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Ron Gilbert created classics such as The Secret of Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion, cementing his legacy as one of adventure gaming’s founding fathers. On today’s show, Mr. Gilbert graciously joins us for a discussion on the origins of his upcoming PSN release The Cave (on PSN Tuesday!), the state of adventure gaming after the success of The Walking Dead, and a host of other fascinating topics. This one’s a can’t miss! We also lay out next week’s PSN releases for January 22nd, 2013, delve into new listener voicemails, discuss Ninja Theory’s new opus DmC Devil May Cry, share our all-time favorite gaming collector’s editions and much more. Listen in and let us know what you think!

Send us questions and tips: blogcast@playstation.sony.com

The Cast

• Sid Shuman – PlayStation Social Media Manager
• Nick Suttner – PlayStation Account Support Manager
• Aram Jabbari – PlayStation PR Manager
• Ron Gilbert – Creator of The Cave

[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.

PS3 Full Games

DMC Devil May Cry ($59.99)

In a society corrupted by demons only The Order can see the world for what it really is. Join Dante in the ultimate experience of stylish action chain together combo after combo with panache and dispatch demonic spawn back to hell. Call upon unimaginable powers combined with Dante’s epic arsenal of weapons: sword, scythe, axe, pistols and more. Face your demons…
ESRB: M // File Size: 6.5 GB

Angry Birds Trilogy ($39.99)

Angry Birds is taking flight for the first time ever and crashing on PlayStation 3 systems everywhere! Includes: 3 Best-Selling Angry Birds games and 19 exclusive levels.
ESRB: E // File Size: 1.8 GB

PSP Games

Corpse Party: Book of Shadows ($19.99)

A series of eight lengthy vignettes expanding and elaborating on the 2011 cult horror classic “Corpse Party.” Taking place before, during and after events from its predecessor, Book of Shadows seeks to answer the questions, what if, what then, and what now? New point-and-click adventure style gameplay, binaural 3D audio with original Japanese voices, dozens of endings and tons of unlockable extras will keep players awake for many nights to come.
ESRB: M //File Size: 1.1 GB

PS Vita Apps

Wake-Up Club (Free)

Add some excitement to your morning! Wake-up Club is a socially connected alarm clock application for your PS Vita. With it, you and up to 11 friends can challenge each other to wake up and complete short mini-games at a set time.
File Size: 105 MB

Added to Vita Storefront

• Corpse Party: Book of Shadows (PSP game)
• Disney Pixar A Bug’s Life (PS1 game)
• Disney Pixar Toy Story 2 (PS1 game)
• Disney Pixar Toy Story Racer (PS1 game)
• Disney Pixar Monsters Inc. Scream Team (PS1 game)

PSP Bundles

Farm Frenzy Bountiful Harvest Pack ($5.99)

Never before has this much farming fun been packed into a single bundle and at a price this low! Enjoy hours of hilarious time management action when you buy the Farm Frenzy Bountiful Harvest Pack!
ESRB: E //File Size: 82.6 MB

Montezuma Well-Rounded Player Bundle ($3.99)

The Well-Rounded Player bundle from Alawar Entertainment offers countless hours of entertainment! Collect gems in the jungle and then go platform-hopping around the world as you guide Snowy home!
ESRB: E //File Size: 57.2 MB

PS2 Classics

Siren ($9.99)

Explore the occult and experience incredible terror in the town of Hanuda.
ESRB: M //File Size: 4.3 GB

Disgaea: Hour of Darkness ($9.99)

The king of the Netherworld is dead. Join his son, Laharl, as he embarks on a quest to take his rightful place on the throne in this tactical RPG.
ESRB: E10+ //File Size: 1.2 GB

PlayStation Store Highlights

This week on the Store you can purchase the newest version of Devil May Cry — DmC. The ever-popular Angry Birds also launches onto the Store with Angry Birds Trilogy, which comes with 19 exclusive levels. If you enjoyed the PSP game Corpse Party you’ll be happy to hear that Corpse Party: Book of Shadows is now available for you to download on either your PSP or PS Vita.

PS Plus members will receive Darksiders for free this week along with a discount on Stardrone Extreme.

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.

Price Change

• Dungeon Hunter Alliance – PS Vita Game (now: $26.99 original price: $29.99)
• Lumines Electronic Symphony – PS Vita Game (now: $26.99 original price: $29.99)
• Orgarhythm – PS Vita Game (now: $19.99 original price: $29.99)
• Rayman Origins – PS Vita Game (now: $26.99 original price: $29.99)
• Sumioni: Demon Arts – PS Vita Game (now: $14.99 original price: $19.99)

Sales

• Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter – PS Mini (now: $1.49 original price: $3.99)
• Carnivores: Ice Age – PS Mini (now: $1.49 original price: $3.99)
• Derrick the Deathfin – PS3 Game (now: $5.99 original price: $7.99)
• Droplitz – PS3 Game (now: $4.99 original price: $9.99)

PS Vita Add-ons

Wake-Up Club

• Color Theme Pack ($0.25)

PS3 Add-ons

Borderlands 2

• Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt ($9.99, free for Season Pass holders) – In Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt, players will enter an uncharted territory deep in the swamps of Pandora where a massive Hyperion ship has crashed. The wreckage is rumored to have stockpiles of loot. But watch out, mutated creatures, and armies of savages also have an interest in the ship.

Dance Magic

• Outfits 1 ($1.99) – Outfits and weapon sets for all characters.

Far Cry 3

• Deluxe DLC Bundle ($9.99) – Get even more insanity with the Far Cry 3 Deluxe Bundle. Includes six single-player missions, four rare animals to hunt, a bow and flare gun for multiplayer, and all other previously released retail bonuses in The Monkey Business Pack, The Lost Expeditions, The Warrior Pack, and The Predator Pack.
• High-Tides Co-Op (Free) – The co-op story is far from over. The High Tides DLC pack includes two new story chapters for Far Cry 3 co-op. Hoyt’s privateers have ambushed the four survivors and taken them hostage. It’s up to you and your friends to escape an underground prison and find a way off this island of insanity. Also includes four new character skins.

Gran Turismo 5

• 2014 Corvette Stingray Final Prototype (Free) – This DLC adds the 2014 Corvette Stingray Final Prototype ’13 to ‘Gran Turismo 5′. In January 2013, the final prototype of the next generation Corvette was unveiled on the eve of the Detroit International Motor Show. With this car you can share in on the excitement of development engineers, until its actual production starts in the latter half of 2014.

Rock Band 3

• A Bridge That Will Burn ($0.99) – Moving Picture Show
• Don’t Talk to Strangers ($1.99) – Rick Springfield
• Fragments ($1.99) – Serianna
• Inheritors ($1.99) – Serianna
• I’ve Done Everything For You ($1.99) – Rick Springfield
• Jessie’s Girl ($1.99) – Rick Springfield
• Monday Night Football ($1.99) – John Parr
• The Distance ($0.99) – Drugstore Fanatics
• Rick Springfield Pack 01 ($5.49) – Includes ‘Don’t Talk to Strangers,’ ‘I’ve Done Everything for You,’ and ‘Jessie’s Girl’

RockSmith

• Alive ($2.99) – Pearl Jam
• Cliffs of Dover ($2.99) – Eric Johnson
• No Rain ($2.99) – Blind Melon
• Pearl Jam Song Pack ($7.99) – Includes Play ‘Black’, ‘Jeremy’, and ‘Alive’

PS3 Themes

• Army Strong Dynamic Theme – $2.99
• Army Strong Sunset Dynamic Theme – $2.99
• Bitchin’ BMX Static Theme – $1.99
• BMX Action Static Theme – $1.99
• BMX Beasts Static Theme – $1.99
• Create by Studio Output Dynamic Theme – $2.99
• Dazed and Confused Dynamic Theme – $2.99
• INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US THEME – $0.99
• LittleBigPlanet 2 2013 Calendar – $1.99
• Sasha Static Theme – $1.99

Wallpapers

• BIG SKY INFINITY WALLPAPER 2 (Free)
• KNYTT UNDERGROUND WALLPAPER 1 (Free)

PS3 Avatars

• Sound Shapes Avatar Pack $1.75
• Sound Shapes Guitar Walker Avatar $0.49
• Sound Shapes Music Box Avatar $0.49
• Sound Shapes Player Blue Avatar $0.49
• Sound Shapes Player Brown Avatar $0.49
• Sound Shapes Record Player Avatar $0.49

Game Videos (Free)

• Battlefield 3: Aftermath Launch Trailer
• Battlefield 3: Aftermath Premiere Trailer
• Fuse Trailer ‘The Dalton Rules’
• The Cave Character Trailer
• XCOM: Enemy Unknown – Slingshot Trailer

Available In-Game Only (Not on PlayStation Store)

NCAA Football 2013

• Under Armor Uniform Pack 3 — ($1.99, $1.79 for EASST users)

Real Steel

• Real Steel Trial: Carapace Lv.5 — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Cheetah V2 — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Clunky Arm Lv.5 (L) — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Clunky Arm Lv.5 (R) — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Clunky Legs Lv.5 — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Colossus Fluid — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Crusted Arm Lv.5 (L) — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Crusted Arm Lv.5 (R) — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Head Defender — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Insectas Glove Lv.5 (L) — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Insectas Glove Lv.5 (R) — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Juggerjuice Supra — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Monster Fist Lv.5 — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Neck Cracker — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Omega Release — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Outlaw 4s — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Picket Fist Lv.5 (L) — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Picket Fist Lv.5 (R) — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Power Reprocessor — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Powerhouse R-50 — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Real Steel: Monster Fist Lv.5 (R) — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Scrapheap Arm Lv.5 (L) — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Scrapheap Arm Lv.5 (R) — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Scrapheap Body Lv.5 — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Scrapheap Head Lv.5 — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Scrapheap Lv.5 Full Parts Set — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Super Power Reprocessor — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Titantrol 2.0 — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Weevil Head Lv.5 — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Weevil Legs Lv.5 — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Weevil Lv.5 Full Parts Set — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Zelezo Arm Lv.5 (L) — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Zelezo Body Lv.5 — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Zelezo Hand Lv.5 (L) — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Zelezo Hand Lv.5 (R) — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Zelezo Head Lv.5 — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Zelezo Legs Lv.5 — $1.99
• Real Steel Trial: Zelezo Lv.5 Full Parts Set — $9.99

Rock Band 3

• I’ve Done Everything For You ($0.99) – Pro Guitar – Rick Springfield
• Jessie’s Girl ($0.99) – Pro Guitar – Rick Springfield

The time to face your demons has arrived! DmC Devil May Cry for PlayStation 3 is in stores now, and downloadable from PSN in a day-and-date digital release. We’re really delighted with the final project and I think Ninja Theory did an amazing job of combining existing elements of previous DmCs, while injecting their own flavor into the franchise. Players can definitely expect to see both radically new elements and returning staple elements from past Devil May Cry games.

New to the gameplay are the Demon and Angel powers, which allow (and demand) Dante to switch fluidly between separate sets of abilities and weapons. The Demon side delivers heavy-hitting but slower attacks, while the Angel side unleashes swift area attacks that are relatively low damage. Dante can now also use grappling chains to propel himself, enemies, and other objects between two points, allowing for a new emphasis on positioning, crowd control, aerial combat, and some flashy traversal.

As far as the gameplay experience, you’ll see a return to the series’ trademark mixture of gunplay and swordplay and an emphasis on improvisation. While the old games may have had a gothic metal aesthetic and the new game may place thumping electronic music in the spotlight, let’s not forget that Devil May Cry has always been the improv jazz of video games, celebrating on-the-fly creativity, improvisation, and adaptation. This is still very much the case, and while the design changes Dante has undergone may be obvious, you’ll still see more-than-subtle shades of the wise-cracking, confident demon slayer we’ve come to know up until now, along with many of his previous signature combat moves.

For this version of DmC, we really wanted to put Dante in a grittier, more realistic world. Very early on in the project we asked Ninja Theory to think about what Devil May Cry would be like if it was a contemporary movie, and that is a mindset that has stayed with us throughout development. You may notice more than a few nods to various cult films as you’re playing the game, as well as a more Western cinematic approach to the narrative. While the game carries on Devil May Cry’s penchant for the bombastic, Ninja Theory’s legacy of highly nuanced storytelling continues here. The team harnessed cutting edge performance capture technology, allowing a single actor to simultaneously perform the voice, motion capture, and facial capture for a given character, which in turn has allowed them to convey deeper, more subtle states of emotion with less overt explanation—perhaps more than most games, DmC Devil May Cry sticks to the great storytelling mantra, “show, don’t tell.”

It’s been an incredible time working on this game, and we genuinely can’t wait to hear about people’s experiences with it, not to mention the inevitable flood of excellent combo videos. Keep it stylish, guys!

Hello, Dominic Matthews here from Ninja Theory bringing you an update on DmC: Devil May Cry.

First off, I want to tell you about some DmC add-on content that we just announced. Called Vergil’s Downfall, it features six brand new missions, in new environments where you play as Dante’s twin brother Vergil.

Vergil has his own unique combat system (if you know Vergil from the previous games you’ll recognize some of his signature moves) and the story, which is intertwined with the events of the main game, takes place in Vergil’s very own personal hell. Lovely!

You’ll also get to take on new enemies and upgrade Vergil’s combat as you play. Once you’ve completed all the new missions you’ll have four new difficulty modes to unlock including Son of Sparda and Vergil Must Die, both of which feature unique enemy waves and enemy behaviours that are different from those in the three default difficulty settings.

The reason that we’re telling you about this add-on content before the main game is even out is not because it’s finished (because it’s not, there is still a lot of work to be done!), but because we want to offer it to you for free when you pre-order DmC: Devil May Cry.

It will be available to buy if you wish, but if you pre-order the digital version of DmC: Devil May Cry on PSN you’ll get to download Vergil’s Downfall at no additional cost when it is released early next year. So if you like your add-on content meaty and you like it for free, pre-order DmC. Update: The Vergil’s Downfall content will be free for GameStop pre-orders only. PSN pre-orders will get the Costume Pack DLC for free.

The second piece of news I wanted to give you is that the DmC: Devil May Cry demo will be available to download on PSN starting today. The demo includes two missions: Under Watch, which takes place in the heart of DmC’s city streets, and Secret Ingredient, which is a boss battle against the adorable Succubus demon (you’ll see what I mean when you meet her!).

When you start the demo you’ll have the choice of three default difficulties to select from, but if you complete both missions on one of those three settings you’ll unlock the demo’s Son of Sparda mode. This presents the demo’s hardest challenge, featuring a unique set of tougher enemies and enemy waves to take on.

From the start of the demo Dante is equipped with his Rebellion sword, His Ebony and Ivory hand guns, his demonic axe the Arbiter and the angelic scythe Osiris. We wanted to give you a really good feel of how the combat plays so we’ve started you off with quite a few upgrades on all of the weapons in the demo too. Try my personal favourite, the Stinger (forward, forward, triangle). I’ve been stabbing demons in the eye with the Stinger for a couple of years now and I still get a kick out of it.

If you like the demo, pre-order the game on PSN and get Vergil’s Downfall for free. I’ll be taking your questions below – please fire away.