PlayStation.Blog » Paul Sullivan http://blog.us.playstation.com The official PlayStation Blog for news and video updates on PS3, PS4, PSN, PS Vita, PSP Sun, 19 May 2013 23:00:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 PlayStation Community Update: Level Up Game Center http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/03/22/playstation-community-update-level-up-game-center/ http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/03/22/playstation-community-update-level-up-game-center/#comments Fri, 22 Mar 2013 18:15:58 +0000 Paul Sullivan http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=102557 Community Forums to get some feedback on his unique position. He was “presented with a business opportunity with unlimited possibilities,” and as should anyone with such an opportunity, Robert turned to his peers for advice. ]]> In April of 2010, Robert Steele (PSN ID: rsteele), reached out to the PlayStation community through the Community Forums to get some feedback on his unique position. He was “presented with a business opportunity with unlimited possibilities,” and as should anyone with such an opportunity, Robert turned to his peers for advice.

The plea was simple; if I’m going to make a game lounge, what would other gamers want to see in such a creation? Gamers of all types hopped in the discussion and gave Robert some much needed guidance. In a few months, Robert had his lounge up and running. After a year he was hosting BBQs, gaming marathons and LAN tournaments. Now, almost three years since that first post, Level Up Gaming Center is as strong as ever.

PlayStation Community Update 3-22-2013PlayStation Community Update 3-22-2013

If you’re ever in the Augusta, GA area, be sure to drop by Robert’s lounge. If you can’t make it to Georgia, be sure to support your local game center. If you want to start your own, don’t forget to keep your gaming community in mind! Robert didn’t, and his dream is now a reality.

PlayStation Community Update 3-22-2013

Level Up Game Center is a brick-and-mortar gamer’s lounge in Augusta, GA. Founder Rick Steele turned to the PlayStation Community Forums back in 2010 to gather feedback on what would make a great lounge.

I set aside some time to talk to Robert now that his Lounge and gaming repair shop is a well-established business. Aside from being a great guy, he was also able to share some pretty cool insight. Here’s what he had to say:

Paul: What led you to choose a gaming lounge when you had the opportunity to launch a business?

Robert: Some family members wanted another family owned business to place at a location they owned that had a recent vacancy. We talked about several different business ideas including equipment rental and even a tanning salon. After several weeks of brainstorming and research a gaming lounge or LAN center was the one idea that everyone seemed to be interested in. I am very happy that we did not choose to put in a tanning salon. July of this year will be our 3rd anniversary.

Paul: Why did you choose to create a thread in the PlayStation forums looking for feedback, what did you gain from it?

Robert: I had never been to a LAN center or gaming lounge before and I had been a member of the PlayStation forums for a long time. I knew it was one place that we could get a response from gamers who would also be our target customer base. It helped in several ways, there were posts about similar existing businesses, which meant other people were doing what we wanted to do, and they were able to tell me directly what they liked or disliked about those places. Posting there helped us create a space and atmosphere that we knew gamers would love.

Paul: What was the greatest challenge you faced when launching this business, how did you overcome it?

Robert: The biggest challenge was and still is getting the word out that our business is here. Television, radio, and billboard advertising is very expensive so we went the route of social media and word of mouth advertising. I have worked with other video game stores in the area, pizza delivery places, and even larger retailer’s electronic departments helped spread the word about our business. Cross promotional deals with other businesses in the area are a great ways to advertise for very little cost.

Paul: What’s the typical demographic for your customer base (age, etc.)?

Robert: Our average customer is male between the ages of 18 and 24. Although I have had customers as old as 76 and as young as 5. The video game audience is much more diverse than most people realize. Ideally Level Up is a place where the whole family: mom, dad, brother, and sister can come and enjoy some aspect of what we have to offer and we do have several families that are frequent visitors.

Paul: About how many visitors do you have in a given month?

Robert: After almost 3 years in business I still see 80 to 100 new customers per month. I’ve had thousands of individuals come through and many of them hold tournaments, have their birthday parties, or attend other special events we hold on a regular basis.

Paul: What are the most popular games at your lounge, how has that evolved over the past couple years?

Robert: The Call of Duty series has always had an enormous following. We’ve held tournaments for Modern Warfare 2 as well as the first Black Ops. PlayStation All Stars Battle Royale has developed a really solid following and is a part of the regular tournaments we hold at our all night events. I have had customers that play through the entire story line of games like Uncharted 3 and God of War 3 in one sitting. Then others play Rock Band or Guitar Hero for hours at a time.

Games are becoming more cinematic with larger worlds, more detailed character development, and more engaging story lines. I believe anyone can look at the differences between games like Borderlands 1 and Borderlands 2 and see that developers are going further and further with what they can offer the players in terms of entertainment and game play.

Paul: What’s YOUR favorite game and why?

Robert: It’s very difficult to pick just one game. Warhawk was my favorite and one of the first games I had on the PS3 and I played an absurd amount of time on that game. I also made a lot of lasting friendships and still have a lot of those people on my friends list today. So many games are just point and shoot, Warhawk allowed players to be effective that might not have been the best “shooters” but used communication, the map, strategy, and teamwork to compete against others with more “skill”.

Lately I’ve been playing Borderlands 2 and Tomb Raider. I also really enjoy PSN games like PAIN, Trash Panic, Dungeon Defenders, and Battle Tanks, I like these because they provide hours of quality enjoyment and are relatively cheap.

Paul: Do you plan on expanding the business, if so where?

Robert: I would love to expand and have a laser tag arena attached to the existing lounge. There is a chance that it could be in the same building or some property that is close by. The only issue with that is that I am the only full time employee at Level Up for the time being. I am constantly adding in more stations to keep up with the crowds that show up for our all night events. Currently we reach capacity (50-60 people depending on what they are playing) in about 20-30 minutes after opening the doors. I want to have enough space and as many stations as it takes to let everyone play here during those times!

Paul: What’s your greatest experience you’ve had while running the lounge?

Robert: Any time I can repair a system or console for a customer that is a great feeling. Taking something that’s dead and bringing it back to life is cool even if it’s just a video game console, for some people that might be their only form of entertainment. I also really enjoy introducing customers to games they have never played before, especially if they like the game I suggest.

We’ve done charity events, worked with the local military base, and other community organizations all of which were great experiences. I would have to say creating a community and a location where there are all different people can enjoy one common bond, video games, is by far the coolest thing we’ve done at Level Up.

Paul: What advice would you give to other gamer entrepreneurs?

Robert: Be creative. If you have an idea for a business there are plenty of ways you can make it happen. Chances are there is someone out there that’s willing to talk to you, give you a contact, or a resource that will help you more than you can imagine. The most important person in your plans will be you. You will be the one driving the idea. If you attempt something and it doesn’t work learn from it and try something different. Also networking with the right people will make everything easier. I’m in constant contact with other LAN/lounge owners who are currently operating or are looking to open something similar in their area via http://startalancenter.com.

If you’ve got an amazing story about how gamers and our communities have helped you, or how you’ve helped them, let us know. Post in the comments below, or reach out to me on the PlayStation Forums.

Forums

Chat with fellow PS gamers in our Forums! There’s plenty to talk about, with different sections including:

PlayStation Plus
PlayStation Home
PS Trophy Leaderboard
Whatever you want (aka Off-Topic area)

Win It Wednesday

Next week we have a very special #WinItWed prize. We can’t tell you exactly what it is right now, but lets just say the possibilities are Infinite! Stay tuned to @HeyPlayStation on Twitter to find out!

]]> http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/03/22/playstation-community-update-level-up-game-center/feed/ 18 http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2013/03/bloghome_levelup_032213.jpg 4.49Community Manager, PlayStation Digital Platforms 18 1 Evolutionary RTS Forevolution Comes to PS Mobile Today http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/03/13/evolutionary-rts-forevolution-comes-to-ps-mobile-today/ http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/03/13/evolutionary-rts-forevolution-comes-to-ps-mobile-today/#comments Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:01:37 +0000 Paul Sullivan http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=101900 Pygmy Studios in Osaka, Japan. In Forevolution, you are the ruler of your own world with the power to influence animals, plants -- even the elements themselves! You will truly feel empowered while controlling and creating life from this unique perspective.]]> Forevolution on PS Mobile

Forevolution is a real-time strategy game from Pygmy Studios in Osaka, Japan. In Forevolution, you are the ruler of your own world with the power to influence animals, plants — even the elements themselves! You will truly feel empowered while controlling and creating life from this unique perspective.

During a trip to Laos, the creator of this game gained the following, simple insight: “Cows eat the weeds on the ground. Cows [fertilize] the land to grow crops. Humans eat cows. Humans die and return to the land.”

Forevolution on PS Mobile

Forevolution on PS MobileForevolution on PS Mobile

This life cycle is the inspiration behind Forevolution, available today on the PlayStation Mobile marketplace. At $5.49, this uniquely styled, addictive RTS is a must have for PS Mobile fans.

If you’ve never downloaded a game from the Mobile store, now’s the time to check it out. PS Vita owners can download Forevolution on the PlayStation Mobile section of PlayStation Store. Owners of PlayStation-certified devices (see full list here) can obtain it through the PlayStation Mobile Store – click here for full instructions.

]]> http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/03/13/evolutionary-rts-forevolution-comes-to-ps-mobile-today/feed/ 28 http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2013/03/forevolution.jpg 4.4Community Manager, PlayStation Digital Platforms 28 2 PlayStation Community Update http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/02/22/playstation-community-update-2/ http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/02/22/playstation-community-update-2/#comments Fri, 22 Feb 2013 20:53:14 +0000 Paul Sullivan http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=100389 PlayStation Network Gamers’ Choice Awards (which you can still vote on until Monday, February 25th). In honor of this illustrious event, and of the sale next week, we’ve decided to dedicate this Community Update post some of the great fan art that PlayStation fans created in 2012. It was really tough to pick which examples to display in this post --there were so many great creations out there that you, the fans, have put together. The time, effort and love put into these pieces shines through, and there was no way to put all of the cool content into one blog post. We did our best, though, and limited it to games in the running for a Gamers’ Choice Award. Here are a few that we think show the passion of gamers, and the variety of ways to express that passion.]]> On Tuesday, we announced this year’s edition of the PlayStation Network Gamers’ Choice Awards (which you can still vote on until Monday, February 25th). In honor of this illustrious event, and of the sale next week, we’ve decided to dedicate this Community Update post some of the great fan art that PlayStation fans created in 2012.

It was really tough to pick which examples to display in this post — there were so many great creations out there that you, the fans, have put together. The time, effort and love put into these pieces shines through, and there was no way to put all of the cool content into one blog post.

We did our best, though, and limited it to games in the running for a Gamers’ Choice Award. Here are a few that we think show the passion of gamers, and the variety of ways to express that passion.

Artist: VengefulTorture
Game: Sound Shapes
Nominated For: Best PSN Game, Best Indie Game
Piece: Moon Escape (A Community Level)

PlayStation Community Update 2-22-2013

Photographer: Cynthia Veekens
Costumes and Connor: Rick Boer, Aveline: Dominique Boer
Game: Assassin’s Creed III
Nominated For: Best PS3 Full Game
Piece: AC III – Connor and Aveline, final

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Artist: Monkey Buonarroti
Game: Gravity Rush
Nominated For: Best PS Vita Game
Piece: Gravity Daze

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Artist: Memoski
Game: PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale
Nominated For: Best PS3 Full Game
Piece: God of Rap

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Artist: Amy Clarke
Game: Journey
Nominated For: Best PSN Exclusive, Best PSN Game, Best Indie Game
Piece: The Journeyer

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Artist: Unknown Dane Grannon
Game: Borderlands 2
Nominated For: Best PS3 Full Game
Piece: Unknown

There’s plenty more out there, too! If you’ve created some cool fan art, or just know someone who has, reply in the comments below and share a link to the work. We’d love to see what else the PlayStation community has to offer.

As always, check the links below for what’s going on in the world of PlayStation. See you next Friday!

Forums

Chat with fellow PS gamers in our Forums! There’s plenty to talk about, with different sections including:

PlayStation Plus
PlayStation Home
PS Trophy Leaderboard
Whatever you want (aka Off-Topic area)

Win It Wednesday

Win PlayStation games and products Wednesdays on Twitter! Follow @HeyPlayStation to be eligible to win.

This week, we’ve got Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Next week, we’ll have Mass Effect prizes to celebrate the Mass Effect Paragon Lost animated movie. Stay tuned for @HeyPlayStation‘s PS Vita birthday celebration!

]]> http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/02/22/playstation-community-update-2/feed/ 58 http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2013/02/community.jpg 3.99Community Manager, PlayStation Digital Platforms 58 4 This Week in the PlayStation Community http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/02/01/this-week-in-the-playstation-community-2/ http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/02/01/this-week-in-the-playstation-community-2/#comments Fri, 01 Feb 2013 17:00:56 +0000 Paul Sullivan http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=96405 Cade introduced our new twist on the Community Spotlight. Now it’s my turn to highlight something going on in the PlayStation Community. Last week we showcased the creative and talented moemarston, but not all weeks will be related to creative fans. Sometimes we’ll get a chance to focus on those of us with a nice, healthy competitive streak. And this is one of those weeks! Starting today, and running all through the month of February, is the inaugural Battle Bowl. Two of PlayStation’s biggest community-driven tournament sites have teamed up to bring us an epic series of tournaments called Battle Bowls.]]> Last Friday, Cade introduced our new twist on the Community Spotlight. Now it’s my turn to highlight something going on in the PlayStation Community. Last week we showcased the creative and talented moemarston, but not all weeks will be related to creative fans. Sometimes we’ll get a chance to focus on those of us with a nice, healthy competitive streak. And this is one of those weeks!

Battle Bowl

Starting today, and running all through the month of February, is the inaugural Battle Bowl. Two of PlayStation’s biggest community-driven tournament sites have teamed up to bring us an epic series of tournaments called Battle Bowls. In each of these Bowls, FraggedNation and Urgent Fury will host massive, month-long 4v4 Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 multiplayer ladders. The top eight teams from each site will compete in an intense bracket tournament during the first weekend of March.

The winners will walk away with huge bragging rights (and momentum into Battle Bowl II). But for those of you that like your prizes to be a bit more impressive, each member of the winning team will receive an Elgato Game Capture HD device. So, if you’ve been telling everyone on your friends list that you’re the one to beat in BO2, now’s the time to prove it!

Grab three of your toughest friends, and sign up now at either FraggedNation or Urgent Fury to compete for the Battle Bowl I title.

As will be the norm in our weekly PlayStation Community posts, we’ll have a few modules to get connected, find cool events and maybe even win some really cool swag. Check back weekly for more info, and continue your PlayStation community connection with us.

Forums

Chat with fellow PS gamers in our Forums! There’s plenty to talk about, with different sections including:

PlayStation Plus
PlayStation Home
PS Trophy Leaderboard
Whatever you want (aka Off-Topic area)

Win It Wednesday

Win PlayStation games and products every Wednesday on Twitter! This week we gave away Madden NFL 13 for predicting which team would win the big game over the weekend; next week you can win Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time! Follow @HeyPlayStation to learn how to enter.

]]> http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/02/01/this-week-in-the-playstation-community-2/feed/ 21 http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2013/01/community1.jpg 3.23Community Manager, PlayStation Digital Platforms 21 3 Grab A Free PlayStation Mobile Game Every Wednesday for Six Weeks http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/01/16/grab-a-free-playstation-mobile-game-every-wednesday-for-six-weeks/ http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/01/16/grab-a-free-playstation-mobile-game-every-wednesday-for-six-weeks/#comments Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:31:33 +0000 Paul Sullivan http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=95165 PlayStation Mobile games. Each week for the next six weeks, you’ll be able to pick up one PlayStation Mobile title for free – that’s a new free title each week. To kick off this party we needed to find a title with a lot of punch, and we couldn’t think of anything more appropriate than Samurai Beatdown. This fast-paced, side-scrolling slash-em-up pits your samurai rhythm skills against waves and waves of evil demons. Download the game for free from the PlayStation Mobile Store on your PS Vita or PlayStation Certified Device. It’s free now, so be sure to jump in and pick up your copy today.]]> PlayStation Mobile: Samurai Beatdown

We’re still in a giving mood long after the holidays have come and gone. To prove it, we’re giving away six PlayStation Mobile games. Each week for the next six weeks, you’ll be able to pick up one PlayStation Mobile title for free – that’s a new free title each week.

To kick off this party we needed to find a title with a lot of punch, and we couldn’t think of anything more appropriate than Samurai Beatdown. This fast-paced, side-scrolling slash-em-up pits your samurai rhythm skills against waves and waves of evil demons.

Download the game for free from the PlayStation Mobile Store on your PS Vita or PlayStation Certified Device. It’s free now, so be sure to jump in and pick up your copy today. Then check the Store Update post each Tuesday between now and February 19th to see which new PlayStation Mobile game will be free that week! One new game will be listed as free each Wednesday.

PlayStation Mobile: Samurai Beatdown

If you’ve never downloaded a game from the Mobile store, now’s the time to check it out. PS Vita owners can simply head to the PlayStation Mobile Section of the PlayStation Store. People with Sony Smartphones or Tablets, or folks with HTC Android devices that are PlayStation Certified just need to download and install the PlayStation Mobile Android App. From there, you’ll have access to all of the PlayStation Mobile games!

PlayStation Mobile Vita Store

Be sure to check next Tuesday’s Store Update post to see which game will be free on PlayStation Mobile next Wednesday. In the meantime, download Samurai Beatdown, then comment here, or head to the forums and let us know what you think.

Need more information on PlayStation Mobile? Want to know more about supported tablets and phones? Head here.

]]> http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/01/16/grab-a-free-playstation-mobile-game-every-wednesday-for-six-weeks/feed/ 73 http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2013/01/sbeatdown.jpg 4.7Community Manager, PlayStation Digital Platforms 73 13 Video Poker Comes to The Casino and Mercia is Coming Soon! http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/08/13/video-poker-comes-to-the-casino-and-mercia-is-coming-soon/ http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/08/13/video-poker-comes-to-the-casino-and-mercia-is-coming-soon/#comments Mon, 13 Aug 2012 21:30:31 +0000 Paul Sullivan http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=82101 PlayStation Home soon! We’ll have more info next week, but for now, take a look at the latest trailer and prepare for its release! Mercia will be an amazing experience for the Home Community, but in the meantime you can occupy yourself by checking out all of the cool content hitting this week:]]> This Wednesday, August 15th, Digital Leisure updates their casino with Video Poker, Heavy Water gives their Peeps a facelift and releases Avalon Keep, both Novus Prime and Lockwood unveil new companions, and more!

But before you check out all of this amazing content coming to Home this week, we wanted to give you a heads up about Mercia: Fractured Realms. The first free to play, MMO RPG on the platform, Mercia is hitting PlayStation Home soon! We’ll have more info next week, but for now, take a look at the latest trailer and prepare for its release!


Mercia will be an amazing experience for the Home Community, but in the meantime you can occupy yourself by checking out all of the cool content hitting this week:

1. Heavy Water – Avalon Keep

Heavy Water brings you a new experience in the realm of private apartments with the expansive Avalon Keep Personal Apartment. Will you become a Lord or Lady of Avalon? Those who purchase within the first 30 days of release will receive Royal Crystal Crowns, for male and female, as an exclusive reward. These crowns are made from the rarest Avalonian Crystals and pulse with their own inner light. Don’t forget about all the other features this space offers: Gift Machine, owner only furniture rewards, interactive NPCs, banner/theme changes, dynamic day/night cycle and the Dragonfly Automaton.

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2. Heavy Water – Heavy Peeps Update

Heavy Water’s isn’t just releasing Avalon Keep; they’ve taken the Peeps and given them an update where it really counts. The companions are now bigger with more animations and a jump sound effect. Bring that Peep companion out of storage and see how much they’ve grown! Now thanks to a new control scheme, moving your Peep is just like controlling your PlayStation Home avatar. The active item has also been reduced to only six furniture slots. Place multiple Heavy Pets out and explore your apartments from a new perspective.

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3. Digital Leisure – Video Poker comes to the Casino

A wild new game has appeared! Video Poker has made its way to The Casino. If you love poker, but prefer to play alone, then this game is for you. You get five cards and one draw to make your best hand. Video Poker comes with its own set of rewards — if you reach Tier 3 in all of the games you’ll receive The King outfit.

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4. Hellfire Games – Novus Prime Companions

Novus Prime gets an update this week with three new Ship Companions! Control the airspace around your avatar with the Mini Gladius, Mini Witch Doctor, and Mini Obsidian Blade companions, each equipped with custom aerial maneuvers and sounds. They’ll follow you faithfully to the edges of space, pausing only to briefly recharge on your shoulder.

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7. LOOT – MIB Bundles

This week get your full Men in Black™ fix with the release of The Ultimate Men in Black™ Collection and The Men in Black™ Collection – Weapons! The Ultimate Collection is packed with every Men in Black™ item sold in Home at a discounted price! Looking for a defense pack? The Men in Black™ Collection – Weapons has every agent and alien weapon (handhelds and ornaments) you could ask for from the Men in Black™ franchise. Suit up!

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8. PlayStation Home Mall Update

Magnus drops by again this week to let us know about some new items in the Store including the Golden Slotted Shades that are an exclusive item available to x7 members. Check out this edition of the Virtual item Showcase for an early look at these sweet frames.


9. The Midway Ca$h Carnival Sweepstakes!

Don’t forget, this week you have the chance to win another fabulous prize at the Midway Ca$h Carnival Sweepstakes! Go to the Hot Zone to sign up for the Sweepstakes and every green ticket you spend playing any Midway or Hot Zone game earns you an entry into the weekly drawing. Every weekly entry counts toward the Grand Prize drawing for $15,000! Real prizes! Real money! Real fun! For official rules, click here: http://bit.ly/midwaycashcarnival

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See you in Home!

]]> http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/08/13/video-poker-comes-to-the-casino-and-mercia-is-coming-soon/feed/ 41 http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/themes/twenty11/images/rss-default.jpg 3.64Community Manager, PlayStation Digital Platforms 41 5 Anime Fans: Crunchyroll and Neon Alley Are Coming to PSN http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/07/13/anime-fans-crunchyroll-and-neon-alley-are-coming-to-psn/ http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/07/13/anime-fans-crunchyroll-and-neon-alley-are-coming-to-psn/#comments Sat, 14 Jul 2012 00:01:32 +0000 Paul Sullivan http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=79927 Comic-Con is news that we will be the exclusive launch partner for VIZ Media’s Neon Alley - a 24-hour anime channel – to PlayStation Network in Fall 2012. Neon Alley will be a subscription-based service available to all PS3 owners in the U.S. and Canada for $6.99 per month. Neon Alley will include a mix of action, adventure, science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, and horror anime, all uncut and dubbed in English, and presented in HD (when available), including include blockbuster anime titles like Naruto Shippuden, Inuyasha: The Final Act, and Death Note, as well as new titles such as Tiger & Bunny, Berserk: The Golden Age Arc, Zetman, Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, plus original content that provides news and behind-the-scenes access for anime and manga fans.]]> PSN Anime Networks - Crunchyroll

We’re always looking for ways to deliver PlayStation gamers the entertainment you crave. Hot off the presses from Comic-Con is news that we will be the exclusive launch partner for VIZ Media’s Neon Alley – a 24-hour anime channel – to PlayStation Network in Fall 2012. Neon Alley will be a subscription-based service available to all PS3 owners in the U.S. and Canada for $6.99 per month. Neon Alley will include a mix of action, adventure, science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, and horror anime, all uncut and dubbed in English, and presented in HD (when available), including include blockbuster anime titles like Naruto Shippuden, Inuyasha: The Final Act, and Death Note, as well as new titles such as Tiger & Bunny, Berserk: The Golden Age Arc, Zetman, Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, plus original content that provides news and behind-the-scenes access for anime and manga fans.

PSN Anime Networks - Neon Alley

That’s not all, though. It was recently unveiled that the Crunchyroll App will be coming to PSN, streaming directly from your PS3 console. Current subscribers will be able to log in with their existing account to access all the benefits, including streaming the episodes of popular anime shows such as Naruto Shippuden, Shugo Chara, Hunter X Hunter, Sket Dance, and Korean drama shows like Dr. Jing, Jumong, The King 2 Hearts and more. And if you’re not a member yet – you can also sign up for a 30-day free trial directly from your PS3. The packages include Anime membership (all anime titles and simulcasts for $6.95 per month), Drama membership (all drama titles and simulcasts for $6.95 per month), or All-Access membership (all titles and simulcasts for $11.95 per month).

So that’s it – great anime content will be streaming directly to your PS3 soon! What are your thoughts on a dedicated anime channel on PSN? Share your feedback with us in the comments below.

]]> http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/07/13/anime-fans-crunchyroll-and-neon-alley-are-coming-to-psn/feed/ 102 http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/07/LEAD_Naruto.jpg 4.45Community Manager, PlayStation Digital Platforms 102 12 PSN Summer Sale Starts Tuesday, Bonus Discounts for Plus Members http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/06/29/psn-summer-sale-starts-tuesday-bonus-discounts-for-plus-members/ http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/06/29/psn-summer-sale-starts-tuesday-bonus-discounts-for-plus-members/#comments Fri, 29 Jun 2012 16:02:50 +0000 Paul Sullivan http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=78748 PSN begins offering up the hottest deals of the season! The Summer Sale is coming - choose from 11 great titles, all on sale for 30% off and available at a straight up scorching 50% off for PlayStation Plus Members. Go to the PlayStation Store beginning Tuesday, July 3rd 2012 through Monday, July 9th 2012 and beat the heat with these sizzlin' summer deals! If gorgeous classics like Shadow of the Colossus or fan favorites like inFAMOUS Festival of Blood are on your gamer radar, then Tuesday can’t come quick enough!]]> On Tuesday, July 3rd PSN begins offering up the hottest deals of the season! The Summer Sale is coming – choose from 11 great titles, all on sale for 30% off and available at a straight up scorching 50% off for PlayStation Plus Members. Go to the PlayStation Store beginning Tuesday, July 3rd 2012 through Monday, July 9th 2012 and beat the heat with these sizzlin’ summer deals! If gorgeous classics like Shadow of the Colossus or fan favorites like inFAMOUS Festival of Blood are on your gamer radar, then Tuesday can’t come quick enough!

Click here to join PlayStation Plus today!

SummerSale2012_PR-KeyArtPiece

Gotham City Impostors
$10.49, or $7.34 for PlayStation Plus Members.
A 6 vs. 6 first person shooter, Gotham City Impostors is a multiplayer game unlike any other, giving players the opportunity to pose as their amateur vigilantes or villains. Create your own Bats and Jokerz characters using unprecedented customization options.

NBA Jam: On Fire Edition
$10.49, or $7.34 for PlayStation Plus Members.
HE’S ON FIRE! NBA JAM: On Fire Edition from EA Sports is guaranteed to light up the court as you throwdown the craziest dunks in the history of the basketball. Don’t miss out on this reimagining of the classic arcade game!

Shadow of the Colossus
$13.99. or $9.79 for PlayStation Plus Members.
Experience a majestic journey through ancient lands, on a quest to bring a girl back to life. The only way to save her is to slay sixteen Colossi. Explore expansive landscapes and seek out each gigantic beast in its own natural habitat.

inFAMOUS Festival of Blood
$6.99, or $4.89 for PlayStation Plus Members.
Vampires swarm New Marais, and revered superhero Cole MacGrath has been bitten. To save his soul and city, he has just one night to find and kill the head vampire. Be sure to check out this stand-alone addition to the inFAMOUS universe.

Crysis
$13.99, or $9.79 for PlayStation Plus Members.
Earth, 2019. A team of US scientists makes a frightening discovery on an island in the South China Sea. A massive alien ship reveals itself and now the US and North Korea must join forces to battle the alien menace.

Killzone 3 Multiplayer
$10.49, or $7.34 for PlayStation Plus Members.
The complete Killzone 3 online experience – enjoy fierce 24-player battles using the latest ISA and Helghast weapons and technology. Utilize the PS3 controller or PS Move to take out your foes during firefights.

Closure
$10.49, or $7.34 for PlayStation Plus Members.
In the dark and mysterious world of Closure, only what you see exists. Manipulate lights to phase objects in and out of reality in this multiple-award-winning puzzle game. Don’t miss out on this unique indie title.

Jurassic Park The Game – Full Season
$13.99, or $9.79 for PlayStation Plus Members.
A cinematic adventure 65 million years in the making! Experience a brand new adventure from Telltale Games, and see new areas and dinosaurs in this landmark game set during the events of the first Jurassic Park movie.

Worms Ultimate Mayhem
$10.49, or $7.34 for PlayStation Plus Members.
Worms Ultimate Mayhem is the definitive 3D Worms game! Load your weapons and experience a new dimension in destructive turn-based cartoon action! If you’ve never played Worms, this game will surely hook you.

The House of the Dead III
$4.89, or $3.42 for PlayStation Plus Members.
Run fast. Shoot faster. Straight from the arcades, this fast-paced shooting game is more realistic than ever with enhanced graphics and PlayStation Move motion controller compatibility. Get your Sharpshooter ready!

Real Steel
$6.99, or 4.89 for PlayStation Plus Members.
A boxing-style fighting game featuring robots as combatants, based on the hit film Real Steel.



What a list! There’s something for everyone. Check out this link for more details. If you haven’t jumped on the PlayStation Plus bus yet, now is the time! Click here to join PlayStation Plus today.

]]> http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/06/29/psn-summer-sale-starts-tuesday-bonus-discounts-for-plus-members/feed/ 259 http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/summersale.jpg 4.16Community Manager, PlayStation Digital Platforms 259 16 This Week in PlayStation Home: Lockwood Showcase Update + New Items from Granzella and Konami http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/05/28/this-week-in-playstation-home-lockwood-showcase-update-new-items-from-granzella-and-konami/ http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/05/28/this-week-in-playstation-home-lockwood-showcase-update-new-items-from-granzella-and-konami/#comments Mon, 28 May 2012 19:00:33 +0000 Paul Sullivan http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=76537 PlayStation Home. Lockwood freshens up their Showcase with a Fool Throttle Fantasy update, Konami releases new Anime Outfits, and Granzella brings you School Uniforms. There’s much more to share about this update, so let’s get started. Lockwood Publishing releases their Fantasy Update to the Fool Throttle line this week. As part of Lockwood’s epic Fantasy Update, the Showcase has had a Fool Throttle makeover. However, before Locky could complete work on the Showcase, Brinsop the Evil Dragon descended and started wreaking havoc! Locky managed to trap him behind bars, but Brinsop could escape at any moment and he’s already trying to raise a brood of evil dragon hatchlings to take over PlayStation Home. Head to the Showcase and join the fight! ]]> Wednesday, May 30th delivers another update to PlayStation Home. Lockwood freshens up their Showcase with a Fool Throttle Fantasy update, Konami releases new Anime Outfits, and Granzella brings you School Uniforms. There’s much more to share about this update, so let’s get started.

Lockwood Publishing releases their Fantasy Update to the Fool Throttle line this week. As part of Lockwood’s epic Fantasy Update, the Showcase has had a Fool Throttle makeover. However, before Locky could complete work on the Showcase, Brinsop the Evil Dragon descended and started wreaking havoc! Locky managed to trap him behind bars, but Brinsop could escape at any moment and he’s already trying to raise a brood of evil dragon hatchlings to take over PlayStation Home. Head to the Showcase and join the fight!

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x7 members should swing by the club this Wednesday to check out exclusive items like the Raver Bundles and more clothing from Billabong.

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Konami brings the cute this week with their Anime Outfits – including hats, hairstyles and outfits.

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Granzella is also adding to their collection this week by bringing in School Uniform pieces, and three colors of Mountain Prairie Dresses. Check ‘em out!

20120606_SCEA_Student Uniform
20120530_SCEA_Highland Style One-Piece

Some of you might have already discovered Codeglue’s new U Love Green clothing line. Those of you that haven’t come across these new styles yet should look for them in the PlayStation Home Mall this week.

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There’s plenty more in the update, so be sure to visit the PlayStation Home Mall and see what you can find that suits your style best. Then you should head on over to Midway, because the Cash Carnival keeps rolling along. This Wednesday will mark Week 3 of the Carnival, and the prize is a silver Sony Cyber-shot 16.2-Megapixel Digital Camera. You don’t want to miss out on a chance to win!

See you all in Home!

]]> http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/05/28/this-week-in-playstation-home-lockwood-showcase-update-new-items-from-granzella-and-konami/feed/ 51 http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/12/6550156061_654c9268c3_o.jpg 2.75Community Manager, PlayStation Digital Platforms 51 6 PSN Introduces Ultimate Editions http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/05/28/psn-introduces-ultimate-editions/ http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/05/28/psn-introduces-ultimate-editions/#comments Mon, 28 May 2012 17:02:45 +0000 Paul Sullivan http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=76516 PlayStation Store delivers Ultimate Editions to the PlayStation Nation! We’re bundling terrific PS3 Full Games with all of their DLC and offering these Ultimate Editions at great prices with even bigger discounts for PlayStation Plus members! There is truly no better time to beef up your game collection. Choose from these awesome titles: Red Dead Redemption with Legends and Killers, Liars and Cheats and Undead Nightmare
  • Rockstar’s open-world Western with DLC offering nine new multiplayer maps, over 25 new multiplayer characters, additional new multiplayer weapons and new trophies. Oh, zombies, too!
  • $27.99 ($19.59 for PlayStation Plus Members!)
]]> On Tuesday, May 29th, the PlayStation Store delivers Ultimate Editions to the PlayStation Nation! We’re bundling terrific PS3 Full Games with all of their DLC and offering these Ultimate Editions at great prices with even bigger discounts for PlayStation Plus members! There is truly no better time to beef up your game collection. Choose from these awesome titles:

PSN ultimate editions

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Red Dead Redemption with Legends and Killers, Liars and Cheats and Undead Nightmare

  • Rockstar’s open-world Western with DLC offering nine new multiplayer maps, over 25 new multiplayer characters, additional new multiplayer weapons and new trophies. Oh, zombies, too!
  • $27.99 ($19.59 for PlayStation Plus Members!)

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InFAMOUS 2 Complete Edition

  • Cole MacGrath returns in SuckerPunch’s action adventure hit. Help save New Marais from the Beast, and itself.
  • $33.99 ($23.79 for PlayStation Plus Members!)

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BioShock 2 with Exclusive Character Pack, Minerva’s Den, The Protector Trials, Rapture Metro and Sinclair Solutions

  • This survival horror shooter from 2K Games picks up eight years after the ending of the first BioShock. The DLC brings you an increased multiplayer rank (up to 50), 4 new multiplayer characters, 6 new multiplayer maps, 6 new trials maps, new weapons, trophies and trials.
  • $27.99 ($19.59 for PlayStation Plus Members!)

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MotorStorm Apocalypse

  • This intense racing game from Evolution Studios gives you over 40 tracks based in The City, on the west coast of the United States. Play through the Festival solo, in couch co-op, or online multiplayer.
  • $50.49 ($35.34 for PlayStation Plus Members!)

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Call of Duty: Black Ops with First Strike, Escalation, Annihilation and Rezurrection Packs

  • Treyarch’s latest CoD installment speaks for itself. We’ve added all four Map Packs to this Ultimate Edition, bringing you over 20 new maps and new playable characters.
  • $66.49 ($46.54 for PlayStation Plus Members!)

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L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition

  • Help Cole Phelps clean up 1947 Los Angeles in this captivating open-world crime adventure from Rockstar. This Ultimate Edition includes plenty of additional cases for you to solve.
  • $27.99 ($19.59 for PlayStation Plus Members!)

Mafia II
Mafia II with Betrayal of Jimmy, Greaser Pack, Jimmy’s Vendetta, Joe’s Adventure, Renegade Pack, Vegas Pack and Hero Pack

  • 2K’s third-person action-adventure sequel offers a gritty mid-century gangster experience you’re sure to enjoy. DLC adds new missions, new clothes and new cars.
  • $20.99 ($14.69 for PlayStation Plus Members!)

Just Cause 2
Just Cause 2 Ultimate Edition

  • This Avalanche Studios title places you in the fictional Pacific island of Panau, giving you an open-world adventure experience you’re sure to remember. This Ultimate Edition includes new weapons and vehicles for you to enjoy.
  • $20.99 ($14.69 for PlayStation Plus Members!)

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Mortal Kombat with the Warrior Bundle and Klassic Skins Pack 1

  • Get the latest version of this 2D fighter classic along with Klassic Costumes for Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Reptile, Mileena, Kitana, Ermac and Jade. Add in new warriors Skarlet, Kenshi, Rain and Freddy Krueger and you have this unbeatable Ultimate Edition.
  • $34.99 ($24.49 for PlayStation Plus Members!)

These are deals that simply cannot be passed up. And check out the extra savings for PlayStation Plus members – there’s never been a better time to join! Make sure that you check out the PlayStation Store this Tuesday for the Ultimate Editions and round out your game library with these amazing collections.

]]> http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/05/28/psn-introduces-ultimate-editions/feed/ 269 http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/10/6264932022_192ef1d3bc_z.jpg 4.09Community Manager, PlayStation Digital Platforms 269 15