PlayStation Network Update: 12/22/2009

This week the PSN update is not only early, it is so big it needs to be called Gargantuan! Starting at the top there is a huge sale on a number of PSN games and all Sega games are on sale as well! A great time to grab Valkyria Chronicles add-ons or the amazingly priced Burnout Paradise Ultimate bundle.

There are new games as well, Battle Fantasia has appeared on the PSN, this is a fighting game from the Guilty Gear creators. Great price for a new game. Polar Panic and a Pixel Junk 3-in-1 pack round out the new offerings. For the PSP we have a portable version of Savage Moon (great game) and Me & My Katamari among others.

Add-ons abound this week with the LittleBigPlanet Pirates of the Caribbean level pack and associated costumes. Priced just like the MGS pack from last year this promises great levels and innovations like water for LBP. There is a free Pain character (who cares) and some Karaoke Revolution songs are joined by the usual Rock Band and Guitar Hero tracks. There are a plethora of PSN avatars (really) and they cost money, which is frankly completely ridiculous.

There are some nice demos this week, MAG is in public Beta, LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues, Peggle and Polar Panic are also on hand. I am playing Lego Indy 2 with my son and it is surprisingly fresh, looking forward to giving MAG a spin as well (starting Jan. 4).

How could I not mention the lone PSOne classic? Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom is available. Now I am not sure how this compares gameplay wise to the PC classic which I played at least four times, but this game has one of the most powerful scenes I have ever seen in a game. I am sorely tempted to pick this up, I loved Mark Hammil's turn as Christopher Blair and the intro is amazing!

There are assorted videos, overpriced themes and a new Pinball PSP Mini as well on this large holiday update. For more details, please visit the official PlayStation Blog.

PSN Game Sale

• Bomberman Ultra – $4.99 (revert to regular price on 1/7/10)
• Worms – $9.99
• Topatoi – $4.99
• Armored Core 3 Portable – $9.99 (revert to regular price on 1/21/10)
• Scrabble – $13.99
• NFS Underground Rivals – $10.49
• NFS Carbon – $13.99
• NFS Most Wanted – $13.99
• NFS ProStreet – $13.99
• GI Joe – $27.99
• Sims 2 – $10.49
• Commander's Challenge – $6.99
• Battlefield 1943 – $10.49
• Hasbro Family Game Night – $29.99
• Burnout Paradise Ultimate Bundle – $20.99
• ZOMBIE TYCOON – $4.99

Downloadable Games

• Battle Fantasia ($19.99)
• Polar Panic ($9.99)
• PixelJunk 3-in-1 Pack (Bundle) ($19.99)

PSOne Classics

• Wing Commander IV ($5.99)

Game Demos

• MAG Public Beta
• LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues Demo
• Peggle Demo
• Polar Panic Demo

Add-on Game Content

• LittleBigPlanet Pirates of the Caribbean Will Turner Costume ($1.99)
• LittleBigPlanet Pirates of the Caribbean Tia Dalma Costume ($1.99)
• LittleBigPlanet Pirates of the Caribbean Sack Sparrow Costume ($1.99)
• LittleBigPlanet Pirates of the Caribbean Elizabeth Costume ($1.99)
• LittleBigPlanet Pirates of the Caribbean Davy Jones Costume ($1.99)
• LittleBigPlanet Pirates of the Caribbean Barbossa Costume ($1.99)
• LittleBigPlanet Pirates of the Caribbean Costume Pack ($5.99)
• LittleBigPlanet Pirates of the Caribbean Level Kit ($5.99)
• PAIN: Kato-san Character (free)
• Dragon Ball: Raging Blast Ginyu Force Pack (free)
• Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack Bundle ($24.99)
• Guitar Hero 5
• Karaoke Revolution 2009
• Rock Band

PSN Avatars

• LittleBigPlanet Sackboy PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet MyMoon PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet Craft Earth PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet Xmas Tree PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet Santa PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet Giftboy PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet "Sky" Sackgirl PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet "Marvin" Sackboy PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet "Gloria" Sackgirl PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet "Arr!!!" Sackboy PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet "Lily Pad" PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet "Hugo" PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet "Great Blue" PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet "Frost-E" PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet Planets PSN Avatar Bundle ($0.99)
• LittleBigPlanet Festive PSN Avatar Bundle ($0.99)
• LittleBigPlanet Characters 1 PSN Avatar Bundle ($1.25)
• LittleBigPlanet Animals PSN Avatar Bundle ($1.25)

Game Videos

• Pulse 12/22 Edition
• Assassin's Creed II Launch Trailer
• Ratchet & Clank Future: ACIT – My Blaster Runs Hot Video
• PixelJunk Shooter Trailer
• Trine Trailer
• Chaotic Shadow Warriors Trailer
• Digger HD Trailer

Wallpaper (free)

• Gravity Crash Space Wallpaper
• Gravity Crash Planet Wallpaper

PlayStation Store for PSP
Downloadable Games (also available from PS3 storefront)

• Savage Moon: The Hera Campaign ($9.99)
• Aedis Eclipse ($9.99)
• Me & My Katamari ($19.99)
• Football Manager Handheld 2010 ($23.99)

PSP Minis

• Bowling 3D ($4.99)

Game Demos (free)

• Holy Invasion of Privacy Badman! 2 Demo
• Army of Two: The 40th Day Demo

Add-on Game Content

• LocoRoco Midnight Carnival Level Pack ($2.99)