It’s been one week since our Mass Effect 3 demo became available and everyone at BioWare is incredibly pleased with the response. If you haven’t already checked out our single-player and multiplayer demos (the latter is completely spoiler free and a bit addicting!), I suggest you try them to see what all the fuss is about. Our development team worked hard to ensure that Mass Effect 3 is available at the same time for PS3 as it is for other platforms, a development milestone we’re happy to celebrate with the PlayStation community!

Today, I want to let you know about an exclusive offer for anyone who pre-orders Mass Effect 3 via the PlayStation Network. When the PlayStation Store updates later this afternoon, you’ll be able to pre-order to download a digital copy of the game (available 3/6 in the US) and receive the M55 Argus rifle to complement your in-game experience.

The Argus is a high-powered rifle and an excellent close-range weapon. Its bursts of fire ensure ammunition conservation during lengthy conflicts. Law-enforcement agencies across the Mass Effect galaxy are adopting the Argus as their standard rifle, as much for its intimidation factor as its suppression power.

Along with that in-game bonus weapon, Sony Computer Entertainment America and BioWare would like to offer you a special Mass Effect 3 PS3 theme—only available for digital pre-orders. Once the game has launched, these offers will no longer be available, so if you haven’t done so already, secure your copy of Mass Effect 3 later today when the PlayStation Store updates and prepare for the Reaper invasion!

Let us know what you think of our pre-order offer and the Mass Effect 3 demo on Twitter!

One of our big innovations is our All-New Total Racquet Control, where you can control every shot with the right analog stick, smashing forehands, backhands, overheads, and volleys with precision, accuracy, and power. You can utilize this control system to take your game to the next level, however, if you prefer the old school button controls, those are still available to play with as well.

Also new, and exclusive to PlayStation 3, is our PlayStation Move support. The motion control experience gets you on your feet and literally puts the racquet right in the palm of your hands. With a little bit of practice in the Practice Court prior to playing a match, you should have a good handle on all of the different control schemes in no time!

Once you have developed your shots in the Practice Court, take your skills to one of the most prestigious venues in sports: Wimbledon (exclusive to Grand Slam Tennis 2!). You can relive or rewrite the 2011 Wimbledon final match on Centre Court between the top 2 seeded players in the world, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Here you can feel the true excitement and emotion of championship tennis with EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis 2 in this 3 game set. You can play by yourself or against a friend on the same system.

We hope you enjoy the demo!

Keep an eye out for the full version of the product (available worldwide by February 14) which features over 20 of the greatest past and present players, a deep 10-year career mode, a wide variety of online gameplay features including EA SPORTS Game Face technology, and lots more.

For more info and to check out some producer videos, go here.

That’s it for now!

Syndicate, as you probably know by now, is an FPS set in the classic universe first established by Bullfrog in 1993. We have taken all the great story elements from the original game – the setting, the mood, the agents and above all the chips – and transferred into a much faster-paced and visceral game. Syndicate is not just your average FPS, though. We did this by creating a gameplay mechanic called “Breaching,” which effectively simulates an agent using his embedded military-grade DART 6 chip to interact with other chips in the world – whether they are located inside objects or human beings.

But it’s not all about the chips. No FPS can do without providing the player with an arsenal of bad-ass weapons, and we had access to some excellent examples to work with from the original games, fortified with some ideas of our own. You will find the usual suspects like sniper rifles, assault rifles and pistols, although you shouldn’t expect them to be anything like you are used to from contemporary shooters. Some of the upgrades you are able to get will transform these seemingly standard weapons into something else entirely: Alternate fire modes that turn an assault rifle into a sniper rifle and cover-penetrating ammunition are just two of the many upgrades you can bestow upon your favorite weapon. Upgrades aside, there are also some new and futuristic weapons that are a ton of fun to handle. The Gauss Gun can lock on to select a particular enemy and then bend bullets to take him out while you are behind cover. Or simply pick up the COIL rifle and reduce those pesky snipers to a pile of ash. The choice is yours!

In co-op play there are a slew of weapons to choose from as you play the game, and all of them can be upgraded in multiple ways. We have designed our research and upgrade system in such a way that the choice is always with you as a player. It will be you who decides what upgrades your Syndicate’s scientists will research, so you won’t be stuck with upgrades for weapons you rarely use. You might not be a CEO, but you certainly are in charge in this game.

But enough about the game overview, I am here to talk more about the Demo for Syndicate!

We here at Starbreeze have chosen Western Europe, the first of the co-op campaign missions, to feature in this demo. This level has quite a lot of significance to us and was one of the first maps we built and completed.

Western Europe is based on the same map from the original game and we have taken great care in bringing it back to life in our re-imagining of the game. Players familiar with the old map will no doubt recognize the flow and general layout, but we have also added quite a few new details, not least of which are the iconic light towers.

The story of the co-op campaign sees you, the players, involved in brutal and ruthless corporate warfare taking place across the globe in 2069. As a new Agent of Wulf Western – a new corporate outfit on the rise – it is up to you and your friends to take on rival Syndicates on their own ground, eliminating their personnel, stealing their tech, and taking over their market share.

In the demo you’ll be challenging Cayman Global; they have established a military outpost in Western Europe that is threatening your own Syndicate’s expansion in the region. This is of course not acceptable, and it’s time to take action.

We have designed the mission in such a way that new players will have a chance to get used to the unique and different mechanics that Syndicate has to offer. These mechanics are all linked to the DART 6 chip your Agent has lodged in his brain. With the use of this chip, you can access the “dataverse.” You can manipulate mechanisms, weapons and even other human beings that are chipped in a multitude of ways. We call this interaction a “Breach.”

The very basic function of your DART chip allows you to heal (breach) your team member. If healing comes too late, you can also reboot them if they go down. This was really our core mechanic for the co-op game and it helped us create a game that firmly centers on team play. It also allowed us to create a challenging game which, particularly on Hard and Expert modes, will provide countless hours of gameplay. The normal mode of the mission is intended to be fun and engaging for everyone, but once you master breaching and have moved on to utilize your available breach applications – software upgrades with different functions for your DART chip – then we definitely recommend checking out the harder difficulty settings!

When we set out to create Syndicate, we wanted to create a fast-paced, visceral gaming experience that would put the player right at the core of the brutal and merciless world of the original Syndicate. We had a massive advantage in the fact that today’s technology can deliver this experience in a lot more realistic way than was possible 18 years ago.

It was clear to us from the start that Syndicate would come to PS3. Apart from the obvious technical advantages, the fact that PS3 owners can play Syndicate co-op for free on PSN was a major draw for us. We certainly hope that many people will take advantage of this possibility because the best way to find out what Syndicate truly is about is to pick up a controller and dive into the co-op demo later today!

All of us at Starbreeze hope you enjoy the game as much as we do. And who knows, you might be joining up with one of us soon to make sure Wulf Western gains total market dominance!

As is quickly becoming standard practice when console franchises debut on the Vita, these touchscreen controls are optional. Yet I think longtime video footballers will find themselves using at least some of these new tricks pretty quickly, as they feel right at home.

I spent some time with this demo version of FIFA Soccer after the event, and I found myself toying around with the playable menu screen for a long time, just taking shot after shot on goal. The accuracy of the rear touch shooting has won me over, and I look forward to hearing your impressions of it once it debuts in just a few short months.

Oh, and let’s not forget that the multiplayer is absolutely awesome. You can create your own playlist of races to play with your friends, or you can jump straight into a race in progress! As you keep playing you’ll be leveling up and earning access to vehicles, upgrades, and abilities, giving you plenty of reasons to stick with it and get an edge over your friends.

And as you most likely know, we have a very special treat for PS3 owners. The following seven cars are exclusive to PS3 owners in North America! You get seven amazing supercars just for being you! Here’s the full list

• Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport
• Lamborghini Countach 5000 quattro-valvole
• Hennessey Venom GT
• GUMPERT apollo s
• Koenigsegg Agera R
• Porsche Carrera GT
• Lexus LFA

Couple that with the cars you get with the Limited Edition—the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, Porsche 911 Carrera S, and Lamborghini Aventador—and you’ve got some of the best cars in the game right from the start. Not a bad deal!

To celebrate the launch of Need for Speed The Run, our community and Dev teams will be playing The Run for 24 hours straight starting this Friday during our “Up All Night” event. When you get the game, I advise you get some practice in — when the time comes, you’ll be ready to take them down!

Enjoy, and let us know what you think of the game!

Speaking of Hollywood, if PlayStation fans haven’t seen the new trailer directed by Michael Bay, definitely take a look right now:

Seriously cool, huh? In true Michael Bay form, it’s jam-packed with action and explosions. What’s really neat is that Bay actually took time to get his hands on the game, and talk with our creative team for inspiration.

If you’ve already pre-ordered the Limited Edition of the game, then you’re entitled to some really slick cars, including the Lamborghini Aventador.

But PS3 players get another bonus: seven supercars! Today, exclusively on the PlayStation.Blog, we are revealing two of these seven cars with in-game screenshots and specs. Which one is your favorite?

Lexus LFA

Lexus enters the world of 200mph supercars with the LFA. Helping push it over the 200mph barrier is a 4.8L V10 and a carbon fiber frame to minimizing weight. The engine can go from idle to redline in 0.6 seconds, forcing Lexus engineers to use a digital display because the needle wasn’t fast enough. In Need for Speed The Run, hear what is described as “the roar of an angel” as the Lexus LFA battles it out with the fastest supercars in the world.

Porsche Carrera GT

With an engine originally designed to be an endurance racing prototype, the Porsche Carrera GT is a 200mph bullet. Production ran from 2004-2006, but the mid-engine V10 is hardly forgotten. Boasting 604hp, 15-inch brakes and an automated spoiler that adjusts above 70mph, the Carrera GT is as beautiful in its design as it is in its sound. In The Run, you’ll find yourself turning up the volume just so you can hear the incredible whine coming from the dual exhaust pipes.

• Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
• Hennessey Venom GT
• GUMPERT apollo s
• Lamborghini Countach QV5000
• Koenigsegg Agera R
• Lexus LFA
• Porsche Carrera GT

The Run was developed on PlayStation, and these cars are going to look spectacular. Who wouldn’t want to start with some of the fastest cars on the planet right off the bat?

Remember, Need for Speed The Run is out next Tuesday, November 15th, so pre-order now.

This bundle features a black PSP-3000, 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, a copy of FIFA 2012 on UMD and a PlayStation Network voucher to download Cars 2: The Video Game. Another great value for PSP (PlayStationPortable) system fans to enjoy for only $159.99 (MSRP). Check out the close up below.

As you know, FIFA Soccer 12 delivers a true soccer experience with authentic club and league licenses, and intelligent gameplay that mirrors real-world soccer. You’re able to compete as any one of over 500 officially licensed clubs and experience responsive, intelligent and realistic action. You’ll enjoy turning defenders with sophisticated dribbling and ball control, snapping off precision shots and placing beautifully timed passes with pin point accuracy.

Releasing November 8th, Cars 2: The Video Game lets you jump into the Cars 2 universe with some of your favorite Cars personalities such as Mater, Lightning McQueen, Holley Shiftwell , and the newly introduced Finn McMissile in exotic locations around the globe. You can train to become a world-class spy at the international spy academy, C.H.R.O.M.E. (Command Headquarters for Recon Operations &Motorized Espionage), take on dangerous missions, and compete to become the fastest race car in the world. Use your spy skills in exciting, action-packed combat racing and battle arenas! In addition, you can race against friends and family in either single or multiplayer modes with up to four players in AD Hoc Mode to unlock challenging new tracks, characters, events and thrilling spy missions.

For those of you who already have a PSP system, you’ll be able to jump in on the fun a week earlier as Cars 2: The Video Game will be sold separately starting November 8th for $29.99 (MSRP) on UMD and PSN.

How many of you are planning to take FIFA or Cars 2: The Video Game on the go? We would love to hear from all the PSP fans out there so be sure to share your comments below!

As PlayStation fans should already know, Need for Speed The Run is an illicit high-stakes cross-country race from San Francisco to New York. You’ll be playing as Jack, who is a marked man and his only way out is to battle other 200 racers for a sweet $25 million dollar prize.

Starting October 18th, PS3 owners can get their hands on The Run demo on the PlayStation Store! Featuring the monster Lamborghini LP550-2 Valentino Balboni and the brand-new Porsche Carrera S, the demo will let you open them up in two locations set in the US. (As a side note, don’t forget that if you live in the US, Canada or the UK, you can win the new Carrera S in real life just by logging into your EA account!)

Desert Hills will have you jockeying for position through the sweeping Nevada highways, while Independence Pass presents an entirely different challenge. An avalanche bears down on your Lambo (or Porsche) as you dice it up against an Audi R8, avoiding falling boulders and the onslaught of snow that’s right on your rear bumper. At that point it’s not so much about winning as it is surviving!

All of your times are tracked using Need For Speed’s Autolog feature, allowing you to challenge your PSN friends and beat their times.

Lastly, just by pre-ordering the game on PS3, you automatically get seven exclusive supercars to use! These aren’t just throwaway cars either. PlayStation players will get the following beasts in their garage:

• Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
• Hennessey Venom GT
• GUMPERT apollo s
• Lamborghini Countach QV5000
• Koenigsegg Agera R
• Lexus LFA
• Porsche Carrera GT

Not a bad list, eh? Download the demo on PS3 October 18th, and get the full game on November 15th!

Hey there PlayStation Land! I’m, here to tell you what to expect when NBA Jam: On Fire Edition hits PSN this Tuesday for $14.99. NBA JAM: On Fire Edition is all about three things: Value, Gameplay, and Community.

We wanted to make NBA JAM: OFE an irresistible item for PS3 owners, something all your friends are going to be playing… and, if they’re not, we want you to tell them “Get this game! You’re crazy not to!” Your $14.99 gets you a co-operative campaign against all 30 NBA teams (and some special teams too!); a competitive online mode that will give everyone a chance to be the best, every week; and a deep and persistent career system that unlocks the most teams, legends, and other swag than has ever appeared in an NBA Jam game ever before. For less than the price of a movie and a bucket of popcorn, you can get in on this without ever leaving your living room!

We’ve made over 1000 gameplay tweaks and additions to NBA Jam since you’ve last seen it. A lot of these tweaks are under the hood; uncompressed animations, changes to the shot timing, and so forth. but what you will notice right away is Tag Mode. That’s right — the way you played in the 16-bit era where you controlled both players is back! Also, by hitting R1, you can send your partner up for an alley-oop or call them to shove by hitting L1. We all know about getting three buckets in a row to catch on fire, but now hitting three alley-oops in a row will catch you on TEAM FIRE! Razzle Dazzle moves take the trash talk out of the living room and onto the court; Sit down and sink a 3, do the “Dougie,” and poke your opponent instead of shoving him. NBA Jam: OFE is the ultimate evolution of Jam gameplay. Don’t believe me? Download the upcoming demo!

We know NBA Jam is best enjoyed with buddies on the couch. But we also know that these days, it’s way harder to get all your friends together. This is why we wanted to make sure that we put as much of your friends in every possible part of the game. JamNet is, at its simplest, an integrated set of leaderboards that will constantly call out how you’re doing in your Jam Career in relation to your friends. JamNet tracks your career 3-pointers, total points, backboards smashed, and a ton of stats so you can show off to your friends and get those competitive juices flowing. When you’re playing NBA Jam: OFE, we never want you to feel like you’re alone.

With all this, how can you say no? Go get the demo on Tuesday and check it out, then get the game and call your friends. You’ll be playing with them and against them for months to come. It hits October 4th for $14.99, so get ready…

BOOMSHAKALAKA!

This is Alexey Pajitnov, creator of the world-famous Tetris game. In the past 27 years, Tetris has reached over 50 different platforms, is played in more than 185 countries worldwide and reached over 132 million paid mobile downloads. When I created the game in 1984, I never imagined the game would be so popular, and I’m so pleased to know that people around the world love Tetris.

The Tetris brand is more relevant today than ever before and has truly become a lifestyle to many of our fans. What better way to bring people together to celebrate the game, than a worldwide tournament for the ultimate Tetris champions?

Last year, we sponsored the first Tetris World Championship tournament at the Downtown Independent Theater in LA. We had over 400 of our fans attend to either participate or watch the best of the best compete for the title of Tetris World Champion.

I’m proud to announce that this year, Blue Planet Software, Inc. – the managing agent for the Tetris brand – along with EA and Techno Source will be sponsoring the 2nd annual Tetris World Championships on Sunday, October 16th. This year’s tournament will include a battle to determine the best one player and two-player team of PS3 Tetris gamers.

The event details are below – I hope you can attend!

At the Tetris World Championships on October 16th, we’ll be looking for the best PS3 Tetris players to come out and showcase their talent in a live competition at USC’s Bovard Auditorium in Los Angeles. Challengers can choose to participate in either head-to-head or two-on-two competitions of Tetris for PS3.

Admission to the event is $10 and it’s open to the public (participants must be U.S. residents age 18+), includes one qualifying attempt and admission to the theater for live championship rounds. Additional qualifying attempts are $3 each. Four unique Tetris champions will be crowned and will be awarded a cash prize, trophy and title of Tetris World Champion. All participants will also be entered to win various raffle prizes such as the award-winning tabletop game, Tetris Link and Tetris for PS3.

If you think you’ve got what it takes to be the next Tetris World Champion, head over to http://tetrischampionship.com/ for more information, and be sure to brush up on your skills with Tetris on the PlayStation Network before hitting the competition on Sunday, October 16th.