Summer is a great time to game. Open the window, turn up the volume to let everybody know what you’re playing. Another way to celebrate summer gaming is to watch this edition of PULSE which features new and upcoming releases and the annual PlayStation Store Summer Sale. Join Christina Lee for a look at Rainbow Moon — a classic looking 90′s RPG produced by the same folks who created Soldner X. For the PlayStation Vita, Zen Pinball 2 is coming soon supporting cross-play. The PS3 version supports stereoscopic 3D and is backwards compatible for those of you who’ve got the original.

In PlayStation Plus news, Gotham City Imposters is now part of this month’s instant game collection. Check out this zany take on the Batman universe with wacky costumes and bullet flying mayhem. And, finally, the Top 10 features the most popular downloads of June. Not a huge surprise in the number one spot, but check out a couple surprises lower in the list.

So, watch right here on the PlayStation.Blog or download HD, SD, and PS Vita versions from the PlayStation Store after today’s update.

We hope you enjoy this quick look at what’s happening on PlayStation.

This edition of Pulse takes the magic-wand mechanics of Sorcery for a spin. Check out the arsenal of different spells and combos needed to battle with the PlayStation Move controller through this fast-paced fantasy adventure that pits you against trolls, ghostly soldiers, giant spiders, and the Nightmare Queen. Also on deck this month are Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier with over 50 weapons (including lethal remote drones) and PS Vita’s much-talked-about FPS Resistance: Burning Skies.

Pulse also investigates Gravity Rush this month. This physics-bending action game features fascinating and challenging new combat that you have to see to believe. Pre-orders at participating retailers include the military DLC pack featuring two extra side missions, two new challenge missions, and military-themed costume for protagonist Kat.

As we approach the middle of the year, the Top 10 takes a look at the most popular downloads thus far in 2012. And Nicolas Cage rides again in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, our star new video release.

Watch right here on the PlayStation.Blog or download HD, SD, and PS Vita versions from the PlayStation Store after today’s update.

We hope you enjoy this quick look at what’s happening on PlayStation.

It’s Emmett time. That’s Emmett Graves, the new hero of Starhawk who kicks off this edition of PULSE as we celebrate the release of this space western from LightBox Interactive and Santa Monica Studio. While many enjoyed the beta earlier this year, it’s now time to check out the full Starhawk universe with all the cool vehicles and the innovative Build and Battle gameplay.

With next week’s release of Max Payne 3, PULSE also previews the new multiplayer action along with the new bullet time and ‘shootdodge’ game play. For PlayStation Plus subscribers, Trine 2′s physics-based puzzles of fire, water, gravity and magic is free. Check out the new Trine 2 world that’s now enabled with online co-op. PULSE also takes a look at the latest Q-Games. PixelJunk 4 AM is very different than any other in the series. Utilizing the PlayStation Move, their new title is a virtual audio canvas allowing you to create music, mix tracks and create live performances in PixelJunk 4 AM.

And, the Top 10 features the most popular game downloads of April. Can you guess what made the top spot?

Watch right here on the PlayStation.Blog or download HD, SD, and PS Vita versions from the PlayStation Store after today’s update. .

We hope you enjoy this quick look at what’s happening on PlayStation.

Up for some zombie bashing? With the second season of The Walking Dead television series now complete, it’s a long wait until season three kicks off. But starting today, Telltale Games begins to release the first of five episodes of the new The Walking Dead game. Get a glimpse of the first episode in our video preview.

For PlayStation Plus subscribers, we’ve got a look at the two multiplayer modes of the exclusive private beta of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. And check out a preview of the upcoming game Awesomenauts featuring space frogs and giant robots that will be free to Plus Subscribers on May 1.

The Top 10 features the most popular Add-ons so far this year and new video releases include a leather-clad Kate Beckinsale mowing down Lycans in Underworld: Awakening, and a look at Syfy’s fifth and final season of Eureka.

Watch right here on the PlayStation.Blog or download HD, SD, and PS Vita versions from the PlayStation Store after today’s afternoon update. We hope you enjoy this quick look at what’s happening on PlayStation.

After the most competitive season to date, a champion was finally crowned: Will Santiago, aka AkilleezMight!

Will prevailed through all the challenges this season, and became a leader of the gamers living in the PlayStation Loft along the way. From being covered in hissing cockroaches to leading his team through a brutal obstacle course, everything Will did, he did with a smile on his face.

You might have seen portions of his interview right after his victory as shown in the season finale. Here’s an extended version of those moments right after he won The Tester 3, with the adrenaline still pumping from winning the final challenge and the full extent of this amazing opportunity to work at Santa Monic Studio just starting to sink in. Please join me in congratulating Wilson Santiago as the winner of The Tester 3.

Additionally, we recently spoke to Will following the win, and he gave us his thoughts on being on the show, how tough it was competing against his fellow gamers, and much more. See below for the full Q&A session with Will, and feel free to leave your own questions for Will in the comments below!

PlayStation.Blog: How does it feel to be crowned the winner of The Tester 3?
Will Santiago: Honestly, the feeling is indescribable! I’m still in a state of disbelief over everything. I know I’ve got big shoes to fill and I will do everything in my power to represent the show and the PS family to the best of my abilities.

PSB: What were some of the most memorable moments for you during the show?
WS: I’ll never forget the first day. Stepping out of the van and into loft, and getting to meet everyone; It was all very surreal! I had the most fun with the Street Fighter X Tekken challenge. That day was by far the least stressful and we all really enjoyed ourselves during the performances. There were so many funny moments that happened each day, it’s kind of hard to keep track.

PSB: In stepping into your new role at Santa Monica Studio, what are you most excited about learning/experiencing?
WS: I absolutely cannot wait to dive into my new role. Being able to get the inside perspective of game design is a dream come true. It’s a privilege and an honor to learn from the best and work side by side with all the talented people at Santa Monica Studio. I’m going to walk in there with a blank slate, a humble heart, an open mind, and a drive to succeed!

PSB: How tough was the competition? Did you feel pretty confident that you would win?
WS: To say that the level of competition was fierce would be an understatement. My game plan was to stay focused and outshine my competitors. However, I soon found myself wanting to learn as much as I could from these 11 extraordinary people. They each possess very admirable qualities and taught me lessons about myself that I will carry for the rest of my life. Each challenge became more daunting than the last and everyone stepped up their level of intensity. They kept me on my A-game, so at no point did I feel like I had won the competition. It was extremely difficult to assert myself as a leader in the loft because I would easily follow any one of them.

PSB: Do you have any funny stories to share from living in the PlayStation Loft with the rest of the gamers?
WS: The extra scenes did a great job of showing a lot of the “shenanigans” that went on between us all. A couple of moments that stood out: The epic ‘Everybody Dance’ battles between SkyD1ddy and myself, Ninjanomyx & Egoraptor’s 2 hour thought provoking conversation, J-Tight’s earth-shattering snoring, RealityPales’ underhanded tactics in LBP 2, Asuukaa schooling me on the ins and outs of roller derby, and “4-syllable singing” with KrystiPryde!

PSB: How do your friends and family feel about you leaving to Santa Monica to join the Santa Monica Studio team?
WS: My loved ones mean the world to me. They’re my inspiration and my biggest supporters. While they are sad that I’m leaving Florida, they couldn’t be more proud of my achievements. I owe it to them to progress and succeed at whatever I do!

PSB: What advice would you give a competitor coming on the show? What are the keys to winning?
WS: Stay FOCUSED! It’s very easy to get overwhelmed by everything that happens around you. Let your dedication and heart speak for you. Even though it’s a competition, motivate and support your teammates. Keep your eye on the prize and no matter what, stay true to yourself.

Jesse Blaze Snider wields a wand (aided by the Move controller) in Sorcery. As a young wizard’s apprentice, players easily learn how the wand enables magical game play in a mystical world. Summon fire, ice and magical bolt spells to take down huge ice trolls and evil monsters in this comprehensive preview!

Looks like the next step in modern warfare game play is coming from Ubisoft’s latest installment of the popular futuristic shooter Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. The Qore preview ‘de-cloaks’ the very cool stealth technology and almost infinite combinations of weapons that players can assemble.

Superpower shapeshifting is back with Prototype 2. With a new protagonist wielding some crazy powerful tendrils, this preview flies through the awesome powers available in the open world setting of a quarantined Manhattan.

This episode also features a retrospective look back at Qore’s nearly four years on PlayStation Network. As the first interactive digital magazine on a game console, Qore provided an innovative mix of quality HD video and interactive content covering over 160 new games. With this April episode, Qore concludes its run on the PlayStation Network. As a send off, the Qore team built one final DLC package: the Qore Ultimate Arcade features a compilation of 11 mini games offered throughout the series. Our thanks to all involved in the creation and production of Qore and to the many fans who regularly watched each month.

In this edition, host Christina Lee highlights the new maps being released in the UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception Map Pack. Check out highlights of the four new multiplayer maps featuring new terrain, improved gameplay and even more amazing environments.

For vehicle combat fans, the new PSN exclusive Wheels of Destruction is a fast-paced and strategic multiplayer combat racing game that allows players to switch classes within a match. Also featured is a look at the immersive interactive experience of Datura (from the Linger in Shadows team) which incorporates the PlayStation Move motion controller to investigate a mysterious forest, solve puzzles and, well, much like ‘Linger’, requires that you just check it out for yourself.

The Top 10 features the most popular downloads of March and new video releases highlight Tom Cruise running very fast again in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and Mark Wahlberg being good bad guy in Contraband

Watch this edition right here on the PlayStation.Blog or download HD, SD, and PS Vita versions from the PlayStation Store after today’s update.

We hope you enjoy this quick look at what’s happening on PlayStation.

As in previous seasons, today’s finale is the most action-packed episode of The Tester 3. It’s a grueling multi-mission challenge that will end with the final three gamers putting their gaming skills to the ultimate test by conquering an epic campaign mission in the upcoming third-person shooter Starhawk. No panel. No judges: the best gamer wins The Tester 3. If you can’t wait to watch this epic finale in HD, check out The Tester 3 Season Finale right here! (Please DO NOT spoil the ending for others in the comments!)

Remember, you can also watch the entire episode on your PS3 through the following ways:

• What’s New section of the XMB
• PlayStation Home’s Theater 2
• Download from the PlayStation Store after today’s update.

If you need a refresher on the events leading up to the finale, make sure to check out Episode 8, which featured many past contestants reliving great moments from the season. You can check it out here.

We’d like to thank all of you for participating in our weekly Twitter contests throughout the season. Our final winner from this morning’s contest was @JnSPEC, so congrats on winning your very own PS Vita!

Next week, look right here on the PlayStation Blog for a special Q&A with this season’s winner who will talk about how it feels to be on the verge of starting their job at Santa Monica Studio.

Thanks again to all the fans of The Tester who supported the series. We’re extremely proud of this season, and we hope you’ve enjoyed watching along with us.

Enjoy the finale and please don’t post any spoilers.

Don’t miss first-hand accounts from Egoraptor, J-Tight, Skyd1ddy, Suzkaiden, Kwajamonster and Ninjanomyx, as they remember some of the funniest and most outrageous moments of their time in the PlayStation Loft. There are also lots of great new outtakes when things don’t quite go as planned. Plus, they’ll divulge their insight about the three finalists with a special preview of next week’s final challenge. The entire Episode 8 is ready right here (and later in the usual channels), so check it out!

Remember, you can watch the entire episode in the What’s New section of the XMB, PlayStation Home’s Theater 2 (where the limited edition ‘The Tester 3” game over virtual hoodies are awarded), or download in glorious HD from the PlayStation Store after today’s update.

Last week’s Episode 7 featured PlayStation knowledge and a dunk tank. Special guest, IGN executive editor for PlayStation, Greg Miller joined the panel last week to help decide the three finalists for next week. If you missed a very entertaining Episode 7, watch it right here. We also have some pretty funny extra scenes from last week also ready to roll. Click the image below for more fun and games from episode 7!

The eighth Twitter giveaway for The Tester 3 is next Monday, April 2nd. Follow @PlayStation to participate, and keep an eye out for a trivia question related to Episode 8. Congratulations to @juggernaut1983 for winning yesterday’s Episode 7 prize package!

For next week, the prize package provides one lucky winner with the most coveted prize of the season: A brand new, PlayStation Vita! As always, the winner will receive their very own “The Tester 3” t-shirt, and one-month PS Plus voucher. Not bad, eh?

Let us know what you think of this latest episode, and who is your favorite. And we look forward to bringing you the season finale next week!

Thanks for supporting The Tester 3!

Upcoming 2D fighting game Skullgirls also features impressive hand-drawn art. With eight female characters and three-person teams, this dark deco fighter shows off some impressive moves — of course, Pulse is there for the full story. For PS Vita fans, we lock onto a couple tips with Unit 13‘s multiplayer modes and ask a community question about upcoming mission challenges. Finally, today’s Top 10 is all about PS Vita with the most popular games that you guys are downloading.

Watch this edition right here on PlayStation.Blog. Or, download HD, SD, and PS Vita versions of Pulse from the PlayStation Store after today’s update.

We hope you enjoy this quick look at what’s happening on PSN.