Tonight, MLG and PlayStation are bringing you an exclusive first look at tomorrow’s PS3 epic Starhawk with the Starhawk Arena Exhibition Powered by PlayStation. Starhawk is the spiritual successor to the PSone classic Warhawk. This third-person shooter allows online combatants to approach the fight in ways never before possible thanks to the all-new Build-and-Battle combat system. This new mechanic adds a layer of complexity to the battlefield that is constantly changing, and allows new tactics to develop as the match progresses.

In order to show off all the crazy action, MLG and PlayStation are bringing two pro gamers, Tsquared and Hastro, to the MLG Arena studios to get a first look at all the intense action. Tune in to the broadcast as these pros go through each element of the game, including single-player campaign, co-op, and the highly anticipated multiplayer modes. Acting as captains, Tsquared and Hastro will hop online to provide the first true showcase of competitive multiplayer action in all its glory.

The Starhawk Arena Exhibition Powered by PlayStation will be hosted by MLG personalities Chris Puckett and GoldenBoy, and will also feature President of Lightbox Interactive Dylan Jobe.

Of course, there’s more…throughout the show, PlayStation and MLG will be giving away tons of prizes and gaming gear to viewers. Be sure to follow @MLGAllAccess for your chance to win some awesome swag.

That’s it! Tune in to MLG.tv tonight starting at 5pm Pacific Time to catch all the action. (If you miss it – don’t worry, catch re-airs on Starhawk launch day, Tuesday May 8th at midnight and approximately 11pm.) Big thanks to MLG for making all this possible!

Heads up, PlayStation Fans: The Major League Gaming Pro Circuit is coming to Raleigh, NC August 26th-28th. We’ll be there holding head-to-head UNCHARTED 3 and Resistance 3 competitions in the PlayStation Compound. Join us for your chance to win awesome prize packs, and experience these highly anticipated games before you can buy them.

Raleigh, NC also marks the fourth stop of the 2011 Call of Duty: Black Ops Pro Circuit season. Competition is fierce, with the best players coming out for the circuit. Think you can handle it? Passes for the event are available now (details here) Whether you’re planning to compete in Black Ops or just observe, remember to drop by the PlayStation Compound to play, compete or just chat us up. Event details and programming below:

Venue:

Raleigh Convention Center

500 South Salisbury Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

The PlayStation Compound will be open for business during the following hours:

Friday: 1:30pm – 10:00pm

Saturday: 10:00am – 10:00pm

Sunday: 10:00am – 5:00pm

Admission is $15 for spectators, but we’ll be giving out tickets through the events and promotions Twitter account, @HeyPlayStation. For those of you who can’t attend follow us on twitter all weekend long know to stay in the know! Below is just a taste of this weekend’s activities going on inside the PlayStation booth:

MLG Mortal Kombat Tournament

The online tournament culminates in Raleigh with a 1v1 competition and a prize pool worth $7,000. Didn’t qualify online? That’s okay walkups are also welcome, so grab your friends and come out to join in on the tournament and show off your fighting skills. For more details click here.

PlayStation Compound Competitions

Friday, August 26th – Resistance 3

Compete against the best MLG has to offer in a 5v5 competition. Experience the campaign before your friends in mind-blowing stereoscopic 3D and with the PlayStation Move sharp shooter.

Saturday August 27th – Mystery Title

Battle for bragging rights and PlayStation prizes. You’ll have to stay tuned to find out which title we’ll be showing, but trust us you won’t be disappointed.

Sunday, August 28th – UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception

Having beta withdrawal? Us too. That’s why we’ll be showcasing UNCHARTED 3 and hosting LAN competitions all day. That’s right, no internet required. If you want to take home the top slot you have to be here!

Can’t make it to the event? Don’t forget you can watch the live stream on Majorleaguegaming.com. Follow us @HeyPlayStation with live updates and chances to win cool free stuff!

MLG Boot Camp

Boot Camp gives anyone who registers and completes a match the chance to win awesome prizes regardless of skill. Registration is open now, and Boot Camp ladder play is currently running through July 13th. Registering your 6-man team on MLG’s Gamebattles.com and playing at least one match will put you in the running for both Boot Camp prizing and the Official $20,000 Ladder Tournament. If you’re a lone soldier, check out the MLG forums where you can team up with other players of your skill level.

Boot Camp prizing includes:

• Two-hour gaming sessions with the Zipper Interactive dev team

• ASUS professional gaming monitors

• Full Astro A40 Systems (SOCOM 4 Customized)

• MLG Gunnars

Official SOCOM 4 $20k Online Ladder

Those of you with a competitive streak should use this time wisely because every battle counts towards your team’s position on the leaderboard and your chance to win money. The top teams will qualify for the finals and a share of the $20,000 prize pool. We’re looking for the best SOCOM 4 teams to step up, so we’re putting cold hard cash on the line. Here’s the prize breakdown:

• 1st Place Team: $8,000

• 2nd: $4,000

• 3rd: $3,000

• 4th: $2,000

• 5th: $1,000

• 6th: $1,000

• 7th: $500

• 8th: $500

See below for your deployment schedule, soldiers! Be sure to check back often on Gamebattles.com and SOCOM.com for regular tournament updates. And don’t forget to catch up on PlayStation giveaways and events by following us at @HeyPlayStation.

Good luck to you all!

SOCOM 4 Boot Camp Schedule:

6/24/2011: Registration begins

6/24/2011: Ladder play begins

7/13/2011: Ladder play ends (9:00PM EST)

SOCOM 4 $20,000 Ladder Tournament Schedule:

6/24/2011: Registration begins

6/24/2011: Ladder play begins

8/27/2011: Registration closes

8/28/2011: Ladder play ends

9/9/2011: Double elimination bracket tournament begins

Good News! Black Ops is out, and I’m sure many of you are busy scoring TKs and heaping up the bodies of the n00bs. PlayStation and MLG will make your hours of dedication more lucrative with $25,000 in total cash prizes in the Call of Duty: Black Ops Online Ladder, presented by PlayStation. This is a 4v4 competition — grab a few of your best buds and sign up (it’s free to register).

This is an online tournament ladder, so you don’t even need to leave your house to enter and compete for a shot at your share of the $25,000 prize pool. Round up your posse, join the ladder, and start whatever regiment you need to get into shape for ladder play starting on November 22nd. The top 128 teams move on to a double-elimination tournament on January 24th. The best team will claim ultimate Black Ops supremacy and the $10,000 first place prize.

Join the Call of Duty: Black Ops Online Tournament presented by PlayStation Ladder

Register for GameBattles

The MLG Pro Circuit Finals are coming to Dallas, Texas this weekend with the best players in both Modern Warfare 2 and Tekken 6 battling for supremacy — and only on PS3. This time around, event spectators will have the chance to compete online in the Killzone 3 online multiplayer beta and get hands on with PlayStation Move and stereoscopic 3D!

If you can’t make it to the event, you can watch both competitions online at MLGpro.com. Admission is $25 for spectators (i.e. if you’re not competing in the pro circuit), but we here at PlayStation know times are tough. That’s why we’re giving away 50 passes! All you need to do is email your information (name, date of birth, address, and phone #) to PlayStationSweeps@gmail.com (include a +1 if you’re bringing a guest). Tickets are first come, first served! Get ‘em while you can! As always, I’ll be at the booth so come say ‘hi!’ I hope to see you all at the event!

Stop by the PlayStation Booth at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas to play and compete in Killzone 3, Sports Champions, The Fight: Lights Out and Time Crisis: Razing Storm on PlayStation Move.

HILTON ANATOLE
2201 Stemmons Freeway
Dallas, TX 75207

The PlayStation booth will be open for business during the following hours:

• Friday: 1:30pm – 10:00pm
• Saturday: 10:00am – 10:00pm
• Sunday: 10:00am – 5:00pm

Sunday- MW2 Pregame Show at 10:45am CT, followed by six matches—including the Championships—with broadcast commentary from Fwiz and Hastr0.

Killzone 3

• Online Multiplayer: Didn’t get into the beta? Want to see what all the hype is about? This is your chance to play in the Killzone 3 Online MP Beta
• Single Player Campaign: Offered in stereoscopic 3D
• Fabulous prizes: Limited edition Killzone 3 swag bags, Killzone 3 Beta codes, and more!

PlayStation Move

We’ll be hosting tons of daily competitions including a ‘decathlon’ across all of these killer PlayStation Move titles:

• Sports Champions
• The Fight: Lights Out
• Time Crisis: Razing Storm

MotorStorm Apocalypse

• Single-player races in stereoscopic 3D!

Modern Warfare 2 and Tekken 6 Pro Circuit Finals

• Friday & Saturday -Tekken 6 Live competitions throughout the day; Finals are at 9:15pm CT on Saturday

Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center
201 Waterfront Street
National Harbor, MD 20745

The PlayStation booth will be open for business during the following hours:

Friday: 1:30pm – 10:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am – 10:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am – 5:00pm

Admission is FREE for spectators (i.e. if you’re not competing in the pro circuit), so bring your friends, your mom, your dad, and anyone else interested in experiencing cutting-edge PS3 games. Below is just a taste of this weekend’s activities going on inside the PlayStation booth:

Killzone 3

• Online Multiplayer: Be one of the first people in North America to play in the Killzone 3 Beta
• Single Player Campaign: Offered in both stereoscopic 3D and standard 2D flavors
• Fabulous prizes: Our PAX Twitter contest was such a hit that we’re doing it again! Provide your feedback on the Killzone 3 beta at MLG via Twitter for a chance to win access into the Killzone 3 Multiplayer Beta for your very own PS3. At the MLG event, keep your eyes open for collectible art cards (shown above!) we’re giving out at the booth which will share specific instructions on how to enter the Killzone 3 Multiplayer Beta giveaway via Twitter. Full rules and details below.

Dead Nation

For the first time, get your hands-on Dead Nation’s online co-op mode, complete with those new special zombies you’ve been hearing so much about. In an added bonus, you’ll be able to play Dead Nation with Housemarque developer tlo-Mek (who currently holds the high score on SSHD). Better limber up those thumbs before rigor mortis sets in!

ModNation Racers

Compete head-to-head throughout the weekend to prove who really is the fastest racer in the ModNation!

Killzone 3 “Twitter Feedback Part 2” Sweepstakes Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER THE PROMOTION OR CLAIM PRIZE. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

Void outside the 50 United States and D.C. and where prohibited.

1. ELIGIBILITY. The Killzone 3 “Twitter Feedback Part 2” Sweepstakes (the “Promotion”) is open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia, who are at least eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of entry and are attending the Major League Gaming Event (“MLG”) located at Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center, 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor, MD 20745 and have visited the Killzone 3 booth; played the Killzone 3 video game and received a card with entry instructions. Employees and their immediate family members of Sponsor and their parent and affiliated companies, subsidiaries, advertising and promotional agencies and any and all other companies associated with this Promotion (“Promotion Entities”) and the employees, agents, officers, directors, and their immediate families (parent, siblings, children and spouse) and persons residing in the same household (whether related or not) of such employees are not eligible to enter or win. Void in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. Military installations in foreign countries, anywhere outside of the U.S and where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law.

2. SPONSOR. Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC, 919 E. Hillsdale Blvd, Foster City, CA 94404 (the “Sponsor”).

3. TIMING. The Promotion begins on October 15, 2010 at 10:00a.m. Eastern Standard Time (“EST”) and ends on October 20, 2010 at 10:00p.m. EST (the “Promotion Period).

4. TO ENTER. Anytime during the Promotion Period Entrant may enter as many times as they like but may only win once. To enter Entrant should (1)have played the Killzone 3 game and received a card with entry instructions; (2) sign into their Twitter account (“Account”) or, if Entrant is not already a member become a member of Twitter.com and sign into their Account. Please note that Entrants must agree to comply with the Twitter Terms of Service in order to create a Twitter account visit http://twitter.com/tos. (3) tweet a message that contains feedback to the Killzone 3 game Entrant has just played as a targeted reply to @PlayStation using Twitter’s “@Reply” function along with exactly the following unique term (“Term”) in their tweet message “#Killzone3MLG” (collectively, “Entry”).

5. ENTRY CONDITIONS AND RELEASE. Sponsor, at its sole discretion, may accept a mis-typed Term or Entry. If Entrant’s Twitter account is set to “protected mode”, their updates/responses will not be visible in Sponsor’s @Reply inbox; and, therefore, will not be received by Sponsor, resulting in Entrant’s failure to enter the Promotion. Normal Internet access and usage charges imposed by Entrant’s online service will apply. If Entrant opts to receive Sponsor’s tweets via their wireless mobile device (which may only be available via participating wireless carriers), standard text messaging rates, airtime and carrier charges will apply for each text message sent or received from their handset according to the terms and conditions of Entrant’s service agreement with their wireless carrier. Entrant understands that by participation in this Sweepstakes via mobile phone or text message, if they are a potential winner, the Sponsor may contact Entrant via mobile phone or text message, which will be subject to the charges pursuant to their carrier’s rate plan. Entrant must have a mobile phone with text messaging capabilities to enter using Twitter. Sponsor is not responsible for technical, hardware or software failures, malfunctions, lost or unavailable network connections or failed, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmissions or unforeseen schedule changes that may limit an Entrant’s ability to participate in the Promotion, even if caused by Sponsor’s negligence. Sponsor is not responsible for changes to Entrant’s contact information. Entries not satisfying these Official Rules are automatically disqualified. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion to modify, cancel or suspend this Promotion should virus, bugs unauthorized human intervention or other causes beyond Sponsor’s control affect the administration, security or proper play of the Promotion or Sponsor otherwise becomes (as determined in its sole discretion) incapable of running the Promotion as planned. Entrants who violate these Official Rules, tamper with the operation of the Promotion or engage in any conduct that is detrimental or unfair to Sponsor, the Promotion or any other entrant (in each case as determined in Sponsor’s sole discretion) are subject to disqualification from entry into the Promotion. All entries become the sole property of Sponsor and receipt of entries will not be acknowledged or returned. Any individual who attempts or otherwise encourages, directly or indirectly, the entry of multiple or false contact information under multiple identities or uses any device or artifice to enter or encourage, directly or indirectly, multiple or false entries, as determined by the Sponsor, will be disqualified. In case of a dispute over the identity of an entrant, the authorized account holder of the Twitter account used to enter will be deemed to be the entrant. “Authorized account holder” is defined as the person who is assigned to a Twitter account by www.twitter.com.

6. RANDOM DRAWING. One (1) First Prize Winner will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received. Twenty (20) Second Place Winners will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received. Prize drawings will be conducted by Sponsor whose decisions shall be final and binding. Winners shall be notified via Twitter using the Direct Message function.

7. PRIZES. First Prize Winner will receive a black Killzone 3 t-shirt and an invitation to participate in the Killzone 3 Beta (“Beta”) with an approximate retail value (“ARV”) of $10.00. Second Place Winners will receive an invitation to participate in the Beta, ARV $0.00.

8. WINNERS: Potential winners will be notified on Twitter by Direct Message to the potential winner’s account which shall be revealed at a later time due to the time-sensitive nature of the information. Potential winners will receive a voucher code which will be redeemed via the PlayStation 3 XMB in order to download the Beta. No prize substitution or cash equivalent permitted. Each prize is non-transferable. Sponsor, in their sole discretion, may substitute a prize (or prize component) of equal or greater value due to unavailability of prize (or prize component) for any reason. Sponsor is not responsible for changes to the Twitter Direct Message function that may interfere with winner notification. At the sole discretion of the Sponsor, disqualification, forfeiture and the selection of an alternate winner may result from any of the following: (1) Failure of notification due to deactivation of the potential winner’s account prior to receipt of notification; or (2) a potential winner’s failure to become a follower of @PlayStation, resulting in the potential winner’s failure to receive a Direct Message from Sponsor; or (3) a potential winner’s account “protected mode” is set so that the potential winner’s updates/responses may not be visible in Sponsor’s @Reply inbox; or (4) a potential winner’s failure to include “#Killzone3MLG” and feedback regarding the Killzone 3 game or (5) any other non-compliance with the Official Rules.

9. GENERAL CONDITIONS AND RELEASES. By entering, all entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of the Sponsor, which shall be final and binding. By accepting prize, each winner grants to Sponsor the right to use his/her name, likeness, image, voice, hometown, and biographical information in advertising, trade and promotion, including on the Internet or via wireless application protocol, without further compensation or permission, except where prohibited by law. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. All prize claims are subject to verification by Sponsor. Participants agree to release and hold harmless Sponsor and parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions, advertising and promotional agencies, wholesalers and retailers, and each of the foregoing entities’ employees, officers, directors, shareholders and agents (collectively the “Released Parties”), from and against any and all claims, actions and/or liability for any injuries or death, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with participation in the Promotion or acceptance or use of any prize. The Released Parties are not responsible or liable for any incorrect or inaccurate information, and assume no responsibility for (i) any error, omission, interruption, defect or delay in operation. By participating, entrants agree to comply with these rules. Any participant who attempts to tamper with this Promotion in any way shall be disqualified. Additional restrictions may apply.

10. ODDS OF WINNING. Odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible entries received.

11. PROMOTION RESULTS. You may request the names of winners by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope by October 31, 2009 to Killzone 3 “Twitter Feedback Part 2” Sweepstakes Winner’s List, 919 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City, California 94404.

12. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION. The information necessary to operate the Promotion was collected by Sponsor at the time of entry, and without limiting Sponsor’s rights under its privacy policies with regards to its use of the information, will be used to contact you specifically for operation of the Promotion. Information collected in connection with the Promotion will otherwise be collected in accordance with Sponsor’s privacy policy, available at http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/PrivacyPolicy. By agreeing to these Official Rules, you are also agreeing to the terms of Sponsor’s privacy policy.

13. RESTRICTIONS. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

Online registration is open now, and contains more event details. Not able to attend? Fight online now.

A special shout-out to KOR, who took the championship and left Orlando with $2,500 burning a hole in his pocket, plus a VLX Premium Arcade Stick signed by Namco Bandai Producer Katsuhiro Harada! Watch the championship match and other top contenders’ matches here.

And for complete coverage of last month’s event click here.

See you in Columbus, Ohio! This is your fight!

In order to participate, you’ll need to authenticate your PlayStation Network ID on GameBattles in your Profile. Not a GameBattles member? Sign-up here. Registration is open so join the shadow war, and sign-up quickly to become the Ultimate MAG Soldier.