The Sly Collection, SingStar Dance and The Fight: Lights Out deliver a triple PlayStation combo this week and promises to make good use of your PlayStation Move controllers when you dance to the beat, or beat someone down until they dance. Join me in this week’s The Drop as we kick down the Pentagon doors and hunt down some zombies — I call dibs on Fidel Castro.

PlayStation 3

Call of Duty: Black Ops – Hear the call of duty once again with this seventh entry in this blockbuster first-person shooter franchise. Call of Duty: Black Ops takes you deep behind enemy lines into the world of deniable operations as a member of an elite special forces unit engaging in covert warfare, classified operations, and explosive conflicts across the globe. With access to a variety of exclusive weaponry and equipment, your actions will tip the balance during the most dangerous time period mankind has ever known.

(PS Blog Coverage: Little-Known Facts: Call of Duty: Black Ops Multiplayer)

The Sly Collection – The critically-acclaimed Sly Cooper series makes its triumphant return with The Sly Collection. This triple-pack features three PlayStation 2 action-packed classic hits (Sly Cooper and the Thievius Racconus, Sly 2: Band of Thieves and Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves) fully remastered in high definition and delivered on a single Blu-Ray Disc. The Sly Collection contains extra features and content, such as Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves in 3-D and all-new PlayStation Move mini-games that showcase the latest technology for a fun and immersive experience on the PS3 system.

(PS Blog Coverage: The Sly Collection Sneaks onto PS3 November 9th)

SingStar Dance — The newest installment in the multi-million selling franchise, SingStar Dance adds dancing to the traditional vocal gameplay for a completely fresh SingStar experience. Now can you sing along to the hottest new hits and learn how to shake and groove alongside your favorite pop stars!

(PS Blog Coverage: SingStar Dance Coming November 9th, Party Pack Details)

Monster Jam: Path of Destruction (Also on PSP) – Monster Jam 2011 is all about authenticity, personality, and fun, with 30 officially licensed Monster Jam trucks, including fan-favorites Grave Digger, Maximum Destruction, and Grinder. Players can also create and customize their own trucks with thousands of options, unlocking new parts and upgrades as they progress through the game.

Apache Air Assault — Apache: Air Assault is a modern combat flight simulation game where players control a variety of lethal Apache attack helicopters outfitted with cutting-edge military weaponry. The goal is to prevent terrorist attacks by raining down destruction from above in the world’s most volatile warzones.

PlayStation Move

The Fight: Lights Out — The Fight: Lights Out allows players to infiltrate the gritty and brutal world of underground fighting as a rugged bare-knuckle boxer. Players must brawl their way through the ranks of the world’s most dangerous fighters using PlayStation Move motion controllers and the PlayStation Eye camera to track their movements with one-to-one precision, allowing for seamless execution of every jab, uppercut and headlock.

(PS Blog Coverage: How to Fight Dirty in The Fight: Lights Out for PlayStation Move)

PlayStation Portable

Knights in the Nightmare – Not easily placed in any one genre, the game requires players to throw out everything they know about roleplaying and strategy games and embrace something altogether new and fresh. Frantic, energetic action mixes with thought-provoking tactical gameplay, all within a beautifully-rendered fantasy setting and presented through a captivating, emotional narrative.

(PS Blog Coverage: Knights in the Nightmare: Mastering Bullet Hell in a Strategy RPG)

PlayStation Network

Crescent Pale Mist — Crescent Pale Mist combines tense exploration platforming with rapid fighting and bullet-hell shoot-’em-up mechanics into one thrilling experience. You are the sorceress Yunou, the only magician capable of wielding powerful and deadly magic known as Pale Mist in Gasyukal, a beautiful and explosive dimension between worlds, rife with monstrosities.

(PS Blog Coverage: Next Week on PSN: Crescent Pale Mist)

PlayStation 2

Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Big Birthday Adventure — It’s Dora’s birthday and you know what that means … a fun-filled party with all her friends. The only problem is Dora and Boots are stuck in storybook land and must go on an exciting, magical journey if they hope to make it to the party on time. Along the way they’ll ride on a magic unicorn, bounce in a bubble over Sea Snake Lake and move to the beat in the Dancing Forest!

PlayStation minis

321… SuperCrash! — You thought you’d seen it all? Well, get ready to discover in 3, 2, 1… SuperCrash! A fun, original and extraordinarily addictive game. Run, jump and pass through walls while wrapping your arms around you to avoid messing your hair. Dodge all the obstacles that cross your path to reach the goal.

Fort Commander II: Counter Attack – This is a tower defense/strategy game in which players attempt to conquer opponents’ strongholds via brief battle sequences. From a bird’s-eye perspective, players deploy small characters on a grid to fight enemy units. Sword-clanging sounds and brief cries of pain can be heard during battles.

[Editor’s Note: The following dates are subject to change. Game details are gathered from Press Releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

Not big on dressing up with you family’s ashes for Halloween? Maybe dressing up as the adorable EyePet is a good alternative to the blood spilling and vengeance of Kratos. Grab your PSP, PSP Camera and your EyePet and take your virtual critter out to the park this week, when EyePet: Your Virtual Pet comes scratching at your door. The PlayStation horizon is filled with games this week branching from the PlayStation 3, PSone and even the PlayStation 2. Ditch the candy corn and get ready for delicious PlayStation Halloween treats in this week’s The Drop.

PlayStation 3

James Bond 007: Blood Stone – An international conspiracy has placed the UK’s most secretive bio-chemical project into deadly hands, and only Her Majesty’s most lethal agent, James Bond, can unravel the mystery. To navigate through layers of corruption, you, as Bond, will embark on a global chase that will have you battling on land, sea and air through Athens, Istanbul, Monaco, and Bangkok. Nothing is what it seems as each adventure reveals a deeper and more sinister conspiracy.

First of the North Star: Ken’s Rage – Sworn to protect the weak and innocent from malicious gangs roaming the post-apocalyptic planet, players use Ken’s trademark moves to decimate enemies on his quest to find his long-lost love. Tearing through the scorched landscape, manga and action fans will pummel their way through dozens of enemies at once and crush obstacles in their path, using them against their foes.

Megamind: Ultimate Showdown (Also on PSP) – Just as Megamind has become our new Mega Hero, a sudden crime wave hits the city. The Doom Syndicate & their Doom Goons have emerged and are looking to take over! Only Megamind and his arsenal of gadgets can stop them! Now, in three unique game play experiences, players can be the ultimate Mega Hero!

Bakugan Battle Brawlers: Defenders of the Core (Also on PSP) – In Bakugan Battle Brawlers: Defenders of the Core, players will create a new hero and lead the brawlers on an epic adventure to save Earth’s cities from Spectra and his Vexos minions.

Blood Drive – In Blood Drive, contestants must use their motorized death steeds of steel in a televised game show where drivers battle each other and hordes of revolting flesh eaters in an all-out fight to the death. Face undead frat boys, cops and strippers, each with their own special brand of death and devastation – and ways to die! While these rotting monsters wander the streets of a desert sin city craving sweet, succulent brains, your enemies have come equipped battle hardened armed vehicles, including heavily weaponized muscle cars, hot rods, and more.

Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 — The second game in this high-flying, fast-hitting, and intense versus battles series, Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 promises over 90 characters from the massively popular anime franchise. Dragon Ball Z fans can rest assured that the destructible environment, and character trademark attacks and transformations will be true to the series.

Get Fit With Mel-B — In Get Fit With Mel, the former Spice Girl will bring you real-time advice and feedback on several disciplines like dance fit, cardio, step, pump and tone and kickboxing. The game also delivers a personal nutritional program (six meals plans and 140 recipes) totally aligned to your fitness workout.

PlayStation Portable

God of War: Ghost of Sparta – Set in the realm of Greek mythology, God of War: Ghost of Sparta is a single-player game that allows players to take on the powerful role of Spartan warrior Kratos. This new adventure picks up after the first God of War concludes, telling the story of Kratos’ ascension to power as the God of War. In his quest to rid himself of the nightmares that haunt him, Kratos must embark on a journey that will reveal the origins of lost worlds, and finally answer long-awaited questions about his dark past.

(PS Blog Coverage: God of War: Ghost of Sparta “Origins” Trailer + Bonus)

EyePet: Your Virtual Pet – EyePet on the PlayStation Portable uses the functionality of the camera peripheral to bring the cute little critter into your own world. Point the camera somewhere, slap down the included card and watch it interact with you in all kinds of surroundings. Take your EyePet to the park, train him in various activities on the bus or feed him at the restaurant with your own brand of virtual food.

Ys: The Oath in Felghana — Ys: The Oath in Felghana once again follows the adventures of friends Adol and Dogi who find themselves making an unannounced visit to Dogi’s hometown of Redmont in the land of Felghana. Since his departure eight years earlier, Dogi finds himself returning home to find that things have changed dramatically, and not for the better.

Archer Maclean’s Mercury & Mercury Meltdown: 2 Games in 1 – This double-pack of games combines both hit puzzlers created by industry veteran Archer MacLean. Included are the original Mercury and Mercury Meltdown.

No Heroes Allowed! – No Heroes Allowed! is the third in the acclaimed Badman franchise, a series of dungeon strategy games where you play the God of Destruction, summoned by the Evil Overlord Badman to dig a dungeon full of monsters to destroy the invading heroes, and help Badman conquer the known world!

(PS Blog Coverage: No Heroes Allowed! Announced for PlayStation Portable)

PlayStation 2

Toy Story 3: The Video Game – Embracing the adored and inspired fun of the Toy Story franchise, Toy Story 3: The Video Game features a story mode that follows the Toy Story 3 film adventures in which Buzz, Woody and friends grapple with their uncertain future as Andy prepares to depart for college.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 – Central to the heart and soul of PES 2011 is the idea of freedom of play. This freedom invigorates the series with the most advanced set of gameplay improvements ever attempted by the Winning Eleven Production team, coupled with the greatest stride in new content.

PlayStation Network

God of War: Collection — These PlayStation 2 games are remastered and pack 60 frames-per-second action, 720p graphics, and PlayStation Network Trophy support. In God of War, players take on the role of Kratos, a Spartan warrior. Plagued by the nightmares of his past, the ash covered warrior would do anything to be free of his debt to the Gods and the memories that haunt him. In God of War II, Kratos sits atop his Olympus throne, as the new God of War – far more ruthless than Ares ever was. To end his continued torment, Kratos must journey to the far reaches of the earth and defeat untold horrors and alter that which no mortal, or god has ever changed his fate.

(PS Blog Coverage: God of War: Collection on the PlayStation Store 11/2)

Hoard – Hoard is a fast-paced action game that promises addictive, thrilling action themed around dragons and their quest for treasure. The game gives players the chance to amass giant piles of gold by raiding medieval commerce, roasting knights with fire-breath, kidnapping princesses, scaring towns, and defeating powerful wizards.

(PS Blog Coverage: Stash Your Gold – HOARD Loots PSN November 2nd)

PSone Classic

Virtual Pool 3 – Experience all physical action including friction, speed, collision, and roll to give your game of pool unmatched realism.

PlayStation minis

Breakquest – BreakQuest is a new concept break-out-style game, featuring vibrant graphics, sparkling visual effects, and funky sound. Enjoy 100 unique levels! All of them with their own colorful designs, crystal clear sound and elements behavior. Arkanoid fans must check this out. The game is specially adopted for the PSP (and PS3) wide-screen and AnalogStick for the best console experience.

[Editor’s Note: The following dates are subject to change. Game details are gathered from Press Releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

A few quick numbers: Ico earned the most mentions at six, while Grand Theft Auto III and Shadow of the Colossus tied with five mentions. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec, God of War, Okami, and Katamari Damacy were also popular picks.

Stig Asmussen Game Director, Santa Monica Studios Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – GTAIII was amazing. And with Vice City, they added a ton of new toys to boot – the game was huge! The missions made big leaps in diversity and they integrated seamlessly into the story in a way that we hadn’t seen yet. And you gotta love the 80′s flair. Resident Evil 4 – The best Resident Evil yet. The new camera perspective and controls were effective and helped to reboot the series. The game was epic but still delivered on the isolated spookiness we’ve come to know and love — The zombie showdown in the cabin is still one of my favorite gaming moments. Devil May Cry – When it came out, we called it ‘Game Developers May Cry’. The game just oozes style. I was always hoping for a 3D Castlevania worth something and this was as close as it got.

Cliff Bleszinski Design Director, Epic Games (Twitter: @therealcliffyb) Current Project: Bulletstorm, Gears of War 3, and Project Sword Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – Took the bits that worked from GTAIII and polished the heck out of them. Katamari Damacy – Made “cleaning” super fun and had some of that trademark Japanese zaniness. Silent Hill 2 – Because it’s on a similar level to the classic book/film “Solaris,” which always destroys me emotionally.

Ed Boon Creative Director, NetherRealm Studios (@noobde) Current Project: Mortal Kombat Guitar Hero – Created a new game genre. Sold millions just on “word of mouth.” Genius. God of War – More anger, personality and pure brutality than any PS2 game released before it. Grand Theft Auto III – I have to admit that I didn’t ever come close to finishing it because I simply don’t have the time. But from what I played, it was clear that something revolutionary and NEW was being invented here.

Scott Campbell Co-Founder and Co-director, Eat Sleep Play Current Project: Twisted Metal Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - Nice blend of espionage, stealth and high action-style gameplay. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec – It was fun to race my real car because it looked, handled and sounded just like the real deal. Katamari Damacy – Weird, quirky, but totally fresh and highly addictive. It was a nice break from the more traditional games.

David Cage Co-CEO, Quantic Dream Current Project: Heavy Rain: Move Edition Ico – The demonstration that games can trigger complex motions like empathy, a real sense of poetry and an unforgettable ending make this game a must still today. Rez – A really innovative idea based on the mix of images, sound and interactivity. It shows that games can become sensual (hypnotizing) experiences. Okami – Maybe the last major game on PS2, a very unique graphic style and gameplay based on drawing make for a fantastic game with a special mood and atmosphere.

Alex Evans Technical Director, Media Molecule (@LittleBigPlanet) Current Project: LittleBigPlanet 2 Burnout 3: Takedown – Because it makes you feel awesome, and they capture the sense of speed brilliantly – even if you’re rubbish at driving games like me. Ico and 3. Shadow of the Colossus – Because they are the games I wish that I had made. Their atmosphere still hasn’t been replicated or beaten in any other game. Roll on The Last Guardian!

Chet Faliszek Writer, Valve Software Current Project: Portal 2 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - This is my favorite of the series, if for no other reason than driving around town with my gang in a bus grabbing territory. SSX3 – The single mountain and DJ that introduced levels tied together some great snowboard action. Burnout 3: Takedown – Horrible car accidents can be funny, especially when playing this with a group of friends.

Nate Fox Game Director, Sucker Punch Productions (@SuckerPunchProd) Current Project: inFAMOUS 2 God of War – It’s hard to resist the game’s clarity of vision, perfect pace and elegant cameras. The people who made that game are as badass as Kratos himself. Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando – Tons of guns, dudes to blow up, diverse worlds to visit… and a HUGE mid-game ice world that shattered their standard formula. Fantastic. Grand Theft Auto III – Allowed me to legally vent my backlog of sociopathic impulses. The star wanted levels are a game unto themselves.

Tasha Harris Project Lead, Double Fine Productions (@tashascomic) Current Project: Costume Quest Okami – Unique, inspiring art and fun game mechanics with the brush. Just an epic game, and so well crafted all around. Frequency – The Harmonix rhythm game that was a precursor to Guitar Hero and Rock Band. So addictive, with great style and tracklist. I also loved the sequel, Amplitude. Final Fantasy XI – Its hardcore difficulty was sometimes frustrating, but this highly polished MMORPG did a lot of innovative and fun things with its combat and class systems.

Todd Howard Game Director, Bethesda Game Studios (@BethBlog) Grand Theft Auto III – The mark of a truly great game is how many people try to recapture or emulate it and fail. There’s a long line behind this one. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec – I think this game put the PS2 on the map for delivering really “next-gen” graphics that felt like a massive jump from before. And if you loved cars, this was the game to have: huge and deep, but easy to play. SSX – The best game of the PS2 launch. Why on earth do we not have another one of these for the current generation!?

Hermen Hulst Co-founder and Managing Director, Guerrilla Games Current Project: Killzone 3 God of War – Ahead of its time in terms of epic feel, fluidity of the experience and smoothness of the graphics. Ico – Wonderful audiovisual design combines with carefully crafted puzzles to deliver an experience that will evoke emotion in any player. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The sheer amount of different gameplay elements from stealthy burglary missions to gang warfare, and all in a coherent experience.

David Jaffe Co-Founder and Co-director, Eat Sleep Play (@davidscottjaffe) Current Project: Twisted Metal Ico - Moody, emotional, and just an overall fantastic adventure. People go on and on about the artistry of this game but many forget what a great GAME-Y GAME it was: great puzzles, fun exploration, and a great, hook-y ‘protect the girl’ core mechanic make this one of my top 10 games of all time. Devil May Cry – Stylish, fun, and super cool. I’ll never forget playing this at E3 and being like, “Holy Cow! The bar has been raised crazy high and I don’t think we’ll ever be able to touch these guys!” Way of the Samurai – Core game needed polish but I loved the multiple story based outcomes to my actions. It felt like I really was living the story. In so many ways, the interactive storytelling that this game brought to the medium has still not been surpassed. A total lost gem.

Ken Levine Creative Director, Irrational Games (@IGLevine) Current Project: BioShock Infinite Dark Cloud 2 - It’s Diablo meets Sim City meets Tiger Woods Golf meets Pokemon. If you can only afford one game in your life, this might be the one to pick up. Mercenaries – Hijack a tank and take down a statue of the Dear Leader. Hey, you got something better to do with a Saturday afternoon? Culdcept - A love child of Magic the Gathering and Monopoly. Don’t believe me? The joke’s on you, pal, because it’s TRUE!

Steve Papoutsis Executive Producer, Visceral Games (@leveluptime) Current Project: Dead Space 2 Okami – Awesome art style, innovative use of analog sticks, and the wolf-based main character was kick ass. Persona 3 – Deep systems, a freaky story, and a very innovative friend system. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King – Awesome hack ‘n slash with one of the best stories ever. Plus, it had online co-op way before anyone else. Best movie adaptation ever!

Ted Price Founder and CEO, Insomniac Games (@InsomniacGames) Current Project: Resistance 3, Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One SSX – Brilliant combo system, fantastic depth, incredibly addictive. It’s the only PS2 sports title I owned because it didn’t feel like a sports game. Guitar Hero – The game that kick-started a genre, and probably inspired more people to start learning “real” guitar than Hendrix did. Gran Turismo 4 – Everything about this game was highly, highly polished. And you didn’t have to be a racing sim fanatic to get sucked in. I still don’t understand how they pulled off the graphics they did.

Tim Schafer President and CEO, Double Fine Productions (@TimofLegend) Current Project: Costume Quest Katamari Damacy – This game takes me into a crazy world that I never want to leave. Growing from the size of a mouse to the size of a planet is incredibly satisfying to me. Okami - Running through a beautiful hand-painted landscape, clearing out the evil spirits, dropping the brown rage from time to time… that’s living. We ♥ Katamari - Yeah, that’s right. TWO Katamari games. What, you say? That’s not fair? Well, too bad. I loved them both.

Warren Spector Creative Director, Disney Interactive Studios Current Project: Epic Mickey Ico – For one thing, the vistas and screens it offers are gorgeous. And all that gorgeousness offers a window into a world that feels more real than almost any other in gaming history. You can FEEL the history, the depth of this world in a way no other game can match.* Ratchet & Clank – I’ve always found the Ratchet and Clank series oddly inspirational….I think what I love about them is the way they defy genre definitions. They feature RPG-ish character development and action-adventure story and puzzle-solving…These games are fun to play, witty to watch and just fine entertainment. Grand Theft Auto III – I’m a huge believer in the idea that games should be vehicles (pardon the pun) for player expression. The groundbreaking, open world, freeform, sandbox gameplay of GTA takes that idea – that games are about the PLAYER’S creativity as much as, or more than the designer’s creativity – to ridiculous heights. *Note: These are excerpts of Warren’s full responses, which you can read at the bottom of this post. Please do: As always, Warren is brimming with passion and insight into the art of great game making.

Evan Wells Co-President, Naughty Dog (@naughty_dog) Fatal Frame 2 – By far, the scariest game I’ve ever played.  I actually had to put the controller down on multiple occasions because I was too scared to keep going. Ico – While I’m sure this won’t be a very original answer, I have to put Ico in my top 3.  It was an amazing experience start to finish and one that still is relevant almost 10 years later. Resident Evil 4 – This game has everything and influenced many games that came after it, including the games we make at Naughty Dog.

Tim Willits Creative Director, id Software Current Project: Rage Shadow of the Colossus – Taught players and developers that there is more to fighting a boss than firing rockets into them. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty – The defining example of what a PS2 game should be: cinematics, story, action, and setting made this game near perfect. Silent Hill 2 – The scariest game on the PS2. Great story, setting, and creepy action.

Press & Community

Dan “Shoe” Hsu Co-Founder and Editor, Bitmob.com (@bitmobshoe) Shadow of the Colossus - A dreamy (did I really play this game?), epic adventure that elicits fear, wonderment, and hope. A one-of-a-kind experience. Grand Theft Auto III - All those GTA clones over the years? They’re actually GTAIII clones. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 – Perfect arcade controls and clever, nutty levels provide for plenty of addicting grabbing, flipping, and grinding.

Ben Kuchera Gaming Editor, Ars Technica (@benkuchera) Gitaroo Man – To this day one of my favorite rhythm games, and the mechanic of button-presses plus analog direction control has never been replicated. Great music, great aesthetics, and it includes a boss named BEN K. There is no downside. Shadow of the Colossus – Everyone is going to say this, so I considered leaving it off just to be different, but that’s silly. This is an obvious answer because the game really is that good. This is the first game that popped into my mind when asked to create a list of the best PlayStation 2 games. Bully - It kills me how often people talk about Rockstar Games without bringing up Bully. Taking the Grand Theft Auto-style play out of the streets and bringing it to a private school was genius, and the voice acting and writing were top-notch. A surprising, amazing game.

	Greg Miller Executive Editor, IGN.com (@GameOverGreggy) Metal Gear Solid 2 – The story got off the rails, but the gameplay was insane. I spent the better part of my Mizzou freshman year collecting every dog tag. GrimGrimoire – The RTS is beautiful and quirky again. Spider-Man 2 – A free-roaming NYC? It was so good I traded it in and bought it back a month later.

Gary Steinman Editor in Chief, PlayStation: The Official Magazine (@tinymanrages) Ico – Not just a great PS2 game, but perhaps the greatest game of all time. Story that unfolds via the action, puzzles that all make perfect sense within the environment, and a subtle soundtrack with melodic snippets that still haunt me. Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy – Later iterations were more ambitious, but the first game stands out as the best pure 3D platformer on PS2. This is one that deserves an HD remake. Final Fantasy X – Best battle system in a proper Final Fantasy release, and the second-best cast of characters (behind PSone’s Final Fantasy IX). Tough call, though, since I also adored the absurdly playful FFX-2.

Ricardo Torres Editor in Chief, GameSpot Dark Cloud 2 – Level 5′s deep sequel to the original Dark Cloud improved on the original in every way. The weapon crafting system was incredibly addictive and let you “Macgyver” yourself just about anything you needed.. Monster Rancher 3 – Tecmo’s continuation of its cult hit bumped up the visuals and monster count, ensuring you’d be trying every disc in your house to get yourself a new battle ready critter. Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando – Insomniac’s Mario-caliber platforming series hit a high note on the PlayStation 2 with improved gameplay, more minigames and spherical worlds

Sid Shuman Senior Social Media Specialist, PlayStation (@sidshuman) Shadow of the Colossus – Final proof that games can have the emotional impact of literature and film. Future generations of game designers will cite this as a key inspiration. The Thing – This shudder-inducing shooter preys on your paranoia, making you question the motives of every member in your fragile team. Outstanding mood and atmosphere. Resident Evil 4 – Innovated hugely by introducing the now-standard over-the-shoulder camera and shooting interface. More important, it’s an absolute blast to play. Don’t miss Mercenaries!

Rey Gutierrez Senior Social Media Specialist, PlayStation (@r3yguti3rr3z) Rez – Take that Dreamcast! Simple geometry flying at you in a rail shooter, with a killer soundtrack to boot. Sold. It’s like a peanut butter jelly sandwich made love to an oreo cookie. God of War II – The original is an instant classic, but the sequel took it to the next level. Its only flaw was that I wanted more. Zeus! Ares! Athena! Devil May Cry – DMC is God of War’s rebellious punk step-brother. Fast, fun and obnoxious.

Jeff Rubenstein Social Media Manager, PlayStation (@jeffrubenstein) Gran Turismo 3: A Spec – this is the reason I bought a PS2 back in the summer of 2001. I kitted out my favorite car at the time, the Lancer Evolution VI, and raced through most of the game with it over the course of a whole summer. Grand Theft Auto Vice City – I was so enamored with the style, music, and overall feel of Vice City (didn’t hurt that I was living in Florida at the time) that I themed out an entire awards banquet that I had to produce with a Vice City motif… which was wildly inappropriate. Also: Flock of Seagulls “I Ran.” Shadow of the Colossus – I tried to restrict myself to only fighting one colossus per day, but I caved and fought the last two in a row – I just had to see the ending (which still haunts me to this day). Oh, and since it’s our Blog, I’m going to cheat: 4. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King 5. Hot Shots Golf 3 6. God of War II 7. Okami 8. Final Fantasy X 9.Guitar Hero 10. Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence

*Appendix: Warren Spector’s Full Comments

1. Ico – I don’t typically like puzzle-oriented adventure games. You know – games where your primary goal is to read the designer’s mind and solve his or her fiendishly complicated environmental puzzles just so you can see the next screen, the next amazing vista, maybe a bit of combat. And Ico is very much that sort of game. Yet I love it. LOVE it. For one thing, the vistas and screens it offers are gorgeous. Not PS2 gorgeous – just plain, unqualifiedly gorgeous. And all that gorgeousness offers a window into a world that feels more real than almost any other in gaming history. You can FEEL the history, the depth of this world in a way no other game can match. But pretty pictures and puzzles do not a great game make. Story helps in that regard. But, really, the story Ico tells is nearly incomprehensible. It’s good enough not to detract from the experience but that’s about it.

So what is it that makes Ico great? It’s the characters, and, more importantly, their relationship to one another. And even MORE important than that is the relationship the PLAYER has with those characters – the boy in the horned helm you play and the girl that boy has to protect. The first time your character holds hands with that girl who needs protecting, you feel something never before felt in a game. It’s an almost indescribable feeling born of the power of touching, even virtually, another person. The fact that the girl is weak and slow, the fact that you have to wait for her, putting yourself in peril?… That’s design genius, friends. And then, toward the end when there’s a magic moment of role reversal? That’s when I knew I’d played one of the best games I would ever play. If you haven’t played it do so. Now. It takes, like six hours to get through, so no excuses. Beg, borrow or steal a copy and get ready to FEEL something as you play – and that’s a statement that can’t be made about many games, sadly.

2. Ratchet & Clank – I’ve always found the Ratchet & Clank series oddly inspirational. I don’t typically make games like them and don’t really love playing them as a rule. They’re action adventures, mostly, I guess. But I think what I love about them is the way they defy genre definitions. They feature RPG-ish character development and action-adventure story and puzzle-solving. Plus there’s some platforming. (If that sounds a little like Disney Epic Mickey, that’s no accident.) And beyond gameplay, the character designs of Ratchet, Clank and the rest of the cast are on par with anything Hollywood has ever put on the silver screen. The list of good things goes on: The writing, animation and cinematics work are all first rate. These games are fun to play, witty to watch and just fine entertainment. Now, for my money, the series has gone from good to even better with each installment. But the core goodness was all there in the PS2 entry in the series. I’ve been more influenced by these games than I like to admit. Gotta have a place on my list.

3. Grand Theft Auto III – I’ve gone on record – somewhat foolishly, I admit – as being annoyed with the GTA games. But I’ve always tried to be clear that while the CONTENT makes me feel this way, I’m in awe of the DESIGN thinking behind GTA. And I’ll be damned if the level of execution doesn’t match the conceptual brilliance. I’m a huge believer in the idea that games should be vehicles (pardon the pun) for player expression. The groundbreaking, open world, freeform, sandbox gameplay of GTA (with a story thrown in for good measure) takes that idea – that games are about the PLAYER’S creativity as much as, or more than the designer’s creativity – to ridiculous heights. I still don’t quite get how Rockstar pulled this off on a PS2!

Available nationwide at participating retailers for $99 (MSRP), this new bundle combines the PS2 system with Toy Story 3: The Video Game, which lets players help Buzz, Woody and the rest of the Toys ensure no toy gets left behind.

Nearly 10 years since it first launched, the PS2 continues to be a force in gaming and to date is in more than 146 million homes worldwide. At $99, the PS2 provides great entertainment value for new gamers and families with its built-in DVD player and a deep library of more than 2,000 games. Be sure to mark your calendars for October 31 and enjoy!

Originally released on the PSP in 2007, we were very pleased that game critics and press recognized all the hard work the team put into the game, honoring it with some of the game industry’s most prestigious awards, including PSP Game of the Year from IGN: It was also #6 on IGN’s top 25 PSP games of all time.

Coming just a couple of years after our first PSP game, award winning Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror, our goal was to create another great chapter in the saga of Gabe Logan, blowing out both the game play and production values to create a state-of-the-art Syphon Filter experience. We got Azam Ali to write an amazing soundtrack, Syphon’s first theme song with lyrics and vocals. Azam’s haunting score is a large part of why this game is one of my personal favorites.

We got Greg Rucka to write the story: Greg’s written many novels and graphic novels, including two series of novels he wrote called Queen and Country and Atticus Kodiak. Greg liked the idea of playing with the notion of who Gabe’s “shadow” might be and he came up with the idea that Lian Xing, Gabe’s long-time partner, might have a past that’s catching up with her. Suddenly she disappears. Evidence piles up that she’s a double agent. I can’t say too much more without giving the plot away, but Greg brought a lot to the Syphon experience. You can read more about our collaboration here.

While the story, music and game play all translated perfectly to the PS2, we’ve made some important tweaks to the controller to please PS2 players. Taking advantage of the extra buttons on the DualShock 2, we’ve added a snap button to make getting in and out of cover easier; we’ve added “swing out and aim” to L1 to make fighting from combat more intuitive and of course, we’ve completely re-tuned the game for the extra analog stick. We’ve also up-rezed textures and effects to take advantage of the unique features of the PS2 hardware. So fans of the PSP game might want to re-experience Gabe’s adventure on the big screen with new controls, and those who have never played it have a treat in store for them.

Also, keep an eye out this summer for the first-ever Syphon Filter digital graphic novel.

Over 120 pages long, Syphon Filter: The Opposition Effect is a story that bridges Dark Mirror and Logan’s Shadow, explaining what happens between the two games: Gabe’s hatred of Ghassan al Bitar, his troubled background with Robert Cordell, and more of his history with the irrepressible Dane Bishop. You even find out what happened to Cobra, the neglected rookie agent who worked for Gabe in The Omega Strain. Be sure to look for it on the PlayStation Store this summer!

For those of you who may have missed Coachella last week, we’re happy to announce that a ‘What’s Hot’ list is now up in the SingStore featuring tracks by artists that played the festival. Check out the full list below.

‘What’s Hot’ Coachella Festival Tracklist:

• Vampire Weekend, “A Punk”
• The Specials, “Ghost Town”
• Gossip, “Standing In The Way Of Control”
• Hot Chip, “Over And Over”
• Faith No More, “Easy”
• MGMT, “Electric Feel”
• Gary Numan, “Cars”
• Coheed and Cambria, “A Favor House Atlantic”
• Phoenix, “Everything Is Everything”
• Gorillaz, “Feel Good, Inc.”

In addition to the ‘What’s Hot’ list, seven new songs will be added to the SingStore this Thursday. Here’s a highlight of songs that will go live in this week’s update:

• Alice Cooper, “School’s Out”
• Coldplay, “Viva La Vida”
• Dido, “White Flag”
• Peggy Lee, “Fever”

Enjoy!

The Show is all about bringing all the big moments in baseball to life, and the pre-order program is something we are really excited about. Pre-order the PS3 version of MLB 10: The Show at any of these retailers — Amazon, Best Buy, Game Crazy or GameStop — and get a “6-Pack” of Classic Stadiums at no additional charge. These stadiums are some of the most famous in Major League Baseball history, so the team down in San Diego has spent a great deal of time making sure each stadium is to exact specifications. So when the game launches on March 2, punch in the voucher code on your PS3 and you’ll be able to play on the same fields as some of the all-time greats.

*Stadium Pack not available for PS2 or PSP systems. (follow the links to pre-order the PS2 or PSP versions)

Shibe Park – When it opened April 12, 1909 in Philadelphia, it became the first steel-and-concrete stadium in Major League Baseball history.

Forbes Field – Opened in 1909, it was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and was witness to a World Series-winning 9th inning homerun in 1960.

Polo Grounds – Opened in 1890, it was known for its extremely deep center field (483 ft) and unique bathtub shape. The “Shot Heard Around the World” homerun was hit here.

Crosley Field – Was a Major League ballpark located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was the home field of the National League Cincinnati Reds from 1912 through June 24, 1970.

Sportsman’s Park – Was built in St. Louis in 1902. Left-handed power hitters loved hitting here, including a Hall of Famer who hit two epic homeruns on consecutive days, shattering the same window in the car dealership across the street twice!

Griffith Stadium – Stood in Washington, D.C. from 1911 to 1965. Not only was it was over 400 feet down the left field line, the outfield took an unusual right-angled jut into center field due to the unwillingness of nearby houses to sell to the ballclub during construction of the stadium.

With SingStar Viewer, you can browse and purchase songs from the SingStore, as well as watch, rate and review uploaded video clips, photos and profiles in the MySingStarOnline community – all without having to load a SingStar disc in your PS3.

Anyone with a PSN account will be able to download SingStar Viewer for free from the PlayStation Store and see what’s going on in the SingStar community and SingStore. Once downloaded, SingStar Viewer will sit on your XMB under the ‘Games’ category for quick access to the online community. If you’re already a SingStar owner and member of MySingStarOnline, then you can purchase from SingStore, rate video clips and leave comments for other players and interact with the SingStar community.

If you’re new to SingStar on PS3, then you can browse the SingStore and view community videos etc. (just not rate / review them). Take a look at the video to see SingStar Viewer in action, courtesy of the PlayStation.Blog.Europe:

It may be December, but the MLB off season is beginning to heat up. Roy Halladay to the Phillies, Cliff Lee to Mariners, and John Lackey to the Red Sox has made for quite a week. However, I’m proud to report that the biggest news to come out during the current winter meetings is not from an All-Star hurler changing addresses, but from the industry’s #1 baseball franchise, MLB The Show. It is my pleasure to announce that the recently crowned 2009 American League Most Valuable Player and catcher for the Minnesota Twins, Joe Mauer will be the cover athlete for the latest installment of the series, MLB 10 The Show! We’re absolutely thrilled to partner with a player of Joe’s caliber— a true professional on and off the field. Just to give you all a sense of how good this guy is here are some credentials—2-time Gold Glove winner, 3-time Silver Slugger, 3-time American League batting champion, and now AL MVP…all before his 27th birthday. Put it another way, he is not only redefining the way the catcher position is played, he’s redefining what the complete ball player should be.

Here is the first look at Joe Mauer in the upcoming MLB 10 The Show:

For a rundown of new features in MLB 10, we have some required reading for you. Take a look at Jon Robinson’s first impressions of the game, hot off the press. Jon spent the day at our studio earlier this week to check in with the team and get an inside look at the development process for this year.

MLB 10 The Show is the first baseball game cover for Mauer, who will be following up a former AL MVP, Dustin Pedroia, who graced the cover last year. Slated for March 2010 (just in time for Spring Training) for PS3, PSP, PSPgo and PS2, The Show will once again push the limits of authenticity, dropping fans into the most true-to-life baseball experience coupled with incredible detail that won’t be found in any other game, including all the big moments that makes baseball America’s favorite pastime. This year fans can also expect some great new features including: Home Run Derby, Catcher Mode (play as the field general just like Joe Mauer), new pitching and fielding practice/training modes in Road to The Show, user controlled pick-offs, Movie Maker feature (make your own highlight reel), daytime transitional lighting, 11 new stadiums, improved online experience, and much more. We’ll be giving a deep dive on all of the new features very soon, so stay tuned for more news on The Show as we move closer to Opening Day!

I’d like to share with you some good news about today’s shiny new SingStar Holiday update to version 4.30.

Firstly, and most importantly, this update fixes the missing songs (although you will have to re-download those that are missing), problems with videos and other issues a number of you found with the previous version update. We want to thank all of you for being so patient while these problems were being fixed and tested thoroughly. Hopefully, once you’ve updated, you’ll find everything back to normal : )

Well, not quite normal actually. There are a number of cool new features also added in this holiday update for you to try out too!

Here’s a quick rundown:

SingStore:

• What’s Hot? – Now you can see Top 10s on the SingStore – our hottest content from current Top 10 downloads to top festive tunes.
• Quick Buy – Watching a media clip of someone singing a song you really like and want to add it to your collection? Now you can go and view it directly in the SingStore with the press of a button!
• SingStore On Demand – You can preview and purchase SingStore songs available directly from the Song Selection screen in the game. Just press the Square button and you can view the whole SingStore catalog while playing.
• Previously Purchased Content – If you’re in SingStore, you can instantly see which songs you’ve bought before.
• Download all purchased songs option – In the SingStore, you can now download all the tracks you’ve purchased before quickly and easily. Just go to ‘Purchase History’ and select from there.

My SingStar Online:

• My Favorite Media – This feature allows you to bookmark your favorite media clips in the community in your profile, so you can quickly watch them again and again.
• Clubs – You can transfer leadership of a club to another person.

Gameplay:

• Cartoon Interface – This gives child-friendly in-game feedback and end-of-song rankings.
• XMB User Player Profiles – When adding player names into your new game, you can now select from names stored on XMB (i.e. login profiles).

Phew, that’s it!

Last, but not least, congrats to the SingStar team as the franchise has now reached over 20 million copies sold worldwide!

Let me know your comments below on the update and more – I’ll answer what I can : )