Citizens of Austin, Texas! Join PlayStation and several hundred community members on Monday, March 12th at SXSW and enjoy an evening of entertainment with the latest PS3 and PS Vita games.

For the first time ever, we’re letting the PlayStation community get their hands-on PS Vita’s fresh crop of upcoming games: sci-fi shooter Resistance: Burning Skies, musical platformer Sound Shapes, and the mind-bending Gravity Rush. Come extra early, and you’ll walk away with a free copy of Unit 13 and limited edition PS Vita and StarHawk t-shirts (while supplies last). LightBox Interactive will also be on-hand with a rowdy Starhawk tournament, where you’ll be able to win a PS3, a copy of Warhawk, a PlayStation Wireless Stereo Headset…and a copy of Starhawk.

Hit up the PlayStation Facebook link and RSVP right away!

When and Where?

Monday, March 12th, 2012 from 5pm -8pm
The Sony Lounge at RED 7 (you might recognize it as a previous Vita Hill Social Club)
611 E. 7th St., Austin, TX 78701

PS Vita: Community Hands-On Play

Sound Shapes
Unit 13
MLB 12 The Show w/ PS3 Cross Play
wipEout 2048 w/ PS3 Cross Play
Resistance: Burning Skies
Gravity Rush

Be the First!

First 150 guests: Limited-edition PS Vita and Starhawk t-shirts
First 50 guests w/ a PS Vita: Free Copy of Unit 13 (after Foursquare check-in)

PlayStation Community Activities

PlayStation 3: Starhawk Tournament
PS Vita: Unit 13 Tournament
Raffles: PS Vita Game Cards

Starhawk Tournament Grand Prize Winners

Starhawk Winner: PS3 with Warhawk, Starhawk, and Wireless Stereo Headset
Unit 13 Winner: PS Vita (3G) w/ PS Vita Game Cards & Memory Card

RSVP now!

It’s a week of Major Leaguers in all fields of gaming, and Only On PlayStation. Use the precision of dual-analog controls and unique touch gameplay on PS Vita in Unit 13. Take the MLB experience on the road, or swing for the fences with the PlayStation Move when MLB 12: The Show slides into the PS Vita and PS3.

PlayStation Vita

Unit 13 (Also on PSN) – Unit 13 is designed for fast action, hard-hitting, third-person shooter gameplay with dual-analog precision and unique touch gameplay on the PlayStation Vita. Players to move quickly into action, choosing from one of six Operatives with unique abilities to tackle 36 action-packed missions across nine unique locales. As you make your way through the variety of missions, you unlock the right to take on the tougher High Value Target (HVT) enemy battles.

MLB 12 The Show (Also on PS3/PSN) – Boston Red Sox All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez graces the cover of the 2012 entry in Sony Computer Entertainment’s acclaimed baseball franchise. With releases on both PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita, players are able to take the same big league baseball experience on the road with them, anytime, anywhere.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 (Also on PSN) – LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 builds upon the magical gameplay, lessons and potion-making skills learned in LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 to equip gamers with the tools necessary to challenge a host of new foes and some familiar ones. The game is action-packed from start to finish, including loads of new lessons, spells, and bonus content for hours of family friendly gaming.

PlayStation 3

Mass Effect 3 – In Mass Effect 3, an ancient alien race known only as Reapers, has launched an all-out invasion of the galaxy, leaving nothing but a trail of destruction in their wake. Earth has been taken, the galaxy is on the verge of total annihilation, and you are the only one who can stop them. The price of failure is extinction. You, as Commander Shepard, must lead the counter assault to take it back. Only you can determine how events will play out, which planets you will save from annihilation and which alliances you will form or abandon as you rally the forces of the galaxy to eliminate the Reaper threat once and for all.

Battle with your comrades or even your own friends in this all-out galactic war to take Earth back. With co-op online multiplayer missions new to the Mass Effect universe , you can choose from a variety of classes and races, form an elite Special Forces squad, and combine weapons, powers and abilities to devastating effect as you all fight together to liberate key territories from enemy control in this third entry of the epic intergalactic RPG franchise.

Street Fighter X Tekken – Street Fighter x Tekken makes history as fighters from these two bastions of the fighting genre come together for the very first time. Utilizing the same 2D viewpoint and technology that powered Street Fighter IV, this game allows for Tekken characters such as Kazuya Mishima and Nina Williams to make the transition into the Street Fighter universe having been re-imagined using Capcom’s much-loved art style. Their looks may be different, but these characters have retained their own unique characteristics and signature moves as they go head-to-head with classic brawlers from the Street Fighter franchise in what promises to be an explosive match up.

MLB 12: The Show (PS Move Compatible / Also on PS Vita) – Boston Red Sox All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez graces the cover of the 2012 entry in Sony Computer Entertainment’s acclaimed baseball franchise. With releases on both PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita, players are able to take the same big league baseball experience on the road with them, anytime, anywhere.

Major League Baseball 2K12 – Swing for the fences with the 2012/2013 edition of 2K Sports’ acclaimed baseball franchise.

Blades of Time – Gunswords, booty (of the gold and jewels kind!) and a cute outfit? All in a day’s work. Play as the gorgeous gunsword-wielding treasure hunter Ayumi as she carves a path of destruction through a mysterious and dangerous island in Blades of Time. While rich with bounty, the island is also caught in the throes of Chaos magic. Ayumi soon discovers that it is also the home of thousands of long-held secrets, including special powers and abilities that she can gain for herself. Using everything she can, she must find a way to defeat armies of menacing villains and a multitude of treacherous traps in order to break free of the possessed island’s grasp.

Top Gun: Hard Lock – An aerial dog-fighting at jet speeds and tailgating MiGs at Mach 2, while offering a unique “Hard Lock” mode where players perform air combat maneuvers that deliver an explosively satisfying visual payoff that brings them right into the action. Featuring the legendary F-14 Tomcat fighter jet and a number of additional licensed planes and weapons, and more than enough enemy MIGs to turn into smoldering rubble, the game is carefully mixed with just enough nostalgic references to remain true to its action movie roots.

PlayStation Network

MotorStorm RC (Also for PS Vita) – High-speed radio-controlled car racing hits the MotorStorm circuit in MotorStorm RC! With visually stunning renditions of all four MotorStorm worlds (and eight of their vehicle classes,) this RC racing game comes loaded with endless competition that you can share with friends and rivals worldwide — whether that’s on PS3 or PS Vita, or both!

Start the Party: Save the World (PS Move Compatible) – Step into an animated augmented virtual reality in this second chapter of the Start The Party franchise for PlayStation Move players!

Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X 2 – Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. 2 plunges fans into an explosive environment where they can become elite aerial soldiers in control of the world’s most technologically advanced aircraft. The game will appeal to a wide array of gamers as players will have the chance to control exceptional pilots trained to use cutting edge technology in amazing aerial warfare missions.

Major League Baseball 2K12 (For PSP) – Swing for the fences with the 2012/2013 edition of 2K Sports’ acclaimed baseball franchise.

PS3 Demos

• MotorStorm RC
• Start the Party: Save the World
• Hustle Kings
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13

[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.]

The most talked about demo on PSN finally arrives in its full glory and with exclusive access to Mount Fuji, when SSX returns and performs a “front-side switch ollie” onto your PS3.

The unique multiplayer experience of Killzone 3, sheds the single-player campaign and arrives solo onto the PlayStation Store. PS Vita demos come in fours this week, with Touch My Katamari and Reality Fighters leading the pack. And PlayStation 2 classics brings Primal to PSN.

Enjoy this week’s The Drop.

PlayStation 3

SSX – Redefining the franchise, SSX pits riders against both mountain and man. Players explore the story of a team who seek to be the first to descend the faces of the most treacherous mountain ranges on the planet. The team travels the world to face the worst that Mother Nature can throw at them. From the peaks of the Himalayas, where the air is so thin that riders have to descend through the death zone at breakneck speeds to keep from blacking out, to the solid ice ranges of Antarctica, where a sunlit line is the only survival option when temperatures drop 50 degrees centigrade in the shade. And the mountain isn’t the only danger players will face. In SSX the first goal is to survive. The second, in true SSX fashion, is to look good doing it.

Binary Domain – Binary Domain puts players in the middle of a fast paced and intense battle for humanity in a robot-invaded 2080 Tokyo. Fighting through the derelict lower levels of the city, players control an international peace-keeping squad that soon starts to question their surroundings and the choices they make. Are the robots becoming more human, or are humans becoming more like machines?

Hyperdimension Neptunia Mk-II – Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2 is a sequel to Hyperdimension Neptunia and contains brand new main characters, as well as returning characters, and the gameplay has been updated so as to remove the random encounter feature. New maps and a brand new world feature as well, and the cut scenes have been upgraded to 3D from the old 2D visual novel style cut scenes.

Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition – After centuries of Mortal Kombat, Emperor Shao Kahn has finally defeated Raiden and his allies. Faced with extinction, Raiden has one last chance to save Earthrealm. To undo the Emperor’s victory, he must strike Shao Kahn where he is vulnerable…the Past. The pumped-up Komplete Edition of this blockbuster fighter includes a variety of add-on packs, including four additional characters and 15 bonus character skins.

PlayStation Network

Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest (Full PS3 Digital / PS Move Support) – From the same team that brought you Sports Champions, one of the best selling Move titles, Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest is a fantasy, action adventure game that is played with PlayStation Move that uses a unique set of motion control functionality, allowing players to seamlessly transition between throwing projectiles, sword fighting and archery for an intuitive and immersive gameplay experience.

Killzone 3: Multiplayer – In the wake of Visari’s death, Helghan has devolved into a world of political scheming, rapid infighting, and murder. Now, the two most powerful men on Helghan are fighting for complete and utter dominance while Visari’s vision of Helghan is in jeopardy. With limited supplies and no re-enforcements, the ISA must now fight not to win a war, but to survive a lost one.

Storm – This is a puzzle game in which players grow seeds into trees by guiding them through nature-themed levels. Players can use wind, lightning, and rain to transport seeds past obstacles while reaching various checkpoints.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Full PS3 Digital) – To save his life, the fundamental choice of whether or not to become augmented with cybernetics has been removed from Adam Jensen’s life. Driven by the conviction of never having a choice taken from him again and using his newfound power, his need for answers will unravel the truth behind a conspiracy rooted in the foundation of the world around him as it incites a new revolution.

PS3 Demos

• Major League Baseball 2K12
• Top Gun: Gunlock
• FIFA Street
• The Simpsons: Arcade Game

PS Vita Demos

• Touch My Katamari
• Dynasty Warriors Next
• ModNation Racers: Road Trip
• Reality Fighters

minis

• Ducati Challenge
• Trailblazer

PlayStation 2 Classics

Primal – Primal lies in a dark, fantastical realm between the mortal world and the afterlife, where an eternal struggle between order and chaos rages. Abaddon (Chaos) has tired of his personal conflict with Arella (Order) and is breaking the rules. It’s up to you, as half-demon Jennifer Tate, to team up with Scree the Living Gargoyle to bring Abaddon down and set things right again. Boasting state-of-the-art motion captured animation, advanced AI routines, and integrated cutscenes, Primal offers players four diverse realms and four unique demon forms to toy with. The ability to switch between Screen and Jen on the fly should prove invaluable for solving puzzles and the dynamic loading technology keeps disc access to a minimum.

[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.]

PlayStation Vita is only days away from arriving in North America, and we’re continuing the celebration with another phenomenal week of releases on The Drop.

The quirky and addictive worlds of Plants vs Zombies and Touch My Katamari roll onto the PS Vita. On PS3, we are introduced to the science-fiction worlds of Asura’s Wrath and Syndicate. PSN brings demos to one of the most anticipated games on PS Vita with Unit 13 and SSX for the PlayStation 3.

New York City, are you ready? I’ll be in the big Apple with Jeff this week, ushering in PS Vita to the gaming world this Tuesday night at 550 Madison in Midtown New York, see you at 8PM!

Enjoy this week’s The Drop!

PlayStation Vita

Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen (PSN/Game Card) – Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen raises the bar over the original with even more stylish ninja action, new gameplay features, intuitive touch controls and a thrilling dynamic storyline. Players will scale sheer walls, leap across roof tops, sneak up silently on their prey, and expertly dispatch enemy after enemy with their razor-sharp blade. New gameplay features include Assassination, which lets players make silent and satisfying kills more easily. Throughout the game, players will hone their skills to execute numerous different attacks and finish their enemies in elegant style, while the game controls will make full and intuitive use of the touch screen capabilities of PlayStation Vita.

Plants vs Zombies – Help! The zombies have invaded! And don’t look now, but they’re coming for you next! You’ll need to think fast and plant faster to fend off this mob of helmet-clad, pole-vaulting zombies.

Hustle Kings (Demo Available) – Rack ‘em up and hustle your way to the top of the leaderboards with Hustle Kings. Set in contemporary and stylish pool bars, the Hustle Kings game allows players to hone in on their billiards skills in one of the most realistic looking billiards settings ever realized.

Touch My Katamari – Roll up some fun with this portable entry in the beloved Katamari Damacy franchise. In Touch My Katamari, the ever-growing ball of bits and bobs is controlled by touching the screen or using both analog control sticks to roll it in any direction. A completely new Katamari gameplay feature allows players to use the rear touch panel of the PlayStation Vita system to stretch the ball either horizontally or vertically to pick up more objects at once or squeeze through a narrow gap. With many more details yet to be revealed, the Prince is already limbering up in the wings to bring a dose of irresistible Katamari oddness to the PS Vita.

Ben 10 Galactic Racing – The first kart racing game set in the popular BEN 10 universe and based on the hit Cartoon Network TV series features Ben and his alien friends competing in an over-the-top, galactic grand prix race through a variety of tracks on five different planets! Compete for the best times in the high-speed grand prix modes or engage in four-player multiplayer mayhem!

Army Corps of Hell (PSN/Game Card) – A bloodmoon shall rise over battlefields of endless warfare and ritualistic sacrifice when this hellish action game of regimented slaughter invades the PS Vita!

Dynasty Warriors Next (PSN/Game Card) – Tecmo KOEI’s massive battle franchise Dynasty Warriors comes to the Playstation Vita.

Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack – In Mutant Blobs Attack players take on the role of a twisted mutant blob with a bit of an attitude problem. Players explore, puzzle and platform their way through a world that takes them from the size of a quarter to that of a giant city – devouring everything around them all the while.

Using a range of inputs including touch-based Blob movement and world manipulation controls as well as good old fashioned thumbstick platforming, players will explore a unique gaming experience never before possible.

PS Vita Demos

• Unit 13
• EA Sports: FIFA Soccer

PlayStation 3

Asura’s Wrath – Inspired by Asian mythology and fused with science fiction, Asura’s Wrath aims to redefine the action genre by delivering unprecedented levels of dynamism, drama and interaction. Once a revered deity, Asura was betrayed by his fellow gods and stripped of all his powers. Consumed by anger at the injustice he has suffered and swearing vengeance, Asura discovers he can use this fury to his advantage and turn it against his enemies. By channelling his inner rage, Asura is now able to unleash devastating attacks and wreak havoc as he battles against the deities who have wronged him and their earthly forces. Inspired by episodic dramas, Asura’s Wrath is split into distinct sections with gameplay and narrative unfolding as one and building to a final climatic conclusion.

Syndicate – Set in 2069, Syndicate takes players into a dark, Machiavellian world run without government oversight with many syndicates vying for total dominance of their local market place. With no one to question their intentions or actions, three mega corporations – Eurocorp, Cayman Global, and Aspari – are at the forefront of this brutal war for control of the pivotal American market.

In the world of Syndicate, everything is digitally connected, including the people. Players aren’t limited to the weapons in their hands. Through DART 6 bio-chip technology implanted in their head, players can slow down time and breach the digital world around them to take down their foes using a variety of upgradable hacking mechanics. Syndicate’s blend of fast-paced, futuristic, action shooter settings and story combined with innovative chip breach gameplay instantly immerses players in a unique digital world.

Mafia II (PS3 Digital Download) – Mafia 2 immerses players in the mob underworld of a fictitious late 1940′s / early 1950′s scenario. The game engages you in a cinematic Hollywood movie experience in a living, breathing city, fusing high octane gunplay with white knuckle driving and an engaging narrative.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II (PS3 Digital Download) – Explore more of the hidden shadows of the Sith with this sequel to the hit game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Starkiller, Darth Vader’s apprentice, returns with over-the-top Force powers and embarks on a journey to discover his own identity and to reunite with his one true love, Juno Eclipse. In Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II, Starkiller is once again the pawn of Darth Vader — but instead of training his protégée as a ruthless assassin, the dark lord is attempting to clone his former apprentice in an attempt to create the Ultimate Sith warrior. The chase is on — Starkiller is in pursuit of Juno and Darth Vader is hunting for Starkiller.

PS3 Demos

• SSX
• Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm – Generations
• Shank 2

minis

• Hungry Giraffe
• Touchdown Fever

PlayStation 2 Classics

Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers – Full Spectrum Warrior is a squad-based real-time combat game allows players to experience the intensity and gritty realism of urban combat warfare. The game is based on a real-time squad-based strategy game commissioned by the U.S. Army to train light Infantry troops in urban combat situations. Soldiers are placed in a tense, hostile, and claustrophobic environment where they must complete a variety of military objectives. Players act as the Squad Leader, providing direction to Alpha and Bravo fire teams. The successful Squad Leader effectively uses cover in the environment and moves his fire teams in a coordinated fashion so they can protect themselves from possible attacks that could come from any direction. Full Spectrum Warrior puts you in the dirt with your men, where danger lurks around every corner.

[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.]

PlayStation 3

Twisted Metal – High atop his penthouse office, a mysterious ringleader named Calypso lords over the contest of vehicle combat known as Twisted Metal. He returns again to host the ultimate contest of skill and destruction. Contestants have been chosen to compete and, should they emerge victorious, win whatever prize their heart desires.

Twisted Metal, the longest-running franchise in PlayStation history, is back exclusively on the PS3 system. With four factions battling for control, players step into the combat boots of a twisted disciple in a high octane, highly destructible world. Disciples strategically dismantle opponents in vehicles loaded with weapons of Twisted destruction. With a robust online system, players unleash destruction with up to 16 players through PlayStation Network and battle through a variety of favorite and new game modes.

UFC Undisputed 3 – UFC Undisputed 3 is the 2012 installment in the critically acclaimed and best-selling mixed martial arts (MMA) video game franchise based on the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The game marks takes players inside the virtual Octagon with extensive focus on intense toe-to-toe combat, impressive visual presentation and significantly increased accessibility, including the introduction of PRIDE Mode, two new weight classes and an impressive playable roster of more than 150 UFC fighters.

Grand Slam Tennis 2 (PS Move Compatible) – EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis 2 is the ultimate tennis experience, featuring all four Grand Slam championships and Wimbledon. Players can experience the thrill of serving up aces on Wimbledon’s prestigious Centre Court, hitting cross-court winners on the clay courts of the French Open, play under the bright lights at the U.S. Rise to stardom with the revolutionary Total Racquet Control as you challenge a deep roster of elite players, including Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Sharapova, Borg, and McEnroe.

PlayStation Vita

UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss (PSN/Game Card) – Uncover the dark secret behind the 400-year-old massacre of a Spanish expedition as Nathan Drake follows the murderous trail of an ancient and secret Spanish sect in Uncharted: Golden Abyss. Caught in the middle of a rivalry between Jason Dante — his old friend — and Marisa Chase — the granddaughter of an archaeologist who has mysteriously vanished without a trace — Nathan Drake races into the treacherous river basins, undiscovered temple ruins and karst caverns of Central America in search of a legendary lost city, only to find himself pushed to the edge of the Golden Abyss.

Developed by award-winning Sony Bend Studio, Uncharted: Golden Abyss is the portable system debut of the multi-million selling Uncharted franchise. The game offers a cinematic experience on-the-go complete with industry-leading motion capture, a rich storyline, highly-detailed environments, and special effects that truly captures the look and feel of the Uncharted universe.

wipEout 2048 (PSN/Game Card) – Get ready to experience the thrill and speed of anti-gravity racing as the original hyper velocity racing game, Wipeout 2048, is back and completely rebuilt for the the next-generation PlayStation handheld. Rebuilt exclusively for the intuitive game handling of a touch interface, motion active tilt, and voice activated controls, players can race against anyone anytime (including PS3 players) with up to 8 players simultaneously and compete for first place within the online leaderboards.

Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational (PSN/Game Card) – Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational offers a completely new way to play Hot Shots Golf! The over-the-top golf franchise is back with a bag full of PlayStation Vita system features. Never leave the golf course with non-stop challenges from friends or bitter rivals. Add to that new PlayStation Vita system specific functions that enable you to better prepare each shot from tee to green.

ModNation Racer: Road Trip (PSN/Game Card) – ModNation Racers is a thoroughly fresh take on classic kart racing that empowers the player to personalize their entire game. Players can express themselves by creating their own Mod character, styling their own racing kart and even building — in just minutes — an imaginative track that can be shared with the rest of the PlayStation community via the free PlayStation Network service.

ModNation Racers: Road Trip for PlayStation Vita brings endless hours of Kart racing to players fingertips, where creativity rules on and off the track. Get on the starting grid of over 300,000 tracks available to download, or just race in the competitive circuit. Race with a new set of controls enhanced with the Vita’s array of features, including touch control, six-axis motion steering and social media tools like ModTraveler and ModMiles.

Escape Plan (PSN)– From the Producers of Fat Princess and the Development Team behind Fat Princess: Fat Roles comes a “touching” adventure. Escape Plan features two hapless characters, Lil and Laarg, who have been captured and need your influence, skill and brainpower to escape from a dark labyrinth of irreverent puzzles and traps. By interacting with the environment and influencing Lil and Laarg, only you can help them survive each deadly room before their captor and nemesis, Bakuki, recycles them and turns them into his minions… or sheep.

Using a high-contrast chiaroscuro style, Escape Plan takes advantage of the PlayStation Vita’s multitouch display, rear touch panel and gestural swipe interfaces. Swipe, squeeze, poke and slap this little guys to manipulate and interact with the diverse environments. Escape Plan gives players unique and memorable moments throughout the gameplay, whether it’s the triumphant thrill of victory or the hilarious agony of defeat.

Super Stardust Delta (PSN/Demo Available) – The Super StarDust franchise blasts its way into players’ hands with Super StarDust Delta. With brand-new features made specifically for PS Vita, players can access an arsenal of weapons with the PS Vita’s touch control screen, including freezing time, unleashing missiles, creating black holes, and crush attacks. Players can also tilt the screen to view beyond the horizon and shake the PS Vita to create a devastating Shockwave attack.

Hustle Kings (PSN/Demo Available) – Hustle your way to the top of the global leader boards in this beautifully chic, yet minimalist pool setting, all displayed in ultra-realistic environments with the PS Vita’s OLED screen. Control every move with intuitive front and rear touch interface and keep the game moving online or offline with quick push notifications between turns. Just be sure to hone your skills and earn cash before entering the bustling online scene.

Lumines: Electronic Symphony (PSN/Game Card) – Shine on with this PlayStation Vita entry into the popular puzzler franchise. Lumines: Electronic Symphony marks the return of Q Entertainment’s landmark puzzle series, bringing together addictive block-dropping puzzle action, an all-new 3D graphics engine, and some of the most significant names in electronic music history.

Lumines: Electronic Symphony offers, for the first time in the series, special new block mechanics give players additional strategic options to give you new ways to play through Journey Mode, Duel Mode, Stopwatch Mode, Master’s Mode, and other exciting play experiences. The game also offers unique new touch input for a uniquely tactile Lumines play challenge. Groove out to tunes from top electronic acts such as The Chemical Brothers and Kaskade in the ultimate portable Lumines puzzler jam!

Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 (PSN/Game Card)– In Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, fill the shoes of legendary characters from both the Marvel and Capcom Universes –including massively popular characters such as Ryu, Wolverine, Iron Man, and Morrigan, as well as fan favorites such as Trish from Devil May Cry and the wise-cracking Deadpool. They all come to you battle in a living comic book art style powered by Capcom’s MT Framework.

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 prepares to take the battle to all-new heights in a updated version of the original hit fighting game Marvel Vs. Capcom 3. With brand new iconic characters from the Marvel and Capcom universes — now with 48 characters on the disc — a refined fighting system and new modes, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 continues the Capcom fighting game legacy.

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift II (Also on PS3/PSN/Game Card) – BlazBlue is a high definition 2D fighter from the makers of Guilty Gear. Players throughout the world can participate in online matches, or enjoy the immense story mode featuring individual stories for each character.

This is a second edition of the Continuum Shift arcade expansion edition (which originally added two new characters: Tsubaki and Hazama.) For Continuum Shift II, the character Valkenhayn R. Hellsing is now a playable character.

EA Sports: FIFA Soccer (PSN/Game Card)– EA Sports’ FIFA Soccer on PS Vita gives you the same physics-based, data driven technology that powers FIFA gameplay on home consoles. Take part in eight different game modes, including 11 vs. 11, Tournament Mode with over 50 real-world competitions, a full in-depth Career Mode, and compete online with Head-to-Head matches against your friends and gamers around the world. Create custom online leagues with your friends and compare your online performance with global and friend focused leader boards. Innovations that utilize a rear touch pad and touchscreen create an intelligent and unique gameplay experience. Rear touch pad shooting delivers pin-point accuracy and removes the element of “hit and hope” from shooting and touchscreen passing opens up the field of play for more creative and precision passing.

Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour Edition (PSN/Game Card)– Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour Edition provides a full console experience at the palm of your hand, with 22 of the world’s best players and legends from the past coming together on Playstation Vita. Brand new features unique to Vita combined with the hi-res graphics and lifelike gameplay of the Virtua Tennis series provides players with the greatest tennis experience, anytime and anywhere.

Asphalt Injection (PSN/Game Card)– Add more fuel to the fire with Asphalt: Injection. Master over 100 races in Career mode, collect over 50 world-class luxury cars, and share your best performances with your friends. Arcade racing at its finest with collectibles, crashes, jumps, shortcuts, and nitro for thrilling races. 52 licensed cars from prestigious manufacturers including Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin plus legendary models and 2011′s hottest cars. Race on 20 unique tracks inspired by real cities like Rio, Shanghai, and Monte Carlo rendered with cutting-edge graphical effects. Master 10 different event types laid out in a full-featured Career mode with more than 100 unique events

Dungeon Hunter: Alliance (PSN/Game Card)– Join forces and drive back the darkness! Dungeon Hunter: Alliance is an epic quest set in a dark fantasy world, that you can revisit in intense multiplayer mode.

Michael Jackson: The Experience HD (PSN/Game Card)– He is the legendary King of Pop! In this game, players step into the shoes of Michael Jackson himself and re-live his most iconic performances through their own singing and dancing. The game includes the most famous tracks from Michael Jackson’s extensive catalog such as Beat It and Billie Jean, as well as an array of his awe-inspiring dance moves for players to learn and emulate within the game. Additionally, fans can sing along and test their vocal skills while immersed in the performance.

Rayman Origins (PSN/Game Card)– When the Glade of Dreams is overrun by nefurrious Darktoons, the Fairy Council hastily invokes Rayman to save the day. To help him, Rayman teams up with his best friend, Globox, and two crafty wizards, the Teensies. Together, the world’s most hilarious team of heroes will need to restore peace to the Glade or watch as their beloved home vanishes like a bad dream…

PlayStation Network

The House of the Dead III (PS Move Compatible // Demo Available) – Defy the undead with shotgun in hand as you explore a post-apocalyptic wasteland of unrelenting terror in The House of the Dead III. Fans of the series will thrill to an abundance of 3D gore, time-sensitive gameplay, and a wide variety of branching paths. Gamers take out wave after wave of horrific zombies as they travel different routes and advance the story line, uncovering new secrets and hidden areas along the way. The all-new shotgun comes in handy when surrounded by an army of undead. Players must use it wisely to take out multiple enemies in a single blast as they plow their way through the most exhilarating nightmare yet.

Grand Theft Auto IV (Full PS3 Game) – GTA IV reinvents the series with a renewed version of Liberty City detailed to the last pothole and rooftop vent. There are now four boroughs to explore plus extra area outside of Liberty City proper. With the ability to climb obstacles, drive cars, steer boats and pilot helicopters, the world of GTA is more accessible than ever before.

In this fourth installment of the popular series, players take on the role of Niko Bellic, a rough-around-the-edge chap from Eastern Europe. Niko has arrived in America, in Liberty City — a land full of promise and opportunity. His cousin convinced him to emigrate, to join him in his mansion and life of luxury, but as soon as he steps off the boat, Niko discovers the truth about the American way. Still, the wealth, the comfort, the bliss of the good life, it all really is here … And it’s all for the taking.

Worms: Ultimate Mayhem – Worms: Ultimate Mayhem is a souped-up, re-vamped, high-definition re-imagining of Worms 3D and Worms 4: Mayhem, bringing both games together in one incredibly over-stuffed, over-the-top package. The game includes 60 missions, 38 weapons and 12 graphical themes, as well as full online play for up to four players.

Demos

• Mass Effect 3
• Binary Domain

PlayStation Portable

Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom – In Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom, a young woman by the name of Chizuru comes to Kyoto in search of her missing father, and soon encounters danger and the Shinsengumi in quick succession. When it becomes clear the Shinsengumi are also searching for her father, Chizuru is put under their protection. But odd things are afoot in Kyoto—possibly even supernatural happenings. Can Chizuru navigate this maze of mortal danger and political intrigue? Amidst so much mystery and death, can she find romance?

[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.]

PlayStation is just days away from embarking on another historic console journey with the launch of PS Vita — the most ambitious entertainment device you’ve ever held in your hands. PS Vita was first unveiled to the world as NGP, the “Next Generation Portable,” in January 2011 and formally christened as PS Vita during E3. In the time leading up to the big global launch day on February 22nd, we chronicled the designers as they created the world’s most advanced handheld gaming system and heard from some of the most-respected game developers in the business.

We also recently revealed what’s in the box for the PS Vita First Edition Bundle launching to early adopters on February 15th. Today, we wanted to welcome you to our world with this new video. Guy Longworth, Senior VP of PlayStation Brand Marketing, and John Koller, Senior Director of PlayStation Handhelds, show you everything you need to know to enjoy the out-of-box experience moments after you wake your PS Vita for the first time.

The day we’ve been waiting for is nearly here! Remember, kids: Never. Stop. Playing.

At CES, we scored a backstage demo of Table Soccer, one of three augmented reality games that show off PS Vita’s Wide Area Augmented Reality capability.

Today, Sony Santa Monica Sr. Manager Dave Thach returns with two new augmented reality games, Fireworks and Cliff Diving. Both are part of the Augmented Reality Suite coming exclusively to PS Vita on Feb 22nd on PSN for free. Also, packaged with your PS Vita will be six AR cards which will also work with Reality Fighters, and other great AR experiences.

Fireworks transforms the world around you into a firework display where you’ll literally touch the apex of the firework for multipliers, combos and points. Cliff Diving introduces you to diver Dave, where you’ll have him diving off your coffee table into a virtual body of water.

Before you check out this video, make sure you watch our very first tour with Table Soccer which completes the AR Suite on PS Vita.

Instead of telling you more, I’ll let Dave Thach show you!

Twisted Metal is nearly here, and to celebrate the return of our beloved PlayStation franchise, we’ve sweetened up this week’s The Drop with a demo on PSN. Get your skills checked and in-order just in-time for our big Twisted Metal community event on Thursday, February 2nd.

Blu-ray releases make their triumphant return this week with a sequel, to a sequel. Final Fantasy XIII-2 changes things up with an adventure to search for the missing Lightning. New heroes join returning warriors in the fray that is SoulCalibur V. Wield a butterfly design-inspired sword and an arsenal of guns to decimate waves of ungodly enemies in the not-too-distant future in NeverDead.

On the digital front, guide fluid through several booby trapped mazes, in the physics based and puzzle/platform game, Puddle. The full PS3 version of Madden NFL 12, brings all 32 teams, stadiums and all your favorite player in the league to PSN. Join Hiro, the smallest hero on the biggest adventure, as he embarks on an epic and electrifying quest to restore harmony to a world on the brink of chaos with Mini Ninjas. This week’s The Drop brings us pig skins, puddles, medicated psychopath and miniature ninjas. Just another Sunday afternoon at PlayStation.

PlayStation 3

Final Fantasy XIII-2 – Cocoon, a utopia in the sky. Its inhabitants believed their world a paradise. Under the Sanctum’s rule, Cocoon had long known peace and prosperity. Mankind was blessed by its protectors, the benevolent fal’Cie, and believed that tranquil days would continue forever. Their tranquillity was shattered with the discovery of one hostile fal’Cie.

The moment that fal’Cie from Pulse – the feared and detested lowerworld – awoke from its slumber, peace on Cocoon came to an end. Fal’Cie curse humans, turning them into magic-wielding servants. They become l’Cie – chosen of the fal’Cie. Those branded with the mark of a l’Cie carry the burden of either fulfilling their Focus or facing a fate harsher than death itself. A prayer for redemption.

A wish to protect the world. A promise to challenge destiny. After thirteen days of fates intertwined, the battle begins…

Set several years after Lightning and the others saved Cocoon, some survivors have decided to start over by rebuilding on Gran Pulse. Lightning, however, is nowhere to be found and thought dead by many, but Serah believes otherwise. When her town is suddenly overrun by monsters, a mysterious man named Noel appears to save her. Together, the two set off to find Lightning…

SoulCalibur V – SoulCalibur V picks up 17 years after the events of SoulCalibur IV with new heroes and returning warriors clashing in an epic showdown between good and evil. The tale of Patroklos, son of Sophitia Alexandra, unfolds as his family’s destiny intertwines with the Soul swords.

NeverDead – NeverDead is a third-person action game set in a fantasy and horror-influenced universe where supernatural battles between humans and extraordinary creatures blanketa vast city landscape. Gamers wield a butterfly design-inspired sword and an arsenal of guns to decimate waves of ungodly enemies in the not-too-distant future.

The game begins in the waking hours of peace and calm, when the world is under threat of being consumed by a demonic plague. Centuries have passed since the world succumbed to an unforeseen shadow of evil, and a hero was made an immortal by demons. These demons have risen once again in the present day causing unrelenting mayhem reinforced by destructible environments within the game. Now using his immortalic regenerative powers re-assembling his own body to evade death, the hero carries out the only salvation the world will know, for he is Never Dead.

PlayStation Network

Madden NFL 12 (Full PS3 Game) – Madden NFL 12 continues the rich tradition of the storied franchise by bringing fans closer to the NFL than ever before. Featuring all 32 teams, stadiums, and all your favorite players in the league, Madden NFL 12 is True to the Game. All-new collision system, advanced defensive A.I. enhancements highlight the 2012 edition’s improved feature set, with Custom Playbooks also added provide a more authentic gameplay experience. Franchise mode includes more than 100 new features and enhancements, while Superstar mode now allows fans to control the growth of their superstar with an all-new progression system. Dynamic Player Performance creates unprecedented realism as a player’s skills and confidence will rise and fall based on his performance throughout a game or in Franchise mode, just like the real NFL.

Puddle (Demo Available) – Experience a brilliantly designed physics-based puzzle/platform game where you must guide a puddle of fluid to its target destination, not by moving the fluid, but by tilting the game world. The player must work with friction, momentum, and the unique properties of each type of fluid and environment to send as much of each puddle past fires, rifts, potential spills and more. But watch out: the fluid motion is realistic! Tilt too quickly and you will lose control.

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days (Full PS3 Game) – Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is a raw and brutal crime shooter designed to take players on an even more intense story experience, following two of gaming’s most disturbed criminals, through the gritty Shanghai underworld. Introducing a new visual experience, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is inspired by documentary filmmakers and the user-generated era. Every aspect of the game has been designed to deliver a fresh perspective to the words ‘intensity’ and ‘realism’ in videogames.

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (Full PS3 Game) – Kane & Lynch: Dead Men is a violent and chaotic journey of two men – a flawed mercenary and a medicated psychopath – and their brutal attitude towards right and wrong. Now, they must partner up as a mess of cash makes for hell on Earth in this co-op action game.   

Mini Ninjas (Full PS3 Game) – Prepare yourself for a Ninja adventure like you have never seen before! Use your skills and mighty Ninja training to battle a magical army of evil Samurai. Harness the power of your Kuji magic and utilise the special skills of your Mini Ninja friends as you travel through a perilous world to reach the final confrontation with the Evil Samurai Warlord in his Fortress of Doom.

Demos

• Twisted Metal
• Syndicate

PlayStation Portable

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact (PSN Download) – Featuring large-scale battles against massive groups of enemies, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact puts players in the middle of epic fights as their favorite Naruto Shippuden characters through electrifying single-player and multiplayer modes. Deliver an action-packed and dynamic fighting experience, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact lets players unleash their honed Jutsu skills through exciting single-player and multiplayer modes. Story Battle lets fans become part of explosive Naruto Shippuden fights straight from the anime with more events and battle sequences than ever before on the PSP.

[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.]

Twisted Metal is nearly here, and to celebrate the return of our beloved PlayStation franchise, we’ve sweetened up this week’s The Drop with a demo on PSN. Get your skills checked and in-order just in-time for our big Twisted Metal community event on Thursday, Febuary 2nd.

Blu-ray releases make their triumphant return this week with a sequel, to a sequel. Final Fantasy XIII-3 changes things up with an adventure to search for the missing Lighting. New heroes join returning warriors in the fray that is SoulCalibur V. Wield a butterfly design-inspired sword and an arsenal of guns to decimate waves of ungodly enemies in the not-too-distant future in NeverDead.

On the digital front, guide fluid through several booby trapped mazes, in the physics based and puzzle/platform game, Puddle. The full PS3 version of Madden NFL 12, brings all 32 teams, stadiums and all your favorite player in the league to PSN. Join Hiro, the smallest hero on the biggest adventure, as he embarks on an epic and electrifying quest to restore harmony to a world on the brink of chaos with Mini Ninjas. This week’s The Drop brings us pig skins, puddles, medicated psychopath and miniature ninjas. Just another Sunday afternoon at PlayStation.

PlayStation 3

Final Fantasy XIII-3 – Cocoon, a utopia in the sky. Its inhabitants believed their world a paradise. Under the Sanctum’s rule, Cocoon had long known peace and prosperity. Mankind was blessed by its protectors, the benevolent fal’Cie, and believed that tranquil days would continue forever. Their tranquillity was shattered with the discovery of one hostile fal’Cie.

The moment that fal’Cie from Pulse – the feared and detested lowerworld – awoke from its slumber, peace on Cocoon came to an end. Fal’Cie curse humans, turning them into magic-wielding servants. They become l’Cie – chosen of the fal’Cie. Those branded with the mark of a l’Cie carry the burden of either fulfilling their Focus or facing a fate harsher than death itself. A prayer for redemption.

A wish to protect the world. A promise to challenge destiny. After thirteen days of fates intertwined, the battle begins…

Set several years after Lightning and the others saved Cocoon, some survivors have decided to start over by rebuilding on Gran Pulse. Lightning, however, is nowhere to be found and thought dead by many, but Serah believes otherwise. When her town is suddenly overrun by monsters, a mysterious man named Noel appears to save her. Together, the two set off to find Lightning…

SoulCalibur V – SoulCalibur V picks up 17 years after the events of SoulCalibur IV with new heroes and returning warriors clashing in an epic showdown between good and evil. The tale of Patroklos, son of Sophitia Alexandra, unfolds as his family’s destiny intertwines with the Soul swords.

NeverDead – NeverDead is a third-person action game set in a fantasy and horror-influenced universe where supernatural battles between humans and extraordinary creatures blanketa vast city landscape. Gamers wield a butterfly design-inspired sword and an arsenal of guns to decimate waves of ungodly enemies in the not-too-distant future.

The game begins in the waking hours of peace and calm, when the world is under threat of being consumed by a demonic plague. Centuries have passed since the world succumbed to an unforeseen shadow of evil, and a hero was made an immortal by demons. These demons have risen once again in the present day causing unrelenting mayhem reinforced by destructible environments within the game. Now using his immortalic regenerative powers re-assembling his own body to evade death, the hero carries out the only salvation the world will know, for he is Never Dead.

PlayStation Network

Madden NFL 12 (Full PS3 Game) – Madden NFL 12 continues the rich tradition of the storied franchise by bringing fans closer to the NFL than ever before. Featuring all 32 teams, stadiums, and all your favorite players in the league, Madden NFL 12 is True to the Game. All-new collision system, advanced defensive A.I. enhancements highlight the 2012 edition’s improved feature set, with Custom Playbooks also added provide a more authentic gameplay experience. Franchise mode includes more than 100 new features and enhancements, while Superstar mode now allows fans to control the growth of their superstar with an all-new progression system. Dynamic Player Performance creates unprecedented realism as a player’s skills and confidence will rise and fall based on his performance throughout a game or in Franchise mode, just like the real NFL.

Puddle (Demo Available) – Experience a brilliantly designed physics-based puzzle/platform game where you must guide a puddle of fluid to its target destination, not by moving the fluid, but by tilting the game world. The player must work with friction, momentum, and the unique properties of each type of fluid and environment to send as much of each puddle past fires, rifts, potential spills and more. But watch out: the fluid motion is realistic! Tilt too quickly and you will lose control.

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days (Full PS3 Game) – Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is a raw and brutal crime shooter designed to take players on an even more intense story experience, following two of gaming’s most disturbed criminals, through the gritty Shanghai underworld. Introducing a new visual experience, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is inspired by documentary filmmakers and the user-generated era. Every aspect of the game has been designed to deliver a fresh perspective to the words ‘intensity’ and ‘realism’ in videogames.

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (Full PS3 Game) – Kane & Lynch: Dead Men is a violent and chaotic journey of two men – a flawed mercenary and a medicated psychopath – and their brutal attitude towards right and wrong. Now, they must partner up as a mess of cash makes for hell on Earth in this co-op action game.   

Mini Ninjas (Full PS3 Game) – Prepare yourself for a Ninja adventure like you have never seen before! Use your skills and mighty Ninja training to battle a magical army of evil Samurai. Harness the power of your Kuji magic and utilise the special skills of your Mini Ninja friends as you travel through a perilous world to reach the final confrontation with the Evil Samurai Warlord in his Fortress of Doom.

Demos

• Twisted Metal
• Syndicate

PlayStation Portable

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact (PSN Download) – Featuring large-scale battles against massive groups of enemies, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact puts players in the middle of epic fights as their favorite Naruto Shippuden characters through electrifying single-player and multiplayer modes. Deliver an action-packed and dynamic fighting experience, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact lets players unleash their honed Jutsu skills through exciting single-player and multiplayer modes. Story Battle lets fans become part of explosive Naruto Shippuden fights straight from the anime with more events and battle sequences than ever before on the PSP.

[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.]

Demos for The Darkness II (my favorite debut at PAX East 2011) and UFC Undisputed 3 headline this week’s The Drop with enough doses of awesome to quench your thirst until their full upcoming releases. PixelJunk Shooter receives the demo treatment as well, giving you absolutely no reason not to play another PixelJunk gem!

Full PS3 downloads of Duke Nukem: Forever and Mortal Kombat (also confirmed for PS Vita) bring your favorite badass kicking and bubble-gum chewing franchises to the digital era on PSN.

Finally, make sure to wrap up your week in gaming with the 9th episode of the PlayStation Blogcast (miss me?) Enjoy this week’s The Drop.

PlayStation Network

Duke Nukem: Forever – Put on your sunglasses and prepare to step into the boots of Duke Nukem, whose legend has reached epic proportions in the years since his last adventure. The alien hordes are back and only Duke can save the world, again. Pig cops, alien shrink rays and enormous alien bosses won’t stop our hero from accomplishing his one and only goal: to save the world, save the babes and to be a bad-ass while doing it.

ScaryGirl (Demo Available) – Based on Nathan Jurevicius’ Scarygirl graphic novel — winner of the 2009 Aurealis Award for Best Illustrated Book/Graphic novel — Scarygirl presents a wondrous adventure into a distinctive and beautifully bizarre world. The main character Scarygirl is an abandoned child with a tentacle arm who dresses like a pirate, and is haunted by a strange man in her dreams. She sets out into the world to discover the meaning behind her bad dreams, but Scarygirl is hardly helpless, as she has a tentacle-powered arsenal up her sleeve.

Mortal Kombat – Driven by an all new graphics engine, the fan favorite series is back and presented in more gory detail than ever before. Mortal Kombat (known as Mortal Kombat 9 by the fans) introduces a number of game-play features including tag team and the deepest story mode of any fighting game. Players can choose from an extensive lineup of the game’s iconic warriors and challenge their friends in traditional 1 vs. 1 matches, or take on several new game modes.

Demos

• PixelJunk SideScroller
• The Darkness II
• UFC Undisputed 3

minis

• Bermuda Triangle
• Gold Medalist
• Stick Man Rescue

[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.]