Sid and Rey are en route back to the Bay Area after a week in Japanland for Tokyo Game Show. While they prep the next batch of TGS content for you (an interview with Ueda-san and more), I’ll step in for Mr. Shuman with this week’s recap.

He does also like to share what he’s up to, doesn’t he? Here goes.

• I’m playing: Tumble, Sports Champions, Valkyria Chronicles II (you can download Selvaria now!), Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
• I’m watching: The Phillies re-take 1st place in the NL East on MLB.tv, Football – both NFL (Eagles) and EPL (Arsenal), looking forward to the season premiere of HIMYM on Monday.
• I’m reading: the new Game Informer with BioShock Infinite on the cover (great art)

• Introducing Tumble for PlayStation Move — Available now for $9.99, Tumble is a great purchase for new PlayStation Move owners.
• Hustle Kings – On the Move and More! — Already own Hustle Kings? Picking up PlayStation Move this weekend? You’re only a liquor license away from opening up your own billiards hall.
• Heavy Rain on PlayStation Move Comes 9/22 — Enjoy the light fun of Sports Champions and Kung Fu Rider this weekend, descend into a vision of Philadelphia even darker than after an Eagles loss (I’m from there, so I can say that ^_^).
• Dead Space 2 for PS3: Multiplayer Screens and First Info — Taking control of a Necromorph, finally feel what it’s like to have your limbs removed by pinpoint plasma cutter blasts. Not so fun now, is it??
• PAX Encounters: Hoard Multiplayer Dissected in New Videos — When we met with the devs at PAX, we complained that the trailers didn’t do a good job of explaining how the game works. Hence this new video of complete rounds being played. BTW, multiplayer is hella fun.
• ModNation Monday: The Artist Spotlight Returns! — Tanner and Tyler bring their real-life trick driving experience to the ModSpot.
• Meet the Complete Season 2 Cast of The Tester! — You may have picked your favorite to become the next Tester, but the more pressing question is: Who’s going to be this season’s Barmy?
• Sports Champions Week: Archery — Remember that E3 2009 demo where Anton was shooting arrows at zombie skeletons? That made it into Sports Champions.
• PlayStation Store Update — Worms 2, Move demos, Soviet Strike, a Castlevania sale, Phantasy Star Portable 2… a pretty damn good selection this week, it’s got to be said.
• Six Reasons to Pre-Order God of War: Ghost of Sparta! — I think most of you only need one reason to pre-order God of War: Ghost of Sparta: It’s God of War: Ghost of Sparta.
• Fallout: New Vegas for PS3: Meet the Companions — What, you thought you were going to be trekking around post-apocalyptic Vegas by yourself?
• Enter the Dragon’s Green – PlayStation Home’s Newest Full-Length Game — PlayStation Home adds yet another full-on gaming experience.
• DmC: Devil May Cry for PS3 Revealed in New Trailer — Capcom’s big reveal at TGS, this one has proved divisive among you readers. Some of you don’t seem to like a dark-haired, younger Dante, but personally I’m excited to see what Ninja Theory will do with the Devil May Cry universe.
• Sports Champions Week: Gladiator Duel — Here’s the move you need to master: headshot>launcher>air-hit combo>follow-up jump attack.
• Kevin Butler: “There’s a New Pet in Town” — Puppies: your days are numbered. Eyepet will *never* soil the carpet.
• Digital Comics Store Update — New Locke & Key, Sandman, and Silent Hill join a couple dozen new comics available for download.
• Blu-ray 3D Disc Playback Support Coming to PlayStation 3 System Next Week — If you own a PS3, you already own a 3D-enabled Blu-ray player. The functionality-enabling firmware update hits next week.
• Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection hits PS3 Spring 2011 with 3D — You demanded it; HD, 3D versions of these classics are mere months away!
• The Last Guardian Coming to PS3 Holiday 2011, Watch the New Trailer — See another tantalizing bit of Fumito Ueda’s upcoming opus; we’ll have an interview with him on the Blog next week.
• SingStar Dance Track List — La Roux’s “Bulletproof?” Yes, please.
• Sports Champions Week: Disc Golf — Someone asked if it’s impossible to get a hole-in-one (and the corresponding Trophy). I’m living proof, it can be done (twice)!
• ENSLAVED: Odyssey to the West Coming to the PS3 on October 5, Win a Limited Edition Statue — The team that brought you Heavenly Sword are starting to receive some excellent buzz on this game, which now has a release date.
• Gran Turismo 5 at Tokyo Game Show: Community Features, Legacy Tracks, Weather Effects, X1 Prototype — It’s real, and its spectacular.
• PlayStation Move Launches at Stores Across North America — It’s all been leading up to this: pick up your PlayStation Move this weekend!
• PlayStation Network Video Content Update — Download your free pilot episode of Outlaw today.
• Swords & Soldiers Coming Soon to PSN — Make sure to watch the trailer of this upcoming 2D RTS (what?), it looks like this could be a fun one.
• PSN-Exclusive Rock Band DLC Sale Next Week — We know you were looking for an excuse to download that REO Speedwagon/Styx Tour ’09 track pack. Your time is nigh.
• Sports Champions Week: Table Tennis — Learn how to fend off a robot attack with nothing but plastic balls and a paddle. Thank us later.
• TGS 2010: Tour the PlayStation Booth — Rey jams a few hundred shots of Tokyo Game Show into 90 seconds. We love this guy.
• Dead Space Extraction: Hands-on (and Limbs off) with PlayStation Move — Extraction is shaping up to be a hell of a bonus for PS3 owners. Don’t forget: it comes with your copy of the Dead Space 2 limited edition this January.

Courtesy of Jeremy Dunham

• Influence MAG: Should Domination Go “Faction-Neutral?” — Zipper’s next question could be the most controversial yet: Should the Domination game mode become faction-neutral?
• MAG 2.0 Coming Soon — Coming soon: PlayStation Move support, an increased level cap, a revamped Skill Tree, a brand-new in-game economy with “Supply Depot” and more.

Courtesy of Arne Meyer

• REMINDER: The Lab – Desert – 5 Shootout — All players spawn with only the powerful Desert – 5 pistol and one Mk-NDI grenade in this new episode of “The Lab.”

Back from PAX! Thursday night’s PAX meetup was a riot, and possibly our largest turnout to date. It’s always exciting to speak with PlayStation fans face-to-face, and I had a lot of fun talking games with familiar names from the PlayStation.Blog and official PlayStation Twitter account. Thanks for coming out!

Though my trip to Seattle was a short one, I was able to prowl the PAX floors for a few hours to soak in the avalanche of upcoming games. I’ll be sharing some of my gameplay encounters next week, so stay tuned.

• I’m playing: Castle Crashers; Hoard, TRON Evolution, and Mortal Kombat (at PAX)
• I’m watching: True Blood Season 3, eagerly awaiting Fringe Season 3
• I’m reading: A Week with the PlayStation Move on ArsTechnica.com, Man After Man: An Anthropology of the Future by Dougal Dixon

God of War: Ghost of Sparta Demo for Spartan Army, God of War Live Recap – God of War fans who couldn’t make it to our PAX meetup got another shot at the new PSP demo.

Courtesy of Jeremy Dunham

Courtesy of Arne Meyer

A big week for PlayStation news, with a blizzard of announcements coming out of Cologne, Germany for the annual gamescom conference. What was your favorite announcement this week?

In other news, Jeff is headed out to Washington, D.C. this Tuesday for a PlayStation Move community meetup. If you want to try out PlayStation Move and a slew of games, be sure to RSVP now.

• I’m playing: Top Gun, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, ModNation Racers
• I’m watching: DayBreakers, True Blood Season 3, The Crazies, Resistance 3 live-action teaser trailer
• I’m reading: Wired September issue (“The Web is Dead”), The Zombie Survival Guide, gamescom award winners

PlayStation Move in Washington DC Next Week – PlayStation Move will be open to the public in Washington, D.C. this coming Tuesday. Be sure to RSVP!

Courtesy of Jeremy Dunham

Ahhhh — a nice, quiet weekend means it’s a perfect time to catch up on some games! I’m about to dive into some DeathSpank and Critter Crunch, which is currently free for PlayStation Plus subscribers. And maybe, just maybe, some Just Cause 2. Why? Just ’cause. (LOLs)

What will you be playing this weekend?

• Comic-Con: True Blood Digital Comic Voucher — This giveaway gave some lucky PSP owners a chance to nibble on the new True Blood Digital Comic. Note: the voucher has expired!
• PlayStation Move hands-on: Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition — I went hands-on with this PlayStation Move-compatible horror shooter, learning more details about the precision and interface.
• DC Universe Online for PS3: Full Comic-Con trailer — Blur Studio (highly regarded for game cinematics) created this eye-popping battle royale between Superman and Lex Luthor.
• ModNation Monday: Creations of the Week — More top ModNation creations, as well as word that a patch date isn’t far off.
• Next PS3 Firmware Update Adds PlayStation Store Recommendations — Games and videos get easier to find thanks to a new “You May Like” component to the PlayStation Store — see how it works in the full post.
• Dead Space 2, Ignition, Extraction, Aftermath, and Salvage — Producer Rich Briggs answers your questions on Dead Space 2, the PS3-exclusive HD Dead Space Extraction, and Dead Space Ignition
• MAG v1.07 Available Early August — Some serious enhancements are coming to MAG — read on to get the full list of tweaks and new features to expect from this free update.
• Blade Kitten for PS3: Artificial Intelligence, Physics in a 2D World — I enjoyed this writeup from the game’s senior programmer, who describes the development challenges of creating a modern 2D game.
• God of War: Ghost of Sparta Comic-Con Panel, New “Midas” Video — Kratos takes out his rage on Midas’s face, and Ready At Dawn talks about the lore behind God of War: Ghost of Sparta in this video two-shot.
• PlayStation Store Update — Price drops, tons of free games for PlayStation Plus subscribers, and demos for Madden 11, Kane & Lynch 2, Flower, and Section 8.
• Scott Pilgrim vs The World Soundtrack Goes Old School — Chiptune rockers Anamanaguchi debut soundtrack samples from the upcoming PSN Scott Pilgrim game — give them a listen!
• Hands-on: PixelJunk Shooter 2 for PS3 — I learned more about the new light/dark dynamic, PixelJunk Eden-esque scenarios, and also answer a few reader questions.
• Digital Comics Store Update — Major updates this week, including the ability to purchase a complete digital comic series or story arc (with price savings!), plus new titles from IDW, Marvel, and DC.
• This Week in PlayStation Home: MAG Personal Space, Community Theater update — A new MAG Personal Space for Raven faction players, plus new Store items and a Community Theater update.
• Coming Tuesday to PSN: Earthworm Jim HD for PS3 — Groovy! The Annelid Avenger is coming to PSN next week, with new co-op play, Trophies, and more.
• Valkyria Chronicles II Coming to PSP Later this Summer — The sequel to the cult-hit PS3 game combines third-person shooting with strategy-RPG gameplay.
• PlayStation Network Video Content Update — Clash of the Titans, Batman: Under the Red Hood, and Jersey Shore. Plus a new Deal of the Week.
• inFAMOUS 2 Comic-Con Panel Highlights — Why can’t Cole climb chain-link fences? Some of your geekiest inFAMOUS 2 questions are answered in this tight recap video.
• Hands-on: Dead Nation for PS3 — Dead Nation expands upon their Super Stardust HD formula with upgradeable Shotguns and SMGs, looting, and a whole lotta zombies.
• The Challenges Behind Shank’s Co-Op Campaign — It’s not easy to add co-op play to a single-player game, but Shank’s developers explain how they made the jump. A good read!

Courtesy of Jeremy Dunham

• Influence MAG: Leaving Game Affects Win/Loss Record — Question: Should disconnects in MAG count as an automatic loss, or not? It’s completely up to you.
• Zipper Profile: Cade Myers — Cade has a deep history in the gaming industry with credits on Half-Life, Homeworld, Tribes and, of course, SOCOM.

Courtesy of Arne Meyer

• Video of our PAX East 2010 panel—Game Design with the Dogs — Naughty Dog made an appearance at the inaugural PAX East during our panel “Naughty Dog Live & Unleashed – Game Design with the Dogs.”
• Title Update 1.09 — Deployed to all regions this week, this Title Update included a host of important multiplayer modes updates. Along with changes to curb players from glitching, we are most proud of are the changes to medal values in all the Objective game types
• New PSN Avatars on Tuesday, July 27! — A set of heroes and villains from their UNCHARTED: Drake’s Fortune days: Nathan Drake, Elena Fisher, Gabriel Roman, Atoq Navarro, Eddy Raja, and Javier, along with Rika Raja and Daniel Pinkerton from the UNCHARTED: Eye of Indra motion comic (available on PSN).

I am sad to say that I did not attend Comic-Con this year. I’m particularly bummed to have missed out on David Jaffe and Scott Campbell’s Twisted Metal panel — you never know what those guys will say next! And, being the uber-nerd that I am, I would have loved to have seen The Walking Dead and True Blood booths, as well as the Scott Pilgrim screening. Ah, well. There’s always next year!

On the bright side, my trip to New York City early in the week was a fruitful one. I got hands-on time with games like Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (radically different than the old-school Tomb Raider you know), Tron: Evolution (Lightcycles in stereoscopic 3D!), Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition with PlayStation Move support (super-precise aiming with a much simpler UI), and a ton of other great games. Look for more details next week as I transform my scrambled thoughts into sweet, sweet words.

Courtesy of Arne Meyer

Multiplayer during the World Cup – See some interesting data based on the World Cup matches and UNCHARTED 2 multiplayer habits. Fascinating!

Next week’s shaping up to be a busy one, with San Diego Comic Con and a New York-based PlayStation media event showcasing a slew of PS3, PSP, and PlayStation Move games. We’ll be on-site for both events and reporting in, so stay tuned for more details next week!

For now, though, I’m in full sloth mode. This weekend, I’ll be checking out DeathSpank, watching more True Blood on PSN, and delving deeper into the seamy underbelly of Mexico in Red Dead Redemption (yeah, yeah, I’m way behind). What will you be playing?

Courtesy of Arne Meyer