“Long Live Play” hit the airwaves with our stalwart executive Kevin Butler returning to the gaming helm and word (or rather views) has spread like wildfire. In addition to the nearly 10M YouTube views, Facebook has seen a similar number of Likes and over 1300+ comments!

To thank you again for being a part of the PlayStation Nation and helping us spread the word, we’re launching the next phase of our “Long Live Play” campaign. It’s one that I’m personally very excited about. Today we launch the Hall of Play, an online players’ lounge for players like you and your fellow members of the Nation. It includes a Facebook app that will enable you to create your own customized “Michael” video to share on your Facebook page with your friends and family and invite others to join in the fun.

So visit here to immediately get started and let us know what you think. This is about having fun and showing some gamer pride. Most of all — this is about “You” and your passion for the PlayStation Nation. We look forward to checking out all your customized “Michael” videos!

Hello PlayStation Nation,

Early last month, with some ambiguity, we announced that we were looking for a few good gamers to assist us with a special assignment related to our freshly launched Long Live Play campaign. Long Live Play honors gamers from all walks of life and recognizes you for making PlayStation who we are today.

We asked members of the PlayStation Nation to email us with pictures of themselves holding their PS3 controller and in 30 words-or-less, describe how they epitomize the ultimate PlayStation gamer. I know that PlayStation gamers are some of the most impassioned fans in the world, but I was blown away by the thousands of responses that flooded my email.

After weeks of anticipation, I can finally reveal the complete ambition behind Long Live Play. I’m delighted to announce that we’ve painstakingly reviewed each submission and selected a dozen or so die-hard gamers to represent the PlayStation Nation in a brand new Long Live Play campaign that will air on national TV starting October 5th. We think this film provides an insider’s look into what it’s like to be immersed in our universe and why it’s so compelling to game on the PS3.

For those already initiated into the Nation, I think you’ll find this film almost like a game itself. You’ll see a rich layering of different characters from some of your favorite game franchises – including cool everyman Nathan Drake from UNCHARTED, the mighty Kratos from God of War, the nimble Sackboy from LittleBigPlanet, and a monstrous Chimera from Resistance – all gathered together saluting “YOU” the PlayStation gamer. We spent months building out this experience and loaded it with numerous PlayStation Easter eggs. I’m pretty confident it will take several viewings before you find them all. Towards the end of the film be sure to notice the collection of photos of your fellow members of the Nation. This is one small way of demonstrating our sincere “Thanks” and to celebrate your tremendous commitment to PlayStation’s thriving community. And with PS3s available for under $250 – we welcome all gamers to come on board to experience the best in Blu-ray gaming.

It is our hope that this film showcases to all gamers the incredible characters and experiences that make PlayStation 3 the ultimate platform for people who love to game. You know that PlayStation has the industry’s best line-up of exclusive software titles, features highly immersive motion-control and 3D gaming, and free access to vast amounts of sports, movies, TV, games and more on PlayStation Network. Now, with your help, we’re spreading the word so the world knows that PlayStation continues to be the top destination for gaming.

Long Live Play!

Tune in tonight as Gran Turismo 5 makes its primetime television debut on Speed Channel with GT Academy, a five-part reality show featuring GT Academy and the fierce competition that gave the nation’s top 16 Gran Turismo drivers a chance to become a professional race car driver. The first episode airs tonight at 10 pm EST, followed by new episodes airing every Tuesday on Speed Channel during the same timeslot (please check your local listings for timing and updates).

Take a look at the video below to catch a glimpse as to what’s in store for you on Speed Channel:

And for those of you who can’t make Tuesday nights, the PlayStation Store will make the previous night’s episode available for download every Wednesday.

In December, Sony Computer Entertainment LLC and Polyphony Digital Inc. – in association with Nissan North America – launched the first GT Academy program here in the US. Over 53,000 aspiring race car drivers competed in the GT Academy online time trials in Gran Turismo 5. Thirty-two of the nation’s best players moved onto the National Finals event in Orlando, with 16 of the fastest racers emerging and moving onto the finals at the Silverstone Circuit in England. The grand prize? A shot at becoming a professional race car driver.

Tune in to GT Academy on Speed Channel to follow GT Academy’s Sweet 16 as they endure a slew of mental and physical challenges, as well as go behind the wheel of real race cars such as Nissan 370Zs and GT-Rs while being closely watched by an expert panel of racing veterans. It’s truly a race to the finish as they prove they have what it takes to become the next professional race car driver.

This fall, PlayStation Move is set to deliver a new batch of compelling experiences that get you on your feet and put you directly in the game. As we mentioned to you previously, the number of PlayStation Move games released or in development have surpassed 80 titles and continues to grow. When coupled with 3D, PlayStation Move continues to set new benchmarks in immersive gameplay experiences.

Already you’ve seen AAA titles such as Resistance 3 incorporate PlayStation Move compatibility and you can expect more to come soon, including downloadable expansion packs for LittleBigPlanet 2 and inFAMOUS 2. Today, LittleBigPlanet 2 Move Pack: Rise of the Cakeling kicks things off with five giant story levels and seven side levels, making it LittleBigPlanet’s biggest Downloadable Content Pack to date. In October, we’ll really get things moving with the launch of Everybody Dance, the high-energy game that lets you and your friends dance to 40 chart-topping party hits. Also launching on the 25th is the inFAMOUS: Festival of Blood game, the single-player game that lets you experience first-hand what it’s like to wield electricity with the precise motion control of PlayStation Move. On November 15, titles such as Carnival Island, which lets you experience the joy of classic family-friendly fun with 35 carnival attractions; EyePet & Friends, the continuation of the innovative EyePet franchise which enables kids and their families to experience the magic of a virtual Pet in the real world; and Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest, which combines sword fighting, archery and throwing stars in a playful action-adventure, are sure to engage families in interactive gameplay.

Our goal here at PlayStation is to challenge gamers and create games that push the limits. Since launch, PlayStation Move continues to offer an innovative gaming experience by using realistic, high-definition gaming along with accurate, intuitive control. We’re very excited at the number of titles we continue to add to the Move arsenal and we’re looking forward to bringing you even more compelling gameplay experiences into 2012. Enjoy!

Hello PlayStation Nation,

We work day-in and day-out here at PlayStation to ensure that you never run out of reasons to be a proud PlayStation fan. It’s our way of saying “Thank you” to the millions of you around the world who demonstrate your passion and dedication to PlayStation on a daily basis. However, sometimes a simple thank you just isn’t enough to truly show our gratitude and that’s why we’re ready to take things one step further.

I’m joining you today to announce that we’re looking for a few good gamers to help us with a special assignment related to our new Long Live Play campaign (yes, we are intentionally being Chimera-like stealthy to pique your curiosity). I’m talking die-hard members of our PlayStation Nation from all over who are ready and willing to proudly wave the PlayStation flag for all to see. If you think you’re the ultimate PlayStation gamer, then we want to hear from you!

Send me an email at playstationgamer@playstation.sony.com by 10:00AM PT on Tuesday, 9/20/11 with the following:

• 30 words or less (yes we’ll be counting), telling us why you are the ultimate PlayStation gamer.
• Then attach a high-quality picture of you holding your PS3 controller in the environment you love to game in. It could be on your couch, in your man-cave or your desk chair in your dorm room —wherever you spend your time taking down enemy forces, racing dream cars, knocking out home runs and uncovering long-lost treasure.

I know PlayStation has the best fans out there and I can’t wait to see what you come up with! We’ll report back here shortly with more details….

Thanks,
Scott

Two years ago we introduced you to our resident Vice President of just about everything, Kevin Butler, in the inaugural “Dear PlayStation” ad which was timed with the introduction of our “It Only Does Everything” campaign. Since then, the campaign has helped make the PS3 a household name in 50 million homes worldwide. Today, I’m excited to introduce you to a new brand campaign “Long Live Play” – designed to celebrate gamers from all walks of life and recognize you for making us who we are today.

PlayStation has always been about the gamer and the PS3 is the ultimate portal to a land of infinite experiences and accomplishments. PlayStation is reaffirming our commitment to gamers like yourselves with “Long Live Play” – mixing humor and a little good, clean fun with the kind of entertainment content you crave.

What better way to transition than with a visit from Kevin Butler, back from his four-day retirement with a special message.

Beginning today you’ll find “Long Live Play” rolling out on some of your favorite websites, TV networks and retailers as well as across numerous social networking outlets. It’s our way of inviting all gamers to come and join the PlayStation Nation. When we say there’s never been a better time to join, we mean it. With games like Resistance 3, UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception, The ICO & Shadow of the Colossus Collection and more on the horizon, PlayStation is committed to creating a AAA software line-up that real gamers can get excited about.

The new PS3 price of $249, coupled with incredible gaming and sports content including DIRECTV’s NFL SUNDAY TICKET, MLB.TV and NHL GameCenter, PlayStation is ready to welcome gamers from all over with open arms and hours upon hours of unbelievable entertainment.

We are committed to the continued expansion of the types of services and content that have made the PlayStation name synonymous with interactive entertainment and hope that through the “Long Live Play” campaign our dedication to you, the PlayStation fans, truly shines through. For those of you who have friends that might be on the fence, I encourage you to invite them to come on over. In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled because in the weeks to come we’ll be turning the spotlight back on you, and you won’t want to miss it!

Happy gaming!

Just moments ago during our 2011 E3 press conference we proudly unveiled an incredible 2011 software lineup and amazing new PS3 peripherals, and also shed new light on our highly anticipated handheld gaming device, officially named PlayStation Vita (PS Vita). “Vita,” which means “Life” in Latin, was chosen as the name for our next-generation portable entertainment system because it enables a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context.

By blurring the lines between interactive entertainment and reality, our goal was to design a device that offered a revolutionary combination of rich gaming capabilities and social connectivity, bringing users closer to each other and closer to their gaming experiences wherever they are. Connectivity was a key objective and our goal was to create experiences and content that would challenge the traditional notions of gaming. It was vital to make a device that was an extension of a user’s entertainment world, no matter where one would go.

Successively launching in the global market for $249 starting the end of this year, PS Vita incorporates a beautiful 5-inch multi-touch organic light emitting diode (OLED) as the front display and a unique multi-touch pad on the rear. Two analog sticks enable a wider range of game genres. Together with the front touch screen and the rear touch pad, PS Vita offers new gameplay, enabling entirely new experiences.

We know you’ve been closely following all of the news since we announced the product in January. With mobile connectivity playing a huge role in PS Vita’s interactive experience, we know many of you have been wondering what carrier will be helping us bring you closer to other users and closer to your gaming experiences on the go. Today, we proudly announced a partnership with AT&T, which powers the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, who will serve as the exclusive service provider for PS Vita in the United States. By having both Wi-Fi and 3G/Wi-Fi models available, PS Vita will enable infinite possibilities for you to “encounter,” “connect,” “discover,” “share” and “play” with your friends wherever they are.

Ruin for PS Vita

The excitement doesn’t stop there. We believe that 2011 will be a defining year as we usher in a new era of portable gaming. With the official North American unveiling of PlayStation Vita also comes the introduction of an extensive line-up of software for the platform. PS Vita’s launch lineup is a force to be reckoned with, featuring exciting and attractive new titles from SCE Worldwide Studios, including UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss, LittleBigPlanet, and Ruin (working title), which utilize PS Vita’s groundbreaking technology to make unprecedented immersive, interactive and social game play available on-the-go. In addition, titles such as Little Deviants, Hot Shots Golf, Reality Fighter, Hustle Kings, ModNation Racers, Wipeout, Super Stardust Delta and a broad range of third-party game developers and publishers make use of PS Vita’s unique feature set. We can let all of you know that the biggest and best 1st and 3rd party gaming franchises will be coming to PS Vita.

Further enhancing your entertainment experience are new PS Vita features, such as “LiveArea,” an interactive space for each PS Vita software title that allows you to access the latest game information through PlayStation Network; “near,” a pre-installed application that lets you see what other PS Vita users in the vicinity are playing; “Party,” which lets you voice chat or text chat while playing games or using the Internet browser; and “Welcome Park,” a tutorial application designed specifically to guide you through PS Vita’s new user interface. For more information, be sure to visit http://us.playstation.com/ngp/.

2011 is sure to be an epic year for us here at PlayStation. We’re always looking for ways to create compelling experiences for all of you and we’re very excited to bring you unparalleled gaming experiences with PS Vita. Let us know your thoughts and looking forward to having you try out PS Vita for yourselves!

Read more about PlayStation at E3!

• E3 2011: It’s An Exciting Time to be a Member of the PlayStation Family
• Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception – E3 2011 Preview
• Introducing DUST 514, a Persistent Shooter from CCP
• Resistance 3 E3 2011 Trailer, Doomsday Edition Revealed, Demos in L.A.
• BioShock Infinite to Support Move, PS Vita Game In the Works
• Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest Coming to PlayStation Move this Fall
• NEW 3D Display and PS3 Accessories Debut at E3

Fans of Reno 911! Miami can catch this ad on Comedy Central when it first airs today at 2:15PM Eastern and Pacific time. Additionally, in the coming weeks you’ll see Kevin Butler joined by his U.S. Navy SEALs team during some of the most exciting sporting events and TV programming of the spring including:

• Brewers vs. Phillies – ESPN (4/18)
• Dodgers vs. Cubs – TBS (4/24)
• NBA Playoffs – ESPN & ESPN 2
• Top Shot Season Final – History Channel
• The Ultimate Fighter, UFC Greatest Moments and UFC Unleashed – Spike
• Modern Sniper, Special ops Mission, Surviving the Cut, Weaponology, Ultimate Weapons and Tank School – Military Channel

When SOCOM 4 officially launches next Tuesday, April 19th, you and your friends can jump into the action in any one of several exciting new modes including the all new 5-player co-op mode and bomb squad multi-player modes. For those die-hard fans eager to take the SOCOM 4 experience up a few notches the SOCOM 4: US NAVY SEALs Full Deployment Edition will also become available next Tuesday.

The Full Deployment Edition includes a copy of PlayStation SOCOM 4 U.S. Navy SEALs, a PlayStation Move motion controller, PlayStation Move navigation controller, PlayStation Eye camera and the wildly popular PlayStation Move sharp shooter, giving fans multiple ways to experience the authentic tactical combat of SOCOM 4—all for $149.99. When paired with the PlayStation Sharp Shooter and stereoscopic 3D, SOCOM 4 promises to put you on the battle front with the most immersive and realistic experiences available—so realistic in fact, we recommend choosing your team-members wisely. After all, you’re only as strong as your weakest link.

You’ve heard us say it before, but this year truly marks some exciting updates for the franchise. MLB 11 The Show takes this fan favorite to the next level by providing you with multiple choices when it comes to how you play the game. A great example is the new PURE Control System – the optional ability to control your swing, pitching and fielding with the analog sticks on your DUALSHOCK 3 controller – a feature many sports fans have asked for and will now have at your fingertips. The game also sports 3D functionality and PlayStation Move support within our Home Run Derby mode, giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the action like never before.

MLB 11 The Show will be in stores next Tuesday, March 8th and this TV ad will begin running this afternoon when the Miami Heat takes on the Orlando Magic on TNT. Over the next several weeks you will also be able to catch it during more of your favorite programs on popular networks such as ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS and Comedy Central.

Go Giants and see you on the field!

Since launching in 2005, the PSP platform has had a profound impact on the way we play games while on-the-go, pushing the boundaries for cross-media entertainment and setting the benchmark for quality for portable games – not to mention selling 23 million* units to date in North America and more than 67 million worldwide. Today we’re very excited to announce that the PSP-3000 system will be available for a new low price of $129.99 (MSRP) starting February 27, 2011, offering its greatest value to date. In addition, going forward PSP Entertainment Packs will be available for $159.99 (MSRP); bringing you everything you need to experience the PSP system and an even better value.

To get the word out on PSP’s awesome new pricing, we’ll be launching a new TV and digital marketing campaign. Be sure to keep an eye on some of your favorite networks including FOX, MTV and ESPN for the new TV spot. Here’s your first look:

We at PlayStation have always been committed to delivering value and offering you the unparalleled gaming experiences. That said, we’re also adding a slew of new blockbuster titles to PSP’s “Greatest Hits” and “Favorites” collections. New additions to the $19.99 PSP Greatest Hits library include Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines, DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY , LittleBigPlanet PSP, METAL GEAR SOLID: PEACE WALKER and Toy Story 3: The Video Game, while Daxter, Tomb Raider Anniversary and more are now priced at $9.99 as part of the PSP Favorites library. See below for a full list of new PSP Greatest and Favorites titles.

New PSP “Greatest Hits” Titles ($19.99)

• Assassin’s Creed Bloodlines (Ubisoft)
• DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY (Square Enix, Inc.)
• LittleBigPlanet (PSP)
• METAL GEAR SOLID: PEACE WALKER (Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.)
• Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters
• Resistance: Retribution
• Toy Story 3: The Video Game (Disney Interactive)

New PSP “Favorites” Titles ($9.99)

• CRISIS CORE-FINAL FANTASY VII (Square Enix, Inc. )
• Daxter
• Monster Hunter Freedom Unite (Capcom)
• Killzone: Liberation
• SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Fire Team Bravo
• Tomb Raider Anniversary (Square Enix, Inc.)

As you all know, the PSP platform enables you to take highest quality games and the industry’s biggest gaming franchises with you in your pocket. Looking forward to delivering more in 2011!

*Cumulative sell-in number for North American market as of end of December, 2010