It begins, as many such unnecessarily, inappropriately flowery ones do, on a cold winter’s eve. Okay, that’s probably not accurate. It was a casual conversation actually, one with your very own, very awesome Jeff Rubenstein. He thought, rightly so, that the awesomeness that is 3D Dot Game Heroes would be even greater if other awesomeness — say, the mighty Sackboy — were to be added to its already more-than-sufficient awesomeness.

It was a recipe for potentially cataclysmic awesomeness. And thanks to the little seed Mr. Rubenstein lovingly planted, a tree was born. A tree of awesome. Sackboy awesome. Well, and other stuff.

For you see, PlayStation Readers, today we launched a patch for our retro action-adventure 3D Dot Game Heroes, the ultimate throwback to the 8- and 16-bit eras of gaming. The patch adds 50 fan- and staff-created heroes, the ability to carry over certain swords to New Game+, and adjustments to the completion times for the Dash Circuit mini game. In addition, a bug fix restores previously absent loading art images so they will randomly appear and be viewable in the Loading Art Gallery.

And of course, the aforementioned inclusion of the lovable Sackboy from Media Molecule’s LittleBigPlanet for PS3, courtesy of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. Few games convey the notion of “creation” and “customization” better than LittleBigPlanet, so what better way to bring more attention to 3D Dot Game Heroes and its powerful character creation tool than to throw one of the gaming’s most popular mascots into the Kingdom of Dotnia?

Fired up your copy of 3DDGH recently, Readers? Or maybe you’ve been on the fence for the past few months (how painful)? Well, hopefully you have fewer/no excuses left!

3D Dot Game Heroes is on sale now for PS3 system wherever fine video games are sold. For more info, visit the official game website.

(and, coincidentally, it’s also a WRAP, too!)

What am I yammering on about? Why, only the fact that 3D Dot Game Heroes, the PS3-exclusive action-adventure game that takes those gosh-darn-awesome gaming classics we all grew up with (you know, _______, ________, and who could forget ______ ___ _______) and renders them with current gen pizzazz!

“I have the power, rawr.”

To celebrate the game’s release, we’re also releasing a fifth video vignette. Not only does it show off the mini-games you’ll be distracted by (dooming the poor citizens of Dotnia to never being rescued from the clutches of Dark Bishop Fuelle), but it also happens to be the most radical video we’ve put out for the game to date.

“No, it is too retro-sexy, señor”
“BUT I MUST!”

So, why should you pick up 3D Dot Game Heroes? Is it safe to assume “because it’s awesome” isn’t quite enough information? Well, how about the following list of things, bulleted for your convenience (and mine):

• An awesome marriage of old-school 8- and 16-bit sprite style art (in beautiful 3D, mind you) with the full power of the PlayStation 3 system.
• A retro-yet-modern soundtrack, filled with addictive tunes that you’ll be annoying people in public spaces with your involuntary humming for quite some time.
• A huge, lush kingdom to explore. Dotnia is filled with secrets, large dungeons, powerful bosses, quests to solve, and hilarious characters. Search every nook and cranny; you’re bound to find something amazing!
• Tons of replayability, whether by means of the mini-games, the new game + modes (yes, there is more than one post-game mode to try), or trying to collect all of the swords (many of which are not easily found).
• Have we mentioned it’s only $39.99?

“Ew, a spider, kill it! Oh wait, that’s us…”

Have we told you about the “Hall of Heroes” yet, PlayStation Blog friends? You know, the handy, dandy repository for all of your awesome custom heroes (assuming they don’t infringe on any rights you don’t own)? The place where you can go to download new designs from Crafty McCraftersons around the world? The place where if you submit a great design in the next month or so, you could be eligible to win some Amazon Video Games credit? Oh, NOW we have your attention. Well, we might as well pimp the link: http://www.3ddotgameheroes.com/hallofheroes

So, in conclusion… Stay the course… A thousand points of light… And remember to pick of 3D Dot Game Heroes for your PlayStation 3 system today. It’s only $39.99!

Qore subscribers were invited to the PS3 game Beta last year, and starting on April 22, you’ll also get a chance to play the upcoming PSP demo version. Visit the Download Center in the April episode of Qore after this week’s PlayStation Store Update for early access to the ModNation Racers PSP demo, which lets you test drive two full tracks from the game and give the track creator a spin.

And, look for more exclusive downloads in next month’s May episode of Qore, featuring Prince of Persia: Forgotten Sands, UFC Undisputed 2010 with Jens Pulver, and an insider’s look at upcoming additions to PlayStation Home.

Look for Episode 24 to hit the PlayStation Store on May 11.

Look at me.

Now look at this video.

Now back to me.

Sadly, you probably haven’t looked at the video yet, because you’re still reading this.

If you HAD seen the video, you’d know all about the powerful character creation tool in the upcoming love letter to retro gaming, 3D Dot Game Heroes, coming exclusively to a PS3 near you (preferably yours) on May 11th.

Now look at the video. Seriously, you should probably just stop reading and look at the video.

Now back to me. What’s this I’m holding? Why, it’s a bunch of awards from some of the most awesome game sites and magazines around, like IGN.com, GamePro, and Game Informer. Here are some links:

• IGN — 8.5/10, Editor’s Choice Award
• GamePro — 4.5/5, Editor’s Choice Award
• Game Informer — 8.5/10, Silver Award
• Wired Game|Life — 8/10
• PlayStation Universe — 8/10
• Gamer2.0 — 9/10
• Gaming Union — 9/10, Editor’s Choice Award
• Just Push Start — 4.5/5, Editor’s Choice Award

3D Dot Game Heroes. Coming May 11th, exclusively for PS3. Only $39.99!

What will YOUR hero be?

A clarification: We’re glad to see that you are enjoying the April Episode of Qore, released yesterday, with in-depth coverage of God of War III, previews of Split/Second and 3D Dot Game Heroes, and a feature on the technology behind 3D gaming.

That last feature included interviews, footage from CES 2010, and a brief montage of SCEA titles intended as examples of what 3D gaming might encompass. It is hard to do justice to just how amazing 3D gaming looks in a 2D presentation—even in an HD product such as Qore. However, as we wanted to give our viewers an idea of the possibilities that 3D gaming has to offer, we decided to use stock footage of several first-party games that were on display at the show, including Killzone 2 (a 3D version of the television commercial was shown at CES).

Unfortunately, our feature did not make it clear that the 2D game footage was included for demonstration purposes only. We apologize for the erroneous inference that 3D versions of LBP, Wipeout HD, Killzone 2, Gran Turismo 5 or Super Stardust HD are in production.

Thanks for watching Qore.

By now, many of you have unleashed chaos on all of Olympus in God of War III. As you look back upon your adventure of carnage and glory, you’re probably wondering: how did Sony’s Santa Monica Studio create this experience? Veronica Belmont interviews game director Stig Asmussen and lead combat designer Adam Poole about the entire process, from developing Kratos’ character model and enlivening the Gods to creating the scale of the epic Titan battles. This is a fascinating look back from their perspective now that many of us have enjoyed the game. And, if you haven’t played it yet, don’t worry! The feature is spoiler-free—just gorgeous video and insights from Stig and Adam. After delving into the making of the game, you can also test your reflexes in our God of War III interactive quick-time event challenge.

Driving has been incorporated in so many non-racing titles—from Red Faction: Guerrilla to The Saboteur—that some gamers have questioned if the racing genre has any life of its own left in it. According to Disney’s Black Rock Studios, the answer is a resounding yes! Set in the world of reality TV high-stakes racing, their upcoming game, Split/Second, aims to bring the thrill back to the genre with insanely over-the-top environmental events that can alter the track with each lap.

Remember the ‘80’s? Leg warmers. Ray-Bans. Parachute pants. Ferris Bueller. And 8-bit games! Jump back to the future with the totally rad 3D Dot Game Heroes which returns ordinary people to their classic gaming roots. Enhanced by the PlayStation 3’s ability to provide all the right moves, this gem is sure to make a sudden impact especially when you see the character creator that is sure to remind many of us that it’s hip to be square There’s also a 3D Dot Game Heroes “old school” quiz to measure if you’ve still got the hunger for the 80’s.

With so much news this year about new 3D TV technology coming to your PS3, the Qore team talked to the experts at SCEA and Blitz Games about how the technology actually works and how best to develop for this dimension. This is one feature that’s got the complete picture.

All purchasers also receive a free 3D Dot Game Heroes theme, and as usual, don’t miss Audrey Cleo’s preview of the newest Blu-ray releases for April 2010.

Look for Episode 23 tomorrow.

EPIC TRAILER MUSIC! EPIC TRAILER TEXT! EPIC TRAILER!

EPIC TRAILER IS EPIC!

3D Dot Game Heroes, the PlayStation 3 exclusive that promises to inject retro-saccharin goodness directly into your corneas (those are part of your eyes, whippersnappers), has a full video trailer… And here it is! (Well, it’s actually right above this text. We can see how that could be confusing.)

So why should you be excited? Aside from the retro 3D visuals, ear-gratifying musical score, and extremely addicting, nostalgic action-adventure gameplay, you mean? Well… BECAUSE IT HAS TRAILER MUSIC! Did you hear it? Like, the part with the chorus singing in the background? Who cares if the game is awesome (it is, by the way) when you have trailer music with voices chanting in the background!?

Oh, and to address a couple comments that have been popping up in posts relating to 3D Dot Game Heroes:

1. The huge swords evident in some screens/videos do NOT break the game. It is not a design flaw. You’re only that big when you’re at FULL health (intuitive, right?), and you’ll rarely be at full health for long stretches of time. Moreover, only near the end of the game will you have a sword THAT large, not to mention one with the ability to penetrate geometry (i.e. trees, rocks, etc). Many of the swords cannot and will not swing out all the way in those situations, making size… well… irrelevant. Ask anyone who’s played the game: it’s not about how big it is, it’s about… oh, nevermind.
2. The game DOES look amazing in person; you’ll just have to trust us on this. Even videos often fail to do the game justice.
3. There is no multiplayer component to the game.
4. We’re not currently planning any pre-order bonus items. We view the super cool $39.99 price point as a rather nice bonus.
5. The game has a number of significant improvements over the original Japanese version, including an OPTIONAL HDD install (approximately 1.2gb in size) to reduce/eliminate load times, dozens of new, North American-exclusive load screens that parody popular game box art, and more!

Thanks for watching the trailer and reading this far down. (And “nords!” to any of you who didn’t…I can make snide comments because you’re not actually reading this.)

Please don’t forget to pre-order your copy of 3D Dot Game Heroes, coming to PlayStation 3 on May 11, 2010 with an MSRP of only $39.99!

Now we know what you REALLY want. An extended in-game walkthrough of 3D Dot Game Heroes. Well, your old pal Aram Jabbari from Atlus was kind enough to swing by our HQ, and prop himself in front of our camera with the game. Now that’s a big-ass sword!

Don’t forget, 3D Dot Game Heroes hits PS3 May 11 for $39.99. But I’m sure you’ll hear from Mr. Jabbari well before then.

Most games ask you to assume the role of a hero. Often, you don’t have any say in who they are or what they look like, and in some cases the customization options you’re given are limited. 3D Dot Game Heroes, while it takes its inspiration and purpose from 8 and 16-bit classics that came out years ago, gives the gamer nearly limitless control over the look (and movement) of their protagonist. The game may be all homage, but it’s certainly not out to limit anyone’s homagination!

*crickets chirp*

Err… Let’s dive into the all-powerful, easy-to-use editor, shall we?

One of the custom characters that comes included on the disc. I’ll call him… Monkey Kong?

Creating a custom character in 3DDGH (my fingers thank me for the abbreviation, so please note it) is more than just figuring out what it will be and look like; you have to animate it, too. Before the self-proclaimed “artistically-challenged” gamers run for the hills, snapping paintbrushes between their thumbs and index fingers, I’ll point out a couple of things. First, the North American release of the game comes with far more custom characters on the disc than the original Japanese release, allowing for even the most character editor averse gamer to experience the thrill of saving the kingdom as a ninja, shark, or heck, even jolly old Saint Nick.

Second, and more importantly, the editor is very easy to use! Copy and paste functions make things super quick, whether you’re copying and pasting one pose (Walk 1) into another animation (Walk 2, for example—above) or designing half of a character and then copying, pasting, and flipping said side to create a complete and awesome custom character.

Four more legs and this thing would creep the heck out of me…

And because the editor is in full 3D, offers a clean, intuitive interface, and doesn’t mess around with things like textures (trust us, when you see your creations lit by the game’s amazing real-time lighting engine, you won’t really care about textures), even the most nervous, inexperienced designer will soon realize they can save the Kingdom of Dotnia with anything they can imagine. A single, floating pixel? Sure. A tank? No problem. A flying jet? Easy. If you can dream it (and yes, if it fits within the size limit—above), you can create it.

Is there anything more satisfying than saving an entire kingdom as a dog?

Yeah, Master Poochi will be ready to save the kingdom… Right after he takes care of that fire hydrant back near the castle.

Or a shark (it comes up when it’s attacking)?

Just imagine that classic music in your head, because we can’t afford the rights to it.

Or some sort of futuristic mechanical… well, whatever the heck it is:

Someone get me a newspap… Oh wait, that’s us?

We think not! And the best part is: You can share your custom creations with the rest of the 3DDGH community online! Just save your character, move it to a USB storage drive, and then upload the file to our character hub site (scheduled to launch at or around the time of the game’s launch) so that others can enjoy your handiwork.

Hey, in the end, you’re hurried into a castle, handed a sword, and asked to save the kingdom. You are a hero, a savior, the chosen one. Everyone’s counting on you. So why not make sure that the “you” you’ve assumed control of for your parody-filled, homage-laden old school retro adventure is your ideal character?

Remember to check out the editor the very first time you startup your copy of 3D Dot Game Heroes, a statement that assumes that you’ve already (or will immediately hereafter) pre-ordered your copy and will be among the first to relive your childhood(s) when the game launches on May 11th. Visit the official website for more details.

No one wants it to be them: the King tasks you with slaying evil and saving the kingdom and suddenly you’re unable to get the job done. You come up short. You can’t perform.

So why sit around wondering if you’ll be up to the challenge of rescuing Dotnia? It’s time to take some action and make sure that when you need to make with the hero-ness, you’re ready for whatever comes your way.

Introducing the Blacksmith, your one-stop shop for natural sword enhancement! You don’t have to be shy about it; every hero wonders at some point: Is that hero in a neighboring kingdom going into battle with better equipment than I am? Do all the land’s denizens look down on me for having a smaller blade in my scabbard?

Worry no longer, adventurers! One trip to the Blacksmith and a few well-spent coins will make you prouder, braver, and more dangerous than ever before. Get yourself a big heaping of good ole’ respect with some upgrades from the man with the metal mallet – the Blacksmith!

This is just one in a series of video vignettes we have planned, PlayStation Blog readers. Stay tuned for more, and don’t forget to pre-order your copy of 3D Dot Game Heroes, coming to PlayStation 3 on May 11, 2010 with an MSRP of only $39.99!

That the game manages to accurately capture the look of a classic title or genre? The sound? The feel? Does it more effectively evoke memories of childhood for the gamer than other games? Does it shun complexity in favor of simplicity?

We ask the question because it’s at the heart of our latest game (we’re Atlus, by the way, publishers of SMT: Nocturne, SMT: Persona 4, and the sleeper hit of 2009, Demon’s Souls). 3D Dot Game Heroes for PlayStation 3 is the ultimate love-letter to retro gamers, the definitive homage to the action-adventure legends we all grew up with. This is in part because of all the tangible things it does right, like the gorgeous next-gen visuals that retain that 8-bit pixel sprite charm, and the irresistible 8-bit music and sound effects. Still, we think that sometimes it’s what you can’t really put your finger on that makes a game “retro.”

You’re an adventurer in a kingdom troubled by a powerful evil demon, and you’re living in the shadow of a hero of old who, long ago, used a legendary sword to save the land from a similar threat. Already whisked back to your youth? We thought as much. Moreover, your quest, at the behest of the king, will take you across a vast, varied, and beautiful landscape, littered with secret caves to uncover and explore, interesting NPCs to chat with, and puzzle-filled dungeons to master.

Is 3DDGH “retro” because it gets that flawless 8-bit aesthetic just right? In part, yes. Is it “old school” because it doesn’t drown you in tutorials, quick tips, and hints? Definitely. But there’s also that intangible, ungraspable magic. It’s what made those 8- and 16-bit gems so memorable, so able to stand the test of time. It’s how smartly the levels are designed, how original the puzzles are. It’s that easy-to-pick-up, impossible-to-put-down addictiveness. 3D Dot Game Heroes is a game that pays tribute to a number of all-time classic games, but it also manages to blaze a trail all its own, with its unique sense of humor and tongue-in-cheek pizzazz.

Launching on May 11th and priced at an enticing $39.99, 3D Dot Game Heroes for PS3 system brings a bold mix of old and new to the table. When retro chic and modern sleek collide, the end result is oodles of fun for gamers of all ages. Also, it is confirmed: your childhood memories fit on a single Blu-ray disc.

Pre-order your copy today, check out the 3D Dot’s official website, and stay tuned for tons more info.