You’ve played the role of the Empress’ protector, and now you will experience Dishonored from the other side of the coin. Watch our newly released trailer for Dishonored: The Knife of Dunwall, which puts you in the role of Daud — the assassin responsible for Empress Jessamine’s death.

Those that have played through Dishonored know Daud possesses the Mark of the Outsider — granting him supernatural abilities. But don’t expect to be playing as a Corvo clone — Daud can call for help with ‘Summon Assassin’, track down runes and bone charms with “Void Gaze”, and his variation on Blink allows him to stop time — even in mid air.

You’ll needs these powers, as well as stealth weapons like Daud’s custom wristbow and arc mines to survive some of the most challenging areas in Dunwall — including the Rothwild Slaughterhouse, Legal District, and a return to Daud’s hidden base in the Flooded District. Nothing you can’t handle, right?

As with Dishonored, we encourage you to play The Knife of Dunwall in whatever play style suits you best — be it action or stealth focused, or somewhere in between. Daud’s redemption (or turn towards darkness) lays in your hands.

The Knife of Dunwall releases on Tuesday, April 16th on PlayStation Store for $9.99.

With Dishonored, the team at Arkane Studios let you decide what type of assassin you wanted to be – you could focus on stealth and remain in shadow, or simply leave a trail of blood across the game’s missions. However you played, by the game’s end, you had become Dunwall’s greatest assassin.

But how do you stack up about against the rest of the world?

In Dishonored’s new DLC, Dunwall City Trials, all your skills will be tested across 10 challenge maps. Providing a challenge to all levels of players, these maps will require you to creatively combine your supernatural abilities, weapons and gadgets with well-timed stealth and agility tactics.

Read below for a quick overview of the Challenge Maps:

As you complete challenges, you’ll receive a completion rating and score and be able to see how you stack up against the competition via leaderboards. Additionally, Dunwall City Trials unlocks 10 new trophies, including:

Purchase Dunwall City Trials today on the PlayStation Store for $4.99.

Subscription Links:

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No big-name guests this week, I’m afraid. But we make up for it with lots of geeky game talk focusing on our experiences with great new releases XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Dishonored, and The Walking Dead: Episode 4. We even delve into some recent favorites from the silver screen (Looper!) and a few from the small screen (The Walking Dead season three!).

Of course, we also discuss next week’s jam-packed North American PSN lineup, which includes five PS Vita games (including the highly amusing Frobisher Says!) and some new PS3 full game downloads, including Day 1 Digital title Medal of Honor Warfighter. And we answer four new Listener Queries just to keep things lively, several of which deal with PSN’s October sale that gives you $20 in credit for spending $100 on PSN (which applies to games, content from the Video Store, Music Unlimited, Video Unlimited, even NFL DIRECTV).

Stuff We Talked About

Frobisher Says!

Dead or Alive 5

Dishonored

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

The Walking Dead: Episode 4 – Around Every Corner

Day 1 Digital

PSN’s October sale: Spend $100, get $20 back

The Walking Dead season 3

 

The Cast

• Sid Shuman – PlayStation Social Media Manager
• Jeff Rubenstein – PlayStation Sr. Social Media Manager
• Nick Suttner – PlayStation Sr. Product Evaluator
• Rey Gutierrez – PlayStation “Creator of Awesome”

[Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

• Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music. Special thanks to Astro Gaming headsets for providing audio gear.

Dishonored is a complex, nuanced game that empowers players to make important decisions — not the least of which is who lives and who dies. To ease the learning curve, I’ve put together some helpful (and spoiler-free!) tips to get you sneaking smoothly on day one. If you picked up a copy of the game, share your own strategies in the comments below.

1. Playing lethal is easier, but nonlethal is more fun. One of Dishonored’s fundamental charms is that a properly motivated player can progress through the entire game without killing a soul. The nonlethal route requires patience and sacrifice, and as such you’ll rely on running, hiding, and stealthy strangulations punctuated by the occasional Sleeping Dart. But it’s also immensely rewarding, giving the game a supercharged nervous tension as you stalk your prey, then Blink in from behind to deliver a sleeper hold using R2.

Of course, slashing off heads and slitting throats is all in good fun too, and it may be an easier approach for beginners. Because your death count has an effect on Dishonored’s storyline and even some of the enemy types you’ll encounter, it pays to make a choice early on and try to stick to it.

2. Max out Blink and Dark Vision right away. Whether you employ lethal or nonlethal tactics, these two skills are flat-out indispensible. Blink is a short-ranged instantaneous teleport that’s useful for both navigation and offense. Spend extra Runes and you’ll upgrade your teleporting range. Dark Vision is also a go-to, and enables you to peer through walls to see patrolling guards and other lurking threats. Upgrade Dark Vision to highlight any nearby loot or traps, too.

3. Shadows won’t save you. Most stealth games task you with using darkness to cover your movements. But Dishonored puts the emphasis on line of sight — that means you’ll want to keep objects and structures in between yourself and enemies as much as possible, peeking out using the Triangle button. Shadows still help conceal you, but only to distant enemies.

4. Upgrade your Bone Charms early. With the help of a gruesome device called the Heart, you’ll be able to see hidden Runes and Bone Charms that are stashed amongst Dunwall’s many nooks and crannies. Bone Charms bestow passive bonuses such as more health, extra mana from potions, and faster nonlethal takedowns; Runes go towards new skills and skill upgrades.

By default, you’re limited to equipping three Bone Charms at a time. But spend a few Runes and you can raise that limit to six Bone Charms, a price absolutely worth paying as soon as you can afford it.

5. Sleeping Darts are the best weapon in the game. These little beauties are worth your attention whether you’ve chosen lethal or nonlethal tactics. Sleeping Darts are cheap, quiet, and knock out most enemies with just one hit. In fact, their only shortcoming is the fact that you can carry just 10 at a time. Use them wisely!

6. Use grenades as pest control. Dishonored’s grenades pack a punch, but they’re best saved for close encounters with ravenous rat packs — one well-placed explosive will smear the whole lot of them, saving you a lot of frantic leaping and shrieking. Grenades are also handy against river krusts, the acid-spewing barnacle-like creatures you’ll sometimes find breeding underneath docks and near sewer drains.

7. Fight only when you must. That towering Tallboy makes for a tempting target, right? Though you could probably pop an oil tank with a well-placed Incendiary Arrow, it’s safer and smarter to avoid conflict, using stealth to bypass it or the Possess spell to temporarily assume command. Weepers are another major nuisance, especially later in the game — your best bet is to run and hope they lose interest!

PS3 Full Games

Dishonored ($59.99)

Dishonored is an immersive first-person action game that casts you as a supernatural assassin driven by revenge. With Dishonored’s flexible combat system, creatively eliminate your targets as you combine the supernatural abilities, weapons and unusual gadgets at your disposal. Pursue your enemies under the cover of darkness or ruthlessly attack them head on with weapons drawn. The outcome of each mission plays out based on the choices you make.
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size: 6.27 GB

Birds of Steel ($29.99)

Birds of Steel gives aerial aviators the ability to strap in to some of the most historically accurate WWII fighter planes and rewrite history. This new IP blends next gen supremacy and the finest details of aerial combat into a historical recreation fit for flight sim fans and history buffs alike. Use your skills to pilot top planes from all combatants in WWII to recreate history or to change the outcomes of the most prolific battles in history.
ESRB: T– Teen // File Size: 5.72 GB

Devil May Cry HD Collection ($29.99)

Devil May Cry HD Collection brings the first three original Devil May Cry titles: Devil May Cry, Devil May Cry 2, and Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening Special Edition together in one high definition package for the first time. Features Trophies, HD Graphics and Bonus Content.
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size: 11 GB

The Testament of Sherlock Holmes ($39.99)

Forget everything you thought you knew and discover a Sherlock Holmes darker than ever. The detective’s reputation on the verge of being ruined, the admiration of Doctor Watson toward him is starting to fade and change into hatred as he witnesses his friend committing reprehensible acts.
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size: 8.8 GB

PSN Games

Retro City Rampage ($14.99)

This 8-bit nostalgic throwback warps open-world carjacking BACK TO THE… ’80s. Lock and load your light gun! It’s a retro overload with over 60 story missions and over 40 arcade challenges. ‘Borrow’ vehicles and outrun the law while mowing down your fellow citizens! Jump on pedestrians for coins, or use them for target practice with over 25 weapons and POWER-UPS! WHOA! Purchasing this content entitles you to both the PS3 and PS Vita versions!
ESRB: T – Teen // File Size: 41 MB

The Walking Dead: Episode 4 – Around Every Corner ($4.99)

Episode four of a five-part game series set in the same universe as Robert Kirkman’s award-winning series. Paranoia engulfs the remaining survivors as they find themselves being stalked by an unknown threat. Purchase of this DLC requires The Walking Dead – Episode 1: A New Day.
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size: 705 MB

Derrick the Deathfin ($7.99)

Enter an irreverent aquatic world full of paper, goofy fish, paper, arcade action, paper, wanton destruction, and paper. Join Derrick on his epic quest to decimate everything he sees under the guise of avenging the death of his parents! Battle your way through 32 punishing levels set over 11 vibrant environments and 4 sub-continents!
ESRB: E10+ – Everyone 10+ // File Size: 817 MB

Machinarium ($9.99)

An award-winning adventure game by Amanita Design, now available for PlayStation®3 system, the best version ever.
ESRB: E10+ – Everyone 10+ // File Size: 184 MB

Joe Danger 2: The Movie ($14.99)

Take Joe Danger on a death-defying thrill ride across the set of the greatest blockbuster movie ever made. Chase crooks on your police bike, destroy laser firing robots with a stolen jetpack, escape giant boulders in a minecart, time-travel to punch dinosaurs and divert the nuclear missiles on your unicycle! Beat your friends in fun 4 player multiplayer! Download endless new scenes from around the world, or create your own in the Movie Maker!
ESRB: E – Everyone // File Size: 1.13 GB

Naughty Bear: Panic in Paradise ($14.99)

When the Bears of Perfection Island went on holiday to Paradise Island, Naughty Bear was not invited! Naughty Bear manages to secretly travel with the other bears, duct-taped to the exterior of the bus. With a list of bears who wronged him in hands, Naughty is ready to make them pay, one by one.
ESRB: E10+ // File Size: 957 MB

Warlords ($9.99)

Show no mercy and take no prisoners as you fight to the death for title of the almighty Warlord. Defend your castle from mischievous minions and ferocious fireballs in this whimsical reinvention of the beloved classic. In the ultimate battle of speed, strategy and survival, command your troops with shrewdness and skill to capture control points, collect power-ups and destroy the other warring factions!
ESRB: E10+ – Everyone 10+ // File Size: 763 MB

Worms Revolution ($14.99)

Worms Revolution sticks an exploding sheep under worm-on-worm conflict and blasts it squarely into the 21st century. With 32 single player missions, 20 single player puzzles, online or local multiplayer for up to 4 players, 3 multiplayer modes, customization, worm classes and dynamic water!
ESRB: E10+ – Everyone 10+ // File Size: 533 MB

PS Vita

Retro City Rampage ($14.99)

This 8-bit nostalgic throwback warps open-world carjacking BACK TO THE… ’80s. Lock and load your light gun! It’s a retro overload with over 60 story missions and over 40 arcade challenges. ‘Borrow’ vehicles and outrun the law while mowing down your fellow citizens! Jump on pedestrians for coins, or use them for target practice with over 25 weapons and POWER-UPS! WHOA! Purchasing this content entitles you to both the PS3 and PS Vita versions!
ESRB: T – Teen // File Size: 29 MB

Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock ($9.99)

Play as the Doctor and River Song as they race to save the universe and time itself. Unravel the mystery of The Eternity Clock and stop its deadly path of destruction before it’s too late. Equipped with the Doctor’s sonic screwdriver, River’s Blaster and other fantastic gadgets, face up to the most fearsome monsters including Silurians, Cybermen, Daleks and the Silence.
ESRB: E10+ – Everyone 10+ // File Size: 731 MB

Spy Hunter ($39.99)

Spy Hunter is a reboot of the legendary combat driving series and races forward on its most thrilling and dangerous ride yet. The player once again takes on the role of the “Agent,” the driver of the high-tech G-6155 Interceptor supercar, armed extensively with advanced weaponry, and ready to take on a global terrorist organization set on world domination.
ESRB: E10+ – Everyone 10+ // File Size: 860 MB

Sunflowers ($3.99)

Say it with SunFlowers! Take control of the Sun, grow the most beautiful flowers and offer them to your soulmate or your friends.
ESRB: E – Everyone // File Size: 94 MB

PSOne Classics Added to PS Vita Store

• Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV
• Destrega
• Saiyuki: Journey West

PlayStation Store Highlights

Dishonored is available today on the PlayStation Store, and if you pre-ordered it you should have received your dynamic theme. There are a few other PS3 full games out today, including Birds of Steel, Naughty Bear, The Testament of Sherlock Holmes and a Devil May Cry HD Collection (complete with Trophy support). Another fine addition to the PS Store is the next installment of The Walking Dead episodic adventure. Fans of the series will be happy to hear that Episode 4 – Around Every Corner, is now available.

The latest game to hop on the Cross-Buy trend, if you purchase Retro City Rampage on PSN or PS Vita, you’ll be able to download the other version at no additional cost. Although there are only a few PSone classics being added to the PS Vita store this week, there are several other PS Vita titles releasing today including Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock, Spy Hunter and Sunflowers.

Plus members receive The King of Fighters XIII in their Instant Game Collections this week, along with a few discounts on King of Fighters XIII add-on content, Derrick the Deathfin and The Revenge of Shinobi.

As always, please leave your thoughts in the comments below. You can also chat about this update in the PlayStation Community Forums.

PlayStation Plus

Click here to learn more and purchase online or go to the PlayStation Store to activate instantly.

Instant Game Collection	The King of Fighters XIII
Pre-Order Deals	DOOM BFG Edition(10% Off) – PS Plus Price: $35.99 Need for Speed Most Wanted (10% Off) – PS Plus Price: $53.99
Discounts	Derrick The Deathfin (30% Off) – PS Plus Price: $5.54 The Revenge of Shinobi (80% Off) – PS Plus Price: $1.00 King of Fighters XIII: Iori with the Power of Flames (30% Off) – PS Plus Price: $2.44 King of Fighters XIII: Mr. Karate (30% Off) – PS Plus Price: $2.44 King of Fighters XIII: Nests Style Kyo (30% Off) – PS Plus Price: $2.44 King of Fighters XIII: Unlock All (30% Off) – PS Plus Price: $3.42 King of Fighters XIII: Billy Saiki (Human Form) (30% Off) – PS Plus Price: $.48 King of Fighters XIII: Unlock Customize Colors (30% Off) – PS Plus Price: $1.46 King of Fighters XIII: Unlock Gallery (30% Off) – PS Plus Price: $1.46 King of Fighters XIII: Unlock Icons (30% Off) – PS Plus Price: $1.46
Last Chance (Leaving on 10/16)	The Revenge of Shinobi (80% Off) – PS Plus Price: $1.00 Pre-Order DOOM BFG Edition (10% Off) – PS Plus Price: $35.99 Spelunker HD (50% Off) – PS Plus Price: $5.00 Spelunker Championship Area 2: Nasty Cave with a Stream (50% Off) – PS Plus Price: $1.00 Spelunker Championship Area 3: Fiendish Ancient Ruins (50% Off) – PS Plus Price: $1.00 Spelunker Championship Area 4: Frigid Icy Depths (50% Off) – PS Plus Price: $1.00 Spelunker Championship Area 5: Ancient Creature’s Fossils (50% Off) – PS Plus Price: $1.00 Spelunker Championship Area 6: Cave of Glowing Moss (50% Off) – PS Plus Price: $1.00 Spelunker Championship Area 7: Scorching Cave (50% Off) – PS Plus Price: $1.00 Spelunker Championship Area 8: Mysterious Mining Facility (50% Off) – PS Plus Price: $1.00 Spelunker Championship Area 9: Unforgiving Characters (50% Off) – PS Plus Price: $1.00 Spelunker Championship Area 10: Heinous Creature’s Lair (50% Off) – PS Plus Price: $1.00

PS3 Game Demos (Free)

Naughty Bear: Panic in Paradise

When the Bears of Perfection Island went on holiday to Paradise Island, Naughty Bear was not invited! Naughty Bear manages to secretly travel with the other bears, duct-taped to the exterior of the bus. With a list of bears who wronged him in hands, Naughty is ready to make them pay, one by one.
ESRB: E10+ // File Size: 957 MB

Joe Danger 2: The Movie

Take Joe Danger on a death-defying thrill ride across the set of the greatest blockbuster movie ever made. Chase crooks on your police bike, destroy laser firing robots with a stolen jetpack, escape giant boulders in a minecart, time-travel to punch dinosaurs and divert the nuclear missiles on your unicycle! Beat your friends in fun 4 player multiplayer! Download endless new scenes from around the world, or create your own in the Movie Maker!
ESRB: E – Everyone // File Size: 1.13 GB

Retro City Rampage

This 8-bit nostalgic throwback warps open-world carjacking BACK TO THE… ’80s. Lock and load your light gun! It’s a retro overload with over 60 story missions and over 40 arcade challenges. ‘Borrow’ vehicles and outrun the law while mowing down your fellow citizens! Jump on pedestrians for coins, or use them for target practice with over 25 weapons and POWER-UPS! WHOA!
ESRB: T – Teen // File Size: 41 MB

Warlords

Show no mercy and take no prisoners as you fight to the death for title of the almighty Warlord. Defend your castle from mischievous minions and ferocious fireballs in this whimsical reinvention of the beloved classic. In the ultimate battle of speed, strategy and survival, command your troops with shrewdness and skill to capture control points, collect power-ups and destroy the other warring factions!
ESRB: E10+ – Everyone 10+ // File Size: 763 MB

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

In this two level demo from the single player tutorial campaign you will experience both the tactical and strategic layers of the game. You will be introduced to the XCOM base where you will train your soldiers and engage in the research of alien technology and the tutorial missions will guide you through combat controls and effective tactics for dealing with the alien threat.
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size: 1.5 GB

Apps

CinemaNow (Canada)

Available without a subscription, CinemaNow gives you access to new releases movies, the same day they come out on DVD, and TV episodes the day after they air. CinemaNow has over 13,000 movies & TV shows, and you can rent movies in stunning HD complete with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound. Best of all, your library of content also plays on any CinemaNow enabled device including your computer, TVs, Blu-ray Players and Mobile Devices!
File Size: 17 MB

Price Change

• Ben10 Galactic Racing – PS Vita Game (now: $14.99 original price $29.99)
• Disney/Pixar’s Brave – PS3 Game (now: $29.99 original price: $49.99)
• FIFA Soccer 13: FIFA 13 Creation Centre All Packs in One – PS3 Add-On (now: $5.99 original price: $7.99)

Sales

• Age of Hammer Wars – PS Mini (now: $2.99 original price: $4.99)
• Hamsterball – PS3 Game (now: $4.99 original price: $9.99)
• Rock of Ages – PS3 Game (now: $4.99 original price: $9.99)
• The Red Star – PSP Game (now: $4.99 original price: $14.99)

The King of Fighters XIII Add-ons

• Iori with the Power of Flames – Add-On (now: $3.49 original price: $4.99)
• Mr. Karate – Add-On (now: $3.49 original price: $4.99)
• Nests Style Kyo – Add-On (now: $3.49 original price: $4.99)
• Unlock All – Add-On (now: $4.89 original price: $6.99)
• Unlock Billy Saiki (Human Form) – Add-On (now: $0.69 original price: $0.99)
• Unlock Customize Colors – Add-On (now: $2.09 original price: $2.99)
• Unlock Gallery – Add-On (now: $2.09 original price: $2.99)
• Unlock Icons – Add-On (now: $2.09 original price: $2.99)

PS3 Add-ons

Birds of Steel

• Great Lions Pack ($12.99) – This DLC adds 700,000 lions to your profile.
• Big Lions Pack ($6.99) – This DLC adds 400,000 lions to your profile.
• Small Lions Pack ($3.99) – This DLC adds 200,000 lions to your profile.

Borderlands 2

• Premiere Club ($9.99) – The Borderlands 2 Premiere Club features a number of extra in-game content, including the Gearbox Gold Gun Pack, a Golden Key, which unlocks rare items in the mysterious Sanctuary Loot Chest, a Vault Hunter’s Relic, which boosts gear-hunting fortune, and the Mechromancer, a 5th playable character class.

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier

• Khyber Strike ($9.99) – Khyber Strike, is the third downloadable content pack for Ghost Recon Future Soldier. Set in the arid ancient city of Peshawar, Ghosts and Bodark square off in three highly contested areas of the city to take control of the strategic crossroads of the Khyber Pass. Download this all-new multiplayer DLC pack now!

Mass Effect 3

• Retaliation Multiplayer Expansion ($0.00) – Harbinger’s Black Arks have arrived! Mass Effect 3: Retaliation unleashes the Collectors against the allied forces, adding an all-new fourth faction to battle. Cerberus Dragoons and Geth Bombers reinforce their troops and the allies fight back with new weapons, mods, kits, and ammo types. Six firebases are now swept by hazards as well as enemies!

Naughty Bear: Panic in Paradise

• Mjolnpaw Hammer ($0.99) – Mjolnpaw Hammer is the ultimate bashing weapon.
• Teddy Krubear Set ($2.99) – The Teddy Krubear Set contains: A Nightmarish Fedora, 475 degrees shirt and gardening gloves.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2013

• Online Pass ($9.99) – Online Pass is necessary to activate PES 2013 online features. It is enclosed with production package. If you do not have a valid one, then you need to buy new Online Pass code to fully enjoy your game.

Rock Band 3 – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing song game tracks. For music credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

• Clawmaster ($0.99) – Ghost Brigade
• Into the Blacklight ($0.99) – Ghost Brigade
• The Stroke ($1.99) – Billy Squier
• Everybody Wants You ($1.99) – Billy Squier
• Dash ($1.99) – Bumblefoot
• From the Ground Up ($0.99) – Trial By Fire
• I Ran (So Far Away) ($1.99) – A Flock of Seagulls
• Sticks & Bricks ($1.99) – A Day to Remember

Tekken Tag Tournament 2

• Bonus Tracks Pack 1 ($6.99) – Choose from 134 tracks, taken from the first TEKKEN, TEKKEN 2, TEKKEN 3, and TEKKEN TAG, to customize your symphonic experience! All tracks are available through the in-game TEKKEN TUNES mode.
• Bonus Tracks: Tekken 1 Soundtrack ($2.49) – Choose from 27 tracks, taken from the first TEKKEN, to customize your symphonic experience! All tracks are available through the in-game TEKKEN TUNES mode.
• Bonus Tracks: Tekken 2 Soundtrack ($2.49) – Choose from 30 tracks, taken from TEKKEN 2, to customize your symphonic experience! All tracks are available through the in-game TEKKEN TUNES mode.
• Bonus Tracks: Tekken 3 Soundtrack ($2.49) – Choose from 40 tracks, taken from TEKKEN 3, to customize your symphonic experience! All tracks are available through the in-game TEKKEN TUNES mode..
• Bonus Tracks: Tekken Tag Soundtrack ($2.49) – Choose from 37 tracks, taken from the first TEKKEN TAG, to customize your symphonic experience! All tracks are available through the in-game TEKKEN TUNES mode.

Tokyo Jungle

• Animal Character Bundle 2 ($2.49) – Download this Animal Character Bundle 2 to play as the Kangaroo, Giraffe, Panda and Crocodile in TOKYO JUNGLE.
• Crocodile Character ($0.99) – Download this character to play as the Crocodile in TOKYO JUNGLE.
• Giraffe Character ($0.99) – Download this character to play as the Giraffe in TOKYO JUNGLE.
• Kangaroo Character ($0.99) – Download this character to play as the Kangaroo in TOKYO JUNGLE.
• Panda Character ($0.99) – Download this character to play as the Panda in TOKYO JUNGLE.
• Demon Lord Plush Costume ($0.00) – Download this costume and dress up your character in TOKYO JUNGLE.
• Mannequin Plush Costume ($0.00) – Download this costume and dress up your character in TOKYO JUNGLE.
• Patapon Plush Costume ($0.00) – Download this costume and dress up your character in TOKYO JUNGLE.

Warriors Orochi 3

• DWSF COSTUME – OTHER 1 ($4.99) – Special costumes will be available for all 16 characters under Other 1.
• DWSF COSTUME – OTHER 2 ($4.99) – Special costumes will be available for all 15 characters under Other 2.
• STAGE PACK 10 ($2.99) – New stages will be available for selection under Select Battlefield. An in-game music track is also included.
• STAGE PACK 11 ($2.99) – New stages will be available for selection under Select Battlefield.

WWE ‘13

• Fan Axxess ($19.99) – Fan Axxess is a discounted pre-payment for all future WWE ’13 downloadable content. It also includes additional Community Creations features for downloadable content (Online Axxess required), and Fan Axxess exclusives WWE Superstars Goldust and DDP. This purchase does not include Online Axxess, Stone Cold, CM Punk, or Mike Tyson.
• Online Axxess ($9.99) – Online Axxess is available with redemption of a single-use access code found on the back of the game manual included with original retail purchase. If the Online Axxess code has already been redeemed by a previous owner, you can purchase Online Axxess or begin a free limited trial. Online Axxess includes Online multiplayer and WWE Community Creations.

Game Videos (Free)

• FUSE ANNOUNCE TRAILER
• HELL YEAH! LAUNCH TRAILER
• PAGE CHRONICA LAUNCH TRAILER
• PAGE CHRONICA STORY TRAILER
• Puppeteer Tokyo Game Show 2012 Trailer (720)
• RESIDENT EVIL 6 LAUNCH TRAILER
• RESIDENT EVIL 6 RE.NET TRAILER
• SONIC & ALL-STARS RACING TRANSFORMED E3 TRAILER
• Wonderbook: Book of Spells Developer Diary 1 (720, 1080)
• Wonderbook: Book of Spells First Spells (720, 1080)
• Wonderbook: Diggs Nightcrawler™ Trailer (720, 1080)

PS3 Themes

• Bikini Costa Rica Dynamic Theme — $2.99
• Buxom Crystal Bailey Dynamic Theme — $2.99
• Dynamic Chinese Hong Kong Theme — $2.99
• Halloween Night in Little Wikkam Village Dynamic Theme — $2.99
• Halloween Night in Little Wikkam Village PSP Theme — $1.49
• Mirari: Monkey God Dynamic Theme — $2.99
• Mirari: Shift Dynamic Theme — $2.99
• Peckham On Sea by Paintshop Dynamic Theme — $2.99
• The Maniac’s Dream by Skwak Static Theme — $1.99
• The Monster Maniac by Skwak Static Theme — $1.99

Available In-Game Only (Not on PlayStation Store)

FIFA Soccer 13

• FIFA Creation Center All Packs In One ($7.99) – Do you need ALL OF IT? Get the All-In-One Pack to acquire all together what all the other creation centre packs have to offer: Tournaments Pack, Career Mode Pack, Teams Pack, Yet 10 More Teams Pack.

Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 (Requires Magic 2013 Expansion)

• Aura Servants Foils ($0.99) – Convert all uncommon, rare, and mythic rare cards in the Azorius ‘Aura Servants” white-blue deck to premium foil cards.
• Aura Servants Unlock ($0.99) – The fully unlocked “Aura Servants” white and blue deck. On the city-world of Ravnica, the Azorius Senate creates magically binding laws to enforce peace. The “Aura Servants” deck uses Auras to improve the strength and ferocity of its creatures.
• Collective Might Foils ($0.99) – Convert all uncommon, rare, and mythic rare cards in the Selesnya “Collective Might” green-white deck to premium foil cards.
• Collective Might Unlock ($0.99) – The fully unlocked “Collective Might” green and white deck. On the city-world of Ravnica, the Selesnya Conclave believes in the collective power of community and combined effort. Armies of saprolings are the backbone of this deck, which seeks to overwhelm the opponent with superior numbers.
• Grinning Malice Foils ($0.99) – Convert all uncommon, rare, and mythic rare cards in the Rakdos “Grinning Malice” black-red deck to premium foil cards.
• Grinning Malice Unlock ($0.99) – The fully unlocked “Grinning Malice” black and red deck. On the city-world of Ravnica, the murderous members of the Cult of Rakdos take sadistic glee in devising new methods of torture. The “Grinning Malice” deck is all about causing your opponents pain.
• Mindstorms Foils ($0.99) – Convert all uncommon, rare, and mythic rare cards in the Izzet “Mindstorms” blue-red deck to premium foil cards.
• Mindstorms Unlock ($0.99) – The fully unlocked “Mindstorms” blue and red deck. On the city-world of Ravnica, magical research is the chief domain of the Izzet League, often with explosive results. The “Mindstorms” deck is one such result. Dangerously unstable elementals and weirds take the fight to the enemy.
• Sepulchral Strength Unlock ($0.99) – The fully unlocked “Sepulchral Strength” black-green deck. The city-world of Ravnica relies on the black- and green-aligned Golgari Swarm to oversee the messier aspects of life and death. The “Sepulchral Strength” deck harnesses the power of death for its own purposes.
• Sepulchral Strength Foils ($0.99) – Convert all uncommon, rare, and mythic rare cards in the Golgari “Sepulchral Strength” black-green deck to premium foil cards. Additional content for Magic 2013. Requires Magic 2013 Expansion.

Rock Band 3

• The Stroke ($0.99) – Pro Guitar (In Game Only) – Billy Squier

WWE ‘13

• Accelerator ($1.99) – Decide the overall rankings and attributes levels of every WWE Superstar, Legend, and Diva in the game. Unlock every WWE Superstar, Legend, and Diva, including alternate attires and all arenas and championships in WWE ’13. This item does not unlock Attitude Era story content such as photos, videos and matches. Note: This purchasable item is included in the Fan Axxess premium content purchase.
• Diamond Dallas Page ($0.00) – Download this item to play as WWE Superstar Diamond Dallas Page! Note: This downloadable content is included in the Fan Axxess premium content purchase.
• Gangrel ($0.99) – The vampire is back! Download this item to play as WWE Superstar Gangrel from the Attitude Era! Note: This downloadable content is included in the Fan Axxess premium content purchase.
• Goldust ($0.00) – ‘The Bizarre One’ was a groundbreaking staple of the Attitude Era. With your purchase of WWE ’13 Fan Axxess you can download this exclusive FREE bonus – WWE Superstar Goldust!
• Grand Master Sexay ($0.99) – It’s time to bust out your dance moves! Download this item to play as WWE Superstar Grand Master Sexay from the Attitude Era! Note: This downloadable content is included in the Fan Axxess premium content purchase.
• Rikishi ($0.99) – He was the 400 plus-pound Samoan wonder and innovator of the Stinkface! Download this item to play as WWE Superstar Rikishi from the Attitude Era! Note: This downloadable content is included in the Fan Axxess premium content purchase.
• Scotty Too Hotty ($0.99) – It’s time to do the worm! Download this item to play as WWE Superstar Scotty Too Hotty from the Attitude Era! Note: This downloadable content is included in the Fan Axxess premium content purchase.
• Val Venis ($0.99) – Hello Ladies! Download this item to play as WWE Superstar Val Venis from the Attitude Era! Note: This downloadable content is included in the Fan Axxess premium content purchase.

Early in your adventure, you will receive “The Outsider’s Mark” — a mysterious tattoo on your left hand that grants you supernatural abilities. As you progress through the game, this mark will allow you to unlock new abilities, each of which can be upgraded to a second level for improved functionality.

Below is a look at two of the development team’s favorite abilities:

Devouring Swarm

Devouring Swarm summons a vicious swarm of rats that will consume corpses or attack the nearest living thing. Level two summons a larger, more vicious swarm of rats.

Wind Blast

Wind Blast releases a powerful blast of wind, knocking your enemies off their feet. This power will also douse fires, shatter wooden doors, and reflect projectiles back at the enemy who fired them. Level two increases the power of the blast.

Have questions about the game? Let us know in the comments below. And if you’re looking to play the game tomorrow, don’t forget it’s available as a PSN Day 1 title!

Click here for more info, and to pre-order PSN Day 1 Digital titles

The month of October is an exciting one for PS3 gamers, with a plethora of AAA titles hitting store shelves over the next four weeks. I’m excited to announce today that eight of the hottest upcoming titles will be available on PlayStation Network the same day they hit retailers through a new program called PSN Day 1 Digital!

To celebrate the launch of this new program, we’re giving you access to participate in “digital game launches,” so you can get your hands on great games releasing in October, without having to leave home. We’re also giving you the chance to pre-order select games ahead of their release date and offering 10% discounts on a number of titles for PlayStation Plus members.

This new program aims to bring you the best PS3 titles digitally through PlayStation Network. Throughout the month of October, we will be offering the following titles for download on day 1:

* Available for pre-order
+ 10% discount for PS Plus members during first week of availability

We have more exciting info on all these titles to tell you about in the coming weeks, so be sure to check the PlayStation.Blog each week for in-depth posts on these games. And let us know in the comments which Day 1 Digital titles you’ll be downloading on release day!

Subscription Links:

• Subscribe via iTunes here
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• Download the MP3 here on PS3, PS Vita or PC (Right-Click->Save As)

Next week’s release of Borderlands 2 is weighing awfully heavily on our minds! In today’s very special interview, we invite Gearbox Software Creative Director Paul Hellquist to answer a battery of questions from Jeff, myself, and you. We touch on just about everything: the game’s vastly enhanced variety, co-op improvements, weapon manufacturers, questing, level caps, DLC, and much more. If you’re dying for next Tuesday, this is one interview you won’t want to miss.

Then we shift gears to another one of fall 2012’s hottest releases with Dishonored in our new interview with Arkane Studios Co-Director Raf Colantonio. Mr. Colantonio provides copious insight into the creative process behind this thinking-man’s FPS, whether it’s the importance of allowing players to choose between lethal and nonlethal tactics or how the game’s macabre atmosphere infests every square inch of its dark, dank world.

Of course, we also share next week’s upcoming North American PSN release lineup, answer a boatload of Player Queries™, and serve up another Mystery Theme stumper. Good stuff, I swear! Now click that succulent-looking play button up above.

Stuff We Talked About

• Borderlands 2
• Dishonored
• PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale
• Tekken Tag Tournament 2
• New York City
• Persona 3 Portable
• Jet Set Radio

The Cast

• Sid Shuman – PlayStation Social Media Manager
• Jeff Rubenstein – PlayStation Sr. Social Media Manager

[Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

• Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music. Special thanks to Astro Gaming headsets for providing audio gear.

Outside of PlayStation’s own announcements, the indisputable big-buzz game of Gamescom 2012 was Dishonored, the upcoming PS3 first-person stealth adventure from Bethesda. With relatively low-key showings in Cologne from many of the other major third party publishers, Dishonored really got its chance to shine last week and it duly dazzled all comers.

For the uninitiated, the game puts you in the shoes of wronged assassin Corvo Atano who is framed for the murder of an Empress – his former lover. You’ll be sneaking around a dark, atmospheric steampunk world, combining supernatural powers and a range of weaponry to avenge her death and unmask those who’ve conspired against you.

To be clear, when we say stealth we don’t mean the signposted sneaking of, say, recent Splinter Cell titles. The AI here is unforgivingly old school – more redolent of the likes of Thief. And that should come as no surprise – co-creator Harvey Smith worked on that series, as well as the original Deus Ex and BioShock precursor System Shock. We caught up with him back stage at Gamescom to learn more about his latest project.

PlayStation.Blog: What are Dishonored’s core gameplay building blocks?
Harvey Smith, Co-Creative Director, Dishonored: It’s a matter of falling back on values. We generally like the first person perspective – to give you that ‘you are there’ thing. We like RPG upgrade systems. We like analog AI, so enemies are not necessarily aware of you or unaware of you – they’re uncertain. They may have heard you, but they’re not sure, so they go and investigate. Surfing the edge of awareness, basically. We love highly mobile games; we don’t like games where you’re heavy and stuck on the ground and you have big weapons and you can’t get on top of buildings as they’re just props. We really want you to be able to flit up there like a flea.

PSB: The stealth mechanics seem really challenging compared to more recent examples of the genre…
HS: We decided to go with ‘view cone’ based stealth. Enemies have a view cone. Their peripheral vision is weaker and they don’t see as well up high – it’s squashed so you can hide in the rafters. The deal is that if you’re in front of their view cone they see you, no matter what the lighting levels. Even if I turned out the lights right now, I’d still be able to see you, right? So we decided to go with something realistic.

The truth is that we tried all of the models you can think of. We tried the ‘pool of shadow’ model, but modern players would say the AI looks bad if I’m in a shadow and an enemy walks right by me. That looks dumb. They want a more reactive system. And that makes it a little more hardcore. To sneak, you really have to stay behind cover, lean out behind walls. It requires you to really know where an enemy is looking and avoid that range.

PSB: You claim that it’s possible to finish the game without killing a single person. How challenging is that going to be compared to going in guns drawn?
HS: It’s pretty easy to avoid killing a standard guard. You just throw a bottle and when he goes to investigate you sneak by. But it gets much harder for the key targets. For example, there’s a mission where you get sent to kill two brothers who are corrupt members of parliaments. You can go straight ahead and kill them – they’re in a bathhouse – or you can do a side quest for a crime lord. If you do the right things for him he will have them captured, their tongues cut out, their heads shaved and then put to work in their own mines where nobody will know it’s them. It’s poetic justice. It’s dark, but not as dark as killing them. The two approaches are hard in different ways. The game gets very reactive if you just go in guns blazing – it fights back. But, on the other hand, stealth demands patience.

PSB: Many older gamers will be really excited to hear about a return to these sorts of values, but do you think younger gamers, who’ve never played Thief or the original Deus Ex, will get it?
HS: I have a great deal of faith in those people. When we release a game like this kids sometimes come to us and say ‘this game blew my mind; I didn’t know games could do this; I only played very linear games before’. That’s what we like to hear. I actually have more faith in the 13-year-olds as they’re playing things like Day Z or Dwarf Fortress or Eve Online. They’re hungry for highly interactive, non-dogmatic experiences, I think.

Dishonored creeps onto PS3 October 9th in North America. Look out for more coverage here on the Blog in the coming weeks!

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• Subscribe via iTunes
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• Download the MP3 here (Right-Click->Save As)

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale is real, and it’s spectacular. We caught up with SuperBot‘s Lead Combat Designer Paul Edwards in this extra-special episode of PlayStation Blogcast to discuss the game’s genesis and overall fighting philosophy. Then we move into the shadowy world of Dishonored to learn how this stealth-action revenge tale fuses familiar elements from BioShock, Assassin’s Creed, and Deus Ex in a chat with co-directors Harvey Smith and Raf Colantonio of Arkane Studios.

Finally, we discuss the new The Walking Dead episodic game series with a visit from Telltale Games Designer Jake Rodkin. In our chat, we learn how the game expands on the grim world of the Eisner-award-winning comic series and how your decisions and actions will define the arc of the story for months to come. I’ll note that I finished the first episode last night and adored it; make of that what you will.

As always, we’ve got the usual array of new PSN releases, user questions and tips, and general hilarity and/or hijinx. Do join us!

Stuff We Talked About

• The Walking Dead game series (live now on PSN)
• PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale (watch GTTV’s video coverage here)
• Dishonored

The Cast

[Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game
details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating
descriptions.]

• Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music. Special thanks to Astro Gaming headsets for providing audio gear.