Tom Clancy’s EndWar as well as a NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM pack that features a support character and a mission. The download is called Pack 3… wonder where the other two packs are?
We have the now requisite song packs for both Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band, some great music available for each game this week!
There is a surprising demo this week focusing on five-month-old Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. I guess they are trying to raise interest with new PS3 owners by sampling the game. Much lower profile is the demo for NCAA Basketball 09, not my cup of tea, but I know lots of people love their college hoops.
On the multimedia front we have numerous game videos looking at Killzone 2, Motorstorm Pacific Rift, Resistance 2, Bayonetta, FIFA 09, Guitar Hero: World Tour, Moto GP, ARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM, NBA 2K9, Tom Clancy’s EndWar and Tomb Raider Underworld. There are movie trailers for Standard Operating Procedure, Tinker Bell and Sleeping Beauty: 50 Anniversary Platinum Edition as well.
Finally there are some baffling themes that cost money (University of Alabama theme? Sexy Ninja theme?) and some FREE themes for Tomb Raider Underworld, High Velocity Bowling and Pixel Junk Monsters. Still not sure why they are doing this price-based theme thing and making generic, non-spectacular themes… hell, I could make a sexy ninja theme if I wanted to.
So there are some freebies, some demos, and some songs, but no real meat this week on the PSN; not great, but not terrible, I suppose. Deets are below.
Qore
Qore Episode 06: November, 2008 ($2.99 for episode / $24.99 for Annual Subscription)
Episode 06 of Qore: Presented by the PlayStation Network travels to Tokyo to take an up-close look at the gaming culture, but still keeps things close to “Home” with an exclusive peek at the new virtual community.
File size: 1.63 GB
Add-on Game Content
LittleBigPlanet Halloween Mask Costume (free) – Limited time offer
A seasonal exclusive costume for SackBoy!
File size: 1.04 MB
LittleBigPlanet Spaceman Costume (free) – Limited time offer
A new costume for Sackboy!
File size: 1.04 MB
Tom Clancy’s EndWar FirstWar Enlistment Pack (free)
Enlist for the FirstWar on PLAYSTATION Network! This FREE download unlocks three exclusive unit upgrades – one for each faction – that you can acquire during campaigns. Be quick, this temporary offer is only available for the first week that the game is available in stores!
File size: 193 KB
NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM Pack 3 (free)
Download Storm Pack 3 and unleash legendary ninja Shizune as your support character in battle. The Storm Pack 3 also contains new Ultimate Mission to engage!
File size: 100 KB
Guitar Hero World Tour
For all song credits please visit www.redoctane.com.
* “Waiting for the Rapture” – Oasis ($1.99)
* “The Shock of the Lightning” – Oasis ($1.99)
* “Bag It Up” – Oasis ($1.99)
* Oasis Track Pack ($5.49) – this track pack includes all of the above singles.
* “Another Way To Die” – Jack White & Alicia Keys ($1.99)
File sizes: 33 MB – 50 MB (singles), 129 MB (track pack)
Rock Band
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.
* “Ladybug” – The Presidents of the United States of America ($1.99)
* “Feather Pluckn” – The Presidents of the United States of America ($1.99)
* “Dune Buggy” – The Presidents of the United States of America ($1.99)
* The Presidents of the United States of America Pack 01 ($5.49) – this track pack includes all of the above singles.
* “I Don’t Care” – Fallout Boy ($.99 – limited time offer)
* “Use Me” – Hinder ($.99 – limited time offer)
File sizes: 22 MB – 34 MB (singles), 72 MB (track pack)
Game Demos (free)
Metal Gear Solid 4 Demo
He’s a living legend on a final mission. His objective: Terminate his own life. Get your free copy of the playable demo for Director Hideo Kojima’s record-breaking worldwide mega-hit, METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS! Experience the intense thrills of stealth infiltration as you avoid enemy detection on a battlefield that changes moment by moment with every action.
ESRB Rated M
File size: 1.36 GB
NCAA Basketball 09 Demo
Control the speed of the game like never before as your force your team’s style of play on your opponent in NCAA Basketball 09. Your ability to set the tempo from the opening tip and adjust your play according to on the fly feedback from real NCAA Division I coaches determines your success. An all-new game engine provides authentic college styles of play including up-tempo transition game, trapping defenses, structured half-court sets and many more tools to allow you to play to your team’s strengths. Grab the momentum and take control of the game – Set the Tempo with NCAA Basketball 09.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 1.19 GB
Game Videos (free)
Killzone 2 Helghan Trailer
Download the latest KZ2 trailer the way it was meant to be seen – in HD!
File size: 80 MB (HD), 131 MB (1080)
MotorStorm Pacific Rift Courses & Environments
File size: 69 MB (HD), 112 MB (1080)
Resistance 2 TV Spot
File size: 26 MB (HD)
Bayonetta TGS trailer
File size: 74 MB (HD)
FIFA 09 “Inside The Game” Part 3 – Gameplay
File size: 283 MB (HD)
FIFA 09 “Inside The Game” Part 4 – Be A Pro
File size: 149 MB (HD)
Guitar Hero World Tour Ted Nugent Vignette
File size: 58 MB (HD)
MotoGP 08 Trailer
File size: 68 MB (HD)
MotoGP 08 Trailer 2
File size: 78 MB (HD)
NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Storm TGS Trailer
File size: 78 MB (HD)
NBA 2K9 OBF Soldiers
File size: 46 MB (HD)
Tom Clancy’s EndWar Infantry Strategy Video Briefing
File sizes: 75 MB (HD)
Tom Clancy’s EndWar Mission Types Video Briefing
File sizes: 96 MB (HD)
Tomb Raider: Underworld Beneath The Surface: “What Could Lara Do”
File sizes: 56 MB (SD), 186 MB (1080)
Movie and Blu-ray Disc Trailers
Standard Operating Procedure Trailer
File sizes: 99 MB (HD), 129 MB (1080)
Tinker Bell Trailer
File sizes: 133 MB (1080)
Sleeping Beauty: 50 Anniversary Platinum Edition Trailer
File sizes: 166 MB (1080)
PS3 Themes
University of Alabama Theme ($1.99)
File size: 4.92 MB
University of Wisconsin Theme ($1.99)
File size: 4.95 MB
Bikini Fashion Show Theme ($1.49)
File size: 5.19 MB
Sexy Ninja Girls Theme ($1.49)
File size: 4.96 MB
Spider Webs Theme ($1.49)
File size: 4.65 MB
Tomb Raider: Underworld Theme (free) x2
File sizes: 946 KB – 1.66 MB
High Velocity Bowling New Characters Theme (free)
File size: 2.30 MB
PixelJunk Monsters D Theme (free)
File size: 1.48 MB
