Log on and play the UNCHARTED 2 online Multiplayer Demo from Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 12:01 AM PST through Monday, October 12, 2009 at 11:59 PM PST. We will be giving away 10 Fortune Hunter Editions randomly (not based on stats) each day. That’s 30 total FHEs being given away over three days. Just launch the Demo, go to the online lobby, select the Matchmaking icon and join any open match. Once joining a match, you will be entered into the promotion for that day.

We’ll be randomly drawing 10 entrants each day. We’ll post winners’ PSN IDs on www.naughtydog.com and the PlayStation.Blog on October 19, 2009. We’ll also notify winners via the email address associated with each entrant’s PSN account between October 15, 2009 and October 30, 2009. Must be 18+ to be eligible. Full details and legalese below. Good luck this weekend!

And don’t forget UNCHARTED 2 is only four days out from launch! And on launch day we’ll be hosting a couple of the Naughty Dogs on the PS.Blog for a live chat, so be sure to tune in…

The following promotion is intended for viewing in the 50 United States and D.C. only and will be construed and evaluated according to United States law. Do not proceed to register in this contest if you are not a legal resident of the 50 United States or D.C. at the time of entry.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Fortune Hunter Edition Giveaway

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

1. Eligibility. The Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Fortune Hunter Edition Giveaway (“Promotion”) is open only to legal residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia, who are at least 18 or older at the time of entry. Employees of Sponsor and its parent, subsidiaries and affiliated companies and their immediate families are not eligible to participate in this Promotion.

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

3. Timing. The Promotion begins on October 10, 2009 at 12:01 a.m. PST and ends on October 12, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. PST (“Promotion Period”).

4. How to Enter. Internet access, a PlayStation Network account, a PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and a download of the free Uncharted 2 Multiplayer Demo (“Demo”) from the PlayStation Network are required to play in the Promotion. Entrants may use an existing PlayStation Network account or create a new account. To create an account go to the PlayStation Network menu from a PS3 XMB and choose “Sign up for PlayStation Network.” Create an account by entering the required information. Once an account has been created, Entrants should log on to the PlayStation Network then download and install the Demo to their PlayStation 3 system. To enter the Promotion and have a chance to win, Entrants launch the Demo, go to the online lobby, select the Matchmaking icon and join any open match. Once joining a match, Entrant is entered into the Promotion for that day.

5. Entry Conditions and Release. Entrants may participate in as many matches as they wish but are entered in the Promotion only once per Promotion Period day and may win only once. Entries are good only for the day of entry and will not carry over to any remaining days. 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 has the sole and absolute 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 incapable of running the Promotion as planned. Sponsor is not responsible for changes to Entrant’s contact information. Sponsor has the sole and absolute discretion to disqualify any entry not satisfying these Official Rules. Sponsor has the sole and absolute discretion to disqualify 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.

6. Winner Selection. Sponsor will award ten (10) prizes every day during the Promotion Period for a combined total of thirty (30) prizes. Five winning Entrants will be selected in daily random drawings from among all eligible entries received for each day during the Promotion Period. Drawings will be held at approximately 11:50 p.m. PST each day of the Promotion Period. Winning Entrants’ PlayStation Network online IDs will be posted on www.naughtydog.com and www.blog.us.playstation.com between October 15, 2009 and October 30, 2009. Sponsor will notify winning Entrants via the email address associated with each Entrant’s PlayStation Network account between October 15, 2009 and October 30, 2009. All potential winning Entrants selected must respond to Sponsor’s notification within 120 hours to claim their prize. If a potential winning Entrant does not respond within this time, Sponsor may select an alternate winning Entrant and notify that Entrant per the process described above. This method will continue until all prizes have been claimed.

7. General Conditions and Releases. Potential winner is subject to Sponsor’s verification. Sponsor’s decisions are final and binding in all matters related to the Promotion. Potential winner must comply with the Official Rules’ terms and conditions, and receipt of the prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements. In the event of a dispute as to any entry, the authorized account holder of the PlayStation Network account used to enter will be deemed to be the Entrant. The “authorized account holder” is the natural person owning, controlling or assigned the email address associated with the PlayStation Network used to enter the Promotion. Sponsor may require the potential winner to prove he or she is the authorized account holder, and Sponsor has the sole and absolute discretion in determining who is the authorized account holder for the purposes of awarding Promotion prizes.

8. Prizes. Thirty (30) prizes total for the Promotion Period. Each prize consists of one copy of the Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Fortune Hunter Edition video game. The approximate retail value (“ARV”) of the prize is $300.00. Prize fulfillment is based on availability. Sponsor has the sole and absolute discretion to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if a prize is unavailable. If a prize is returned to Sponsor as undeliverable, Sponsor has the sole and absolute discretion to disqualify a winning Entrant and select an alternate winner. If a winning Entrant is a minor, then Sponsor will award the prize to that Entrant’s parent or legal guardian. Prizes are non-transferable, and Sponsor need not substitute a prize based on winner’s request. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of the prize.

9. Odds of Winning. Odds of winning are determined by the number of eligible entries received.

10. Publicity. By accepting a prize, a winning Entrant agrees to the use of his or her name and likeness for purposes of advertising, trade or promotion without further compensation, unless prohibited by law, and agrees, if required, to sign and return a notarized Affidavit of Eligibility and Release of Liability (the “Affidavit”) within a period that Sponsor specifies.

11. Limitations of Liability. By attempting to enter, entering or accepting a Promotion prize, an Entrant agrees to release Sponsor and its parent, subsidiaries, agencies, divisions and affiliates from liability, claims or actions or any kind for injuries, damages or losses to persons and property that may be sustained in connection with the receipt, ownership or use of the prize or while preparing for, participating in or traveling to or from the Promotion or any Promotion or prize-related activity. Neither Sponsor nor its parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, agencies, divisions or related companies are responsible for any damages, taxes or expenses that winners might incur or inflict as a result of this Promotion or receipt of prize.

12. Promotion Results. Sponsor will post a list of winning Entrants’ PlayStation Network IDs on www.blog.us.playstation.com and www.naughtydog.com beginning on or about October 15, 2009. The list will remain on those sites until approximately October 30, 2009 at 12:00 p.m. PST. To obtain a winner’s list by mail, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Fortune Hunter Edition Giveaway Winner’s List, Attn: Promotions, 919 E. Hillsdale Blvd. 2nd Floor, Foster City, CA 94404. Sponsor will fulfill a winner’s list request within 4-6 weeks after it awards prizes. Requests for the winner’s list must be received by November 15, 2009.

13. Collection of Information. Information collected in connection with the Promotion will 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.

14. Restrictions. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

While MAG breaks new ground with 256 players and unprecedented online action, the game’s sophisticated command and control system involving eight-on-eight, squad-based combat allows each player to influence the larger battle and climb through the ranks to lead his or her own squad, platoon, and army.

Listen to the devs explain how it works in the video below:

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about MAG through this developer diary series. You can be sure we’ll be bringing more MAG information to the PlayStation.Blog in the very near future, so stay alert!

We’re back with another behind-the-scenes for MAG! This week, in the third “MAG Mondays” dev diary installment, Zipper Interactive gives us an in-depth look at each of the three PMCs in the game: Raven, S.V.E.R., and Valor.

Do you associate with the high-tech, polished Raven, or are you drawn in by the traditional military style of Valor? Or perhaps you’re into the edgy, aggressive S.V.E.R.? I’ve chosen my allegiance; which private army will you join?

The second dev diary in the series posted yesterday and focuses on the scale of MAG, which for the first time ever will bring 256 players to a console. All environmental effects (explosions, gunshots, etc.) can be attributed to live players! Listen to what the devs have to say about 256 in the video below.

GameTrailers will be continuing the “MAG Mondays” feature with another dev diary next week, and we’ll post it here next Tuesday. Stay tuned!

We were all very excited recently to read on ESPN.com that LeBron James is currently playing BUZZ! on PLAYSTATION 3. We think he will answer the question below correctly; it’s from the new Quiz Pack for BUZZ! Quiz TV that we’re releasing today with the PlayStation Store update. Check it out:

BASKETBALL STAR LEBRON JAMES WAS PICTURED WITH MODEL GISELE BUNDCHEN ON A CONTROVERSIAL COVER OF WHICH MAGAZINE?
*COSMOPOLITAN
*VOGUE
*VANITY FAIR
*ELLE

You can keep your BUZZ! battles going with the new Quiz of the Year Quiz Pack. We’ve pulled together questions on all of the juicy stuff that happened in 2008, so if you’re feeling nostalgic over last year, this Pack’s for you. Challenge your friends with poor short-term memory and guarantee a win.

First place with 29 percent of the vote:

Ross A.’s SackBoat! For the brilliant combination of SackBoy and kayak, SackBoat will receive a PLAYSTATION 3 80 GB system.

Second place with 26 percent of the vote:

Ding Dong’s Helghast! For breaking through the plethora of SackBoy submissions and winning over the PlayStation.Blog community, Helghast will receive a PSP-3000 system.

Finally, in what was an extremely close vote, third place with 17 percent of the vote goes to Ricardo G.’s SackCouple.
The adorable duo will receive PlayStation Network vouchers valued at $50.00 USD.

And because the fourth place entrant was just a mere 5 votes off, we’d like to give Daniel W.’s Hawaiian SackBoy PlayStation Network vouchers valued at $25.00 USD.
(While we love the Hawaiian shirt selection, we’re secretly hoping he uses the money to purchase a new SackBoy wardrobe.)

Congrats to all of the winners, and thanks again to all of you that voted! For the rest of you, you might wanna start planning next year’s costume…

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Halloween costume contest. By and large, the majority of you opted to dress up as SackBoys. We loved looking at all of the photos and it was tough to narrow it down, but Jeff did his best to select the top five submissions based on originality and likeness of character. Look over your voting ballot below (along with Jeff’s comments), before casting your all important vote. We’re now counting on you, the readers, to select the top three participants who will go on to receive fabulous prizes and praise. Make your selection below by this Friday, 5:00 PM PST. One vote per person (trust us, we know). Good luck to the finalists!

Entry #1 – SackCouple (Ricardo G.)

Jeff says: Our first entry received set the tone – lots of SackBoys! The female one is sporting a very “Ms. Pac-Man” vibe, with the askew bow. Adorable.

Entry #2 – Team WipEout (Jessica D.)

Jeff says: This entry gets my vote as most creative. These two posed as WipEout drivers, sporting their team affiliations. I’d have declared them instant winners if they went with my fave, Team Goteki – so they’re still going to need votes to win.

Entry #3 – Hawaiian Sackboy (Daniel W.)

Jeff says: I think this is the most well-constructed SackBoy – just look at that zipper! Not sure about that shirt though, I’d search the levels for some outfit bubbles you may have missed …

Entry #4 – Helghast (ding dong)

Jeff says: This entry succeeds in being even more creepy than Killzone 2’s Helghast troops. I won’t sleep well tonight.

Entry #5 – SackBoat (Ross A.)

Jeff says: This SackBoy clearly pressed up on the D-pad repeatedly – that tongue is wagging. Bonus points for risking the costume to jump into a boat, for completely unclear reasons.

Vote now, America (and anywhere else you may be reading this from)!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Now these two won’t count, as they didn’t represent SCE characters, but I wanted to honor them anyway:

Special Mention – Best Weapon (Josh H)

Jeff says: Biohazard KeyBlade (he called it Emerald Weapon). That’s awesome.

Special Mention – Scariest Costume (FritoZ)

Jeff says: Even I wouldn’t dress as me. Seriously, I’ve already changed my locks.

WHAT WAS THE SURNAME OF THE FAMILY WHO MOVED INTO THE HAUNTED HOUSE IN ‘THE AMITYVILLE HORROR’?
* LUTZ
* JONES
* MICHAELS
* WILLARD

WHO DIRECTED THE ORIGINAL 2004 ‘SAW’ FILM?
* JAMES WAN
* DARREN LYNN BOUSMAN
* DAVID HACKL
* LEIGH WHANNELL

IN ‘THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT’, THE FILMMAKERS BECOME LOST AFTER MIKE DOES WHAT TO THE MAP?
* KICKS IT INTO THE RIVER
* EATS IT
* RIPS IT UP
* THROWS IT ON THE FIRE

Just to provide a little added incentive to get you into the spirit, we’re announcing a costume contest. The rules are simple: dress up as one of your favorite Sony Computer Entertainment characters (e.g. BUZZ!, the game show host from the BUZZ! games, Sackboy, Kratos, Sly Cooper, Jak, Daxter, Ratchet, Clank etc.) and submit a photo of yourself in costume holding up a PlayStation branded controller or PSPsystem. Email your photo to psbloghalloween@gmail.com by 5:00 PM PST on November 3, 2008 (that gives you all of Halloween weekend to capture an image of yourself in costume).

Your favorite Social Media Manager, Jeff Rubenstein, will use his good judgment based on 50% originality of costume and 50% likeness of character to select the top FIVE costumes out of all of the submissions. We’ll then post the final five on the blog on November 5, 2008 on or about 9:00 AM PST and allow you, the readers, to vote. The three submissions with the most votes win. Vote by clicking on the radio button that corresponds with your selection. We’ll close voting at 5:00 PM PST Friday, November 7, 2008 and announce the winners on the Blog that following Monday, November 10, 2008.

The costume that receives the most votes will win a PLAYSTATION® 3 80 GB system. The second place costume will receive a PSP® 3000 system. The third place costume will receive PlayStation Network vouchers valued at $50.00 USD.

And because we are having so much fun testing each other with the BUZZ! Quiz TV Horror pack, we’re adding another little challenge to our costume contest. The individual with the best BUZZ! game show host costume (judged solely by Jeff) based on 50% originality of costume and 50% likeness of character will be awarded a PlayStation Network voucher for the horror quiz pack, in addition to a BUZZ! Quiz TV bundle.

So, get started on creating those costumes; we can’t wait to see what you come up with. Good luck and Happy Halloween!

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Open to legal residents of the United States ages 13 and older. See official rules listed below for complete details.

OFFICIAL RULES

The following promotion is intended for viewing in the 50 United States and D.C. only and shall only be construed and evaluated according to United States law. Do not proceed in this site if you are not a legal resident of, and located in, the 50 United States or D.C. at the time of entry.

SCEA CHARACTER AND BUZZ!(tm) HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST
OFFICIAL RULES

1. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. MAKING A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE CHANCES OF WINNING. Void outside the 50 United States and D.C. and where prohibited. To enter, email a photograph of yourself in costume holding up a PlayStation® branded controller or a PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) entertainment system to psbloghalloween@gmail.com between October 29, 2008 at 9:00 am PST and November 3, 2008 at 5:00 pm PST. Your costume must be a character featured in one of the games published by Sony Computer Entertainment America (the “Sponsor”) (i.e. BUZZ! (the game show host), Sackboy, Kratos, Sly Cooper, Jak, Daxter, Ratchet, Clank) To be valid, entries must be received no later than 5:00 PM November 3, 2008 (PST). Limit one entry per person and valid e-mail address for the duration of the promotion. All entries will be considered made by the authorized account holder of the email address. Subsequent entries will be disqualified.
Sony Computer Entertainment America (the “Sponsor”) is not responsible for lost, late, mutilated, illegible, incomplete or misdirected entries. Sponsor is not responsible for technical, hardware or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections or failed, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmissions which may limit an entrant’s ability to participate in the contest. Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to modify, cancel or suspend this contest should virus, bugs or other causes beyond Sponsor’s control corrupt the administration, security or proper play of thiscontest. Sponsor reserves the right to reject any entries that it deems, in its sole discretion, to be inappropriate including, but not limited to, gratuitous depictions of violence or sexual behavior, or positive depictions of alcohol or tobacco.

2. Winner Selection: Five (5) costumes will be selected by Sponsor from all eligible photographs received by November 3, 2008.
Sponsor will also select the best BUZZ! costume from all eligible photographs received by November 3, 2008.
All photographs received will be judged by Sponsor based on the following criteria:
50% Creativity
50% Likeness of Character
The five (5) final costumes chosen by Sponsor will be posted on blog.us.playstation.com/halloweencostumevote on November 5, 2008 on or about 9:00 AM PST for judging by the readers of the blog. The readers will vote for their favorite and the three (3) submissions with the most votes win a prize. Voting will close at 5:00 PM PST Friday, November 7, 2008. Readers will enter their votes by checking the box next to their favorite submission on the Web site at the following url: blog.us.playstation.com/halloweencostumevote. The winners will be announced on Monday, November 10, 2008 on the blog.

The winner of the BUZZ! Game show host Costume contest will also be announced on the blog on November 5, 2008.

3. PRIZES: One (1) Grand Prize winner is the posted submission that received the most votes from readers of the blog. Grand Prize costume will receive a PLAYSTATION®3 80 GB computer entertainment system (ARV $399.99). The costume that receives the second most votes will receive a PSP® 2000 system (ARV $169.99) . The costume that receives the third most votes will receive PlayStation® Network vouchers valued at $50.00 USD. Choice of Voucher at Sponsor’s discretion. The winner of the BUZZ! Costume contest will receive a PlayStation® Network voucher for the Horror Quiz Pack and a BUZZ! Quiz TV bundle which includes a copy of the game BUZZ! Quiz TV and four wireless buzzers. (ARV $115.98). Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal value. Prizes are non-transferable and no substitutions allowed. Winners shall be notified by email and/or telephone. Once notified, allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of prizes.
4. ODDS OF WINNING: The odds of winning depend on number of valid entries received.

5. ELIGIBILITY: Promotion is open to legal residents of the 50 United States ages 13 and over. Winner(s) will be required to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release within seven (7) days of receipt. Return of any prize/prize notification as undeliverable will result in disqualification and an alternate winner will be selected. Failure to return Affidavit of Eligibility and Release within 7 days of receipt will result in forfeiture of prize. An alternate winner will be selected among remaining eligible entrants. If the winner is a minor, then prize will be awarded to winner’s parent or legal guardian. By acceptance of prize, winners agree to the use of their name and/or likenesses for purposes of advertising, trade, or promotion without further compensation, unless prohibited by law. Additionally, by acceptance of prize, prize winner agree to release Sponsor and its respective parents, subsidiaries, agencies, divisions, and affiliates from any and all liability, claims or actions or any kind whatsoever for injuries, damages or losses to persons and property which may be sustained in connection with the receipt, ownership or use of the prize or while preparing for, participating in, and/or traveling to or from any prize-related activity and/or sweepstakes activity. Employees of Sponsor and their respective parents, subsidiaries, agencies, and affiliates and each of their related companies and their immediate families are not eligible. Neither the Sponsor nor their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, agencies, divisions nor related companies are responsible for any damages, taxes, or expenses that winners might incur as a result of this sweepstakes or receipt of prize.

6. WINNER’S NAME: To obtain a list of winners, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: SCEA CHARACTER AND BUZZ! HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST winner’s list. 919 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City, CA. 94404. Winners’ list requests will be fulfilled within four weeks after all prizes have been awarded. Requests for winners’ list must be received by November 30, 2008.

7. RESTRICTIONS: Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

8. SPONSOR: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., 919 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City, CA 94404