During their last community address, Ronimo Games teased a brand new character soon to join the ranks of the Awesomenauts crew. The new characters, (yes, plural,) will be showcased at the team’s studios in the Netherlands during an open invitation to players around the world. So if you’re in the neighborhood, visit the community forum for details.

Next week, the game’s catchy soundtrack, inspired by 80s Saturday morning cartoons will be available for download on bandcamp. Until then, you can always download the game’s catchy theme song free of charge.

Ronimo is also getting ready to dish out a balancing patch that it hopes to get in our hands “in a few short weeks.” Some of the changes include: ”Leon’s slow upgrades & tongue, Voltar’s drones & healing, Yuri’s timebubble and Froggy G’s whirlwind shield. Apart from tweaking existing values, we will also be replacing a couple of upgrades.”

Jet Set Radio first came out on Sega’s Dreamcast twelve years ago and gave players the chance to be Tokyo graffiti artists. The game is releasing digitally on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and PC, and today Sega announced that it will also be releasing on PlayStation Vita.

The handheld version of the game will give players added gameplay options including touchscreen controls for faster graffiti tagging and Vita camera integration. Haruki Satomi, Senior Vice President of Digital Business at SEGA, said “As Jet Set Radio is focused on creativity, the touch capabilities of the PlayStation VITA are proving to be a perfect fit.”

We played the game’s XBLA version at PAX East this year, and it felt quite the same as it did playing it back on the Dreamcast, which is a good thing. We’ll see how this new Vita version compares to the original when we get our hands on it at E3 next week.

Thursday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Pacific (that’s 11 a.m. Thursday to 2 a.m. Friday Eastern and 4 p.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday BST), Sony will be working on the PlayStation Network, and it won’t be functioning. The silver lining? Though account management, the PlayStation Store and PS Home won’t be working, Sony says that online play shouldn’t be effected, as long as you’ve signed in to your PSN account within the last five days.

Don’t panic.

Your info is safe.

Again..don’t panic.

Yes, we know Max Payne and Diablo III are out today, but Sega wants you to put down your AK-47 and gaming keyboard for a bit and take a minute to relive your childhood with Sonic the Hedgehog: Episode 2, which spindashes its way onto consoles and mobile devices this week.

Sega has been listening to fan feedback following the release of Episode 1, so expect to see some enhanced gameplay features such as two-player co-op, better physics, and the addition of the challenging red rings introduced in Sonic Colors.

Also, those who currently own Episode 1 will be able to replay the original game from the perspective of Metal Sonic and learn more about his backstory and how he survived the events at the end of Sonic CD.

Sonic the Hedgehog: Episode 2 is out today on PlayStation and Steam and will be out on Xbox 360 tomorrow. The game will also be available for iOS devices on May 17. Be sure to check out our upcoming review of the game once it posts!

Despite encountering some problems with its German publisher, Awesomenauts was released to great reviews. Since its launch last week, over half a million games have already been played.

Listening to its fans, Ronimo will be releasing a patch next week that will address some of its balancing issues. While we didn’t encounter much of an unbalance during our review, some characters like the game’s healer could get overpowered in the hands of skilled players. Ronimo is also looking into communication issues that prevent some players from joining matches. The developer recommends resetting your console and router until they work on solving this issue.

Ronimo is also working on new character DLC and gave us a sneak peek at the game’s first female Awesomenaut coming soon. Get excited!

Any PC gamer out there can tell you that multiplayer online battle arena games are taking the online gaming scene by storm. In just the past year, giants like League of Legends and Defense of the Ancients have seen favorable success with players eager to experience their fusion of RPG and competitive real time strategy mechanics. Console players, however, have yet to get a title that lets them experience what this hype is all about. That is, until now.

Despite being an obvious portmanteau, Awesomenauts is also a blend of different elements that lets it work effectively on consoles. Instead of teams of five, you get teams of three. Instead of an overhead map, you get a 2D scrolling arena. While at first glance it may seem the game is a watered down version of the other MOBA games out there, players need to realize Awesomenauts isn’t trying to emulate the big boys on the PC. It’s simply trying to give console players a taste of what a MOBA game feels like. And, boy is it tasty.

The game offers both online and split-screen matches and also lets up to three local players take on another team online. Matches consist of two teams of three trying to take down their enemy’s base while also defending theirs from attack. Each team has its own set of powerful turrets that also provide barriers for the other team, so once these turrets are down, the opposing team can easily waltz into an enemy base and take it down. Each team is also assisted by friendly bots that are constantly making their way to each turret, but without the help of the Awesomenauts, they will quickly get shot down.

A lot of the game’s charm comes from its colorful cast – the Awesomenauts themselves. While the core of the game consists of winning as many matches as you can, there isn’t much room for character development. This didn’t stop Ronimo Games from giving each Awesomenaut his own personality, clearly evident after watching the opening cutscene and listening to their witty lines of dialogue during matches. Each character even has his own unique theme song that plays when you select him, and like any MOBA title, each one has his own unique bag of tricks.

During matches, your characters can pick up in-game currency called Solar that lets them purchase power-ups and abilities. Everyone starts with the bare minimum, and as matches progress, the more Solar a character picks up, the more powerful he can become. Before a match begins, you can change the loadout of your characters, furthering creating an element of strategy to the abilities you choose to upgrade. Sheriff Lonestar, for example, has both a dynamite throw attack that does splash damage and a ramming bull attack that helps clear the area by pushing enemies away. You can choose to level up both of these to give you a well-rounded character or focus on one to prioritize your role on your team. These simple choices make each gameplay session a unique experience since players can customize their characters to their liking.

Starting a match in Awesomenauts is also a painless procedure, and the game never lets you wait to get into a match. If a match doesn’t have enough human players, the computer will control any remaining teammates and continue to search for incoming players. These bots actually do a pretty good job, and I often found myself in hot water after underestimating them. Players who start a match already in progress are given extra Solar to catch up to everyone else. While I did like the ease in starting a match, I wish there had been an option to let players wait until they had a full team of people as I often ended up in matches that were close to finishing and on teams nearing defeat.

Every match you play through, even the ones you lose, will get you experience points that levels up your Awesomenauts account and unlocks more characters and abilities to buy during matches. The game starts you off with three characters, but three more elaborate classes such as the tank and healer get unlocked later on. I found that because of this, lower leveled teams may be at a disadvantage. Maybe this is why even a loss gets you lots of experience points. Of course, your account’s level has nothing to do with your in-game level that always resets with each match, so even if you’ve maxed out your experience points, you still need to use your plethora of abilities effectively to win.

Players can jump, shoot in eight directions, and do things you normally don’t do in other MOBA titles, so Awesomenauts may look more like a 2D platformer than a game like League of Legends, but Ronimo’s approach to creating a MOBA experience on the consoles actually works. Some matches can last up to thirty minutes, and are as engaging and addicting as those in other PC titles. The success of an online game is also measured by how big its online community is, and because the game is accessible to even the most casual of console gamers out there and because Ronimo plans to release more content and characters in the future, I’d say the fun won’t be over anytime soon.

Is The Avengers the best superhero movie of all time? (Read our reviewand find out!) Does the same hold true for The Avengers pinball table?

Zen Pinball is releasing Marvel’s The Avengers, a unique pinball table based on the film, and will be included as part of Marvel Pinball: Avengers Chronicles, a brand new four-table pack for Pinball FX2 on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network.

This unique table features digital assets and events taken directly from the film as well as pinballs that are unique to each Avenger. Black Widow, Captain America, Hawkeye, Hulk, Iron Man and Thor are all aboard the Hellicarrier with Nick Fury leading the charge into battle!

When Skullgirls released on consoles last month, many players were left wondering where their characters’ move lists were. Today, Reverge Labs and Autumn Games announced plans to release updates to the game (including this simple option) as well as plans to make the game available on PC.

Coming later this year, the game will be available to download through Steam, Origin, GameFly, GamersGate, and GameStop PC Downloads. It will include updates such as in-game movelists, additional tutorials, better single player AI, and username display for online matches. If you already have Skullgirls on the consoles, these updates will be coming to you for free as well.

“We’re thrilled with the very positive reception the game has received and the great support and feedback we’ve been getting from the community on a number of ways to make the game even better,” said Jason Donnell, president and COO, Autumn Games. “We’re excited to be working on answering those requests.”

Skullgirls is currently available on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network.

Following reports about German publisher dtp Entertainment’s insolvency filing this weekend, it seemed like Awesomenauts would see issues launching on time. Today, however, developer Ronimo Games has confirmed that its game is releasing right on time.

Awesomenauts will makes it way onto both Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network  on May 2.

The game can be best described as an outer space version of League of Legends with 2D shooter and RPG elements thrown in. Both teams must try to destroy their enemy’s bases before theirs gets destroyed as well. Featuring a colorful cast of unique characters and settings, Awesomenauts definitely got our attention.

Read our preview for more on this indie title, and get ready to launch into space battles this Wednesday.

dtp Entertainment, German publisher of the upcoming Awesomenauts downloadable game, has filed for insolvency. In an email sent to us this morning, developer Ronimo Games said it is “unsure of what this means for the game” but is working hard on resolving this issue.

Insolvency occurs when a company cannot meet its debt obligations on time. These issues can be fixed and restorative measure can be taken to prevent it from ultimately going bankrupt.

Awesomenauts has a release date of May 2 for both Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network, but after today’s announcement, there is no news whether this will change or not. We’ve contacted the developer for more details.

The game can be best described as an outer space version of League of Legends with 2D shooter and RPG elements thrown in. Both teams must try to destroy their enemy’s bases before theirs gets destroyed as well. Featuring a colorful cast of unique characters and settings, Awesomenauts definitely got our attention. Read our preview for more on this indie title.

Anyone anxiously waiting for Capcom’s upcoming RPG title can get a taste of the action when the demo for Dragon’s Dogma hits Xbox Live and PlayStation Network tomorrow.

The demo lets players control a party of three Pawns and lets you design and control two of the game’s character classes, the Fighter and the Strider, and play through two unique encounters. As the melee professional Fighter, you’ll venture through underground tunnels until you battle the deadly Chimerain. Using your daggers and bows, you’ll then lead the Strider on a quest to defeat the mighty Griffin.

One of the neat parts about the demo is that you can take time customizing your characters using the in-game character creation tools, and then easily export them to the full game once it launches next month.

Dragon’s Dogma is headed to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on May 22.

There was a small indie booth at PAX East that players kept revisiting throughout the weekend. That booth belonged to the team at Ronimo Games who had flown all the way from the Netherlands to showcase Awesomenauts, their newest title that can best be described as an outer space version of League of Legends with 2D shooter and RPG elements thrown in.

The core of Awesomenauts is its deathmatch multiplayer that puts teams of three players against one another. Each team’s goal is to make its way across the other side of the map destroying the opponent’s defense turrets and ultimately its base. You’ll also need to be mindful of your own base’s defenses and juggle offense and defensive strategies to survive.

You can choose from six different colorful characters, each one having a specialized set of talents and skills. Froggy G excels at moving quickly, Leon is a stealthy backstabber, Sherrif Clunk is the game’s tank, Yuri kills from a distance, Voltar is the healer, and Sherrif Lonestar is great at crowd control. Once your team selects its characters, you can then choose their load-outs and abilities they will have at their disposal.

Once the match starts, your goal is to destroy the opposite colored turrets and enemy robots coming from your enemy’s base. Each robot or human player you kill will also drop currency you can use to purchase those abilities you chose for your character at the start of the match. They’re not automatically unlocked until you buy or upgrade them, so the more enemies you kill, the more your character can “level up” and get stronger.

Awesomenauts’ seamless matchmaking system also means you won’t have to wait too long to enjoy matches as computer controlled robots will take over slots on your team until you find another human player. Of course, these robots aren’t as smart as human players, so the game continues to search for teammates while you play. The game lets you go online with up to two local buddies or play local multiplayer split-screen matches too.

Matches can truly last a long time if both teams know what they are doing. I noticed a few players kept coming back to play several times and while their first few matches only lasted mere minutes, their third match must have lasted at least fifteen minutes. The game really promotes replayability and I can tell its painless drop-in drop-out system will make finding matches a breeze.

Look for Awesomenauts next month when it launches on PlayStation Network May 1 and on Xbox Live Arcade May 2.

Aside from being a clever portmanteau that makes me think of brawling avocados, Guacamelee is an incredibly charming platformer by Drinkbox Studios that was as much of a joy to play as it was to just watch. What really drew me into the game, aside from its tried-and-true “Metroidvania” genre, was its colorful art style and the fact that the game is inspired by Mexican folklore.

The game’s main character is Juan Aguacate, an agave field worker who gets killed and finds a magical luchador mask in the world of the dead that not only brings him back to life but also grants him the wrestling powers he needs to stop his killer from uniting the world of the dead with the living. One of the animators working on the game is himself Mexican, and serves as the team’s go-to person for reference questions. Of course, the team has taken liberties with its game, but you should definitely expect to see various motifs and cultural allusions as you play.

Combat in the game revolves around, appropriately enough, melee moves that you can expand. Juan can do basic punching combos, but he can also grab and throw enemies onto each other and roll to dodge attacks. Common wrestling moves like pile-drivers and uppercuts also appear in the game, but these moves are unlocked with the story and make Juan not only stronger, but also let him explore areas that are initially blocked off. Other moves like turning into chickens to explore small areas are as funny as they are helpful.

My time with the game let me explore a large part of the world that included as much wall jumping as it did combat, but it also introduced a unique ability that let me switch between the world of the living and the world of the dead in an instant. Once Juan gets this ability, you can press a button and dimensions will change causing lava, for example, to turn into water or an invisible platform to appear. This feature reminded me a lot of Mighty Switch Force since you sometimes had to time your jumps with the dimensional shifts. Not only does this set the stage for puzzles and exploration, but it also affects combat since some enemies will also escape into the other dimension during fights.

I played through the demo with the game’s technical director via local co-cop who took on the role of the game’s female protagonist. As we were individually fighting our own targets, he told me his team is working on implementing more co-op moves that let players combine and link attacks more dynamically.

Drinkbox hopes to release the game on all consoles by the end of the year and is working on finishing up the game by building their world even further. If the demo is any indication, Guacamelee is another great example of how studios can expand on a genre and still keep their games feeling fresh. (After all, the best guacamole is, in fact, made with fresh avocados)

Hell Yeah! is a game about a rabbit named Ash, the prince of Hell who had some racy photos of him and his rubber ducky spread all over the internet. He also happens to have a short temper and could be considered clinically insane because his way of restoring his reputation is to simply kill everyone.

Developed by Arkedo Studios and published by Sega, Hell Yeah! is a colorful, gory, and energetic platformer that shares similarities to games that encourage exploration and backtracking, a genre often referred to as “Metroidvania.” As you make your way through the game, you’ll encounter areas you simply cannot pass through until you find a new weapon, power-up, or simply trigger a reaction in another area of your map.

As I played through the demo, Ash eventually picks up a rotary drill that not only serves as his main weapon, but also gives him the ability to “spin-dash” his way through the stage and off walls and ledges. I was instantly reminded of Sonic the Hedgehog. When I brought this up with Camille Guermonprez, Arkedo’s co-founder, he nodded and verified that this was in fact a reference to his studio’s relationship with Sega and, in a way, makes Ash out to be a “a bad Sonic with anger management issues.”

Once I got my rotary drill, Ash was also able to drill through pink crystals that blocked pathways and also held gems, the game’s currency, which I could later use to purchase missiles to defeat enemies that took no damage from my drill’s attacks. Guermonprez told me the game has 100 unique enemies, each with its own weakness and attack style. Some of these enemies also can’t simply be killed by running them over or shooting them with missiles so when you try to kill them, a mini-game will pop up on screen for you to play. Succeed in these game, whether it’s tapping buttons quickly, pressing them at a specific time, or hitting them in a specific order, and Ash will completely massacre his foes and gore will spew all over your screen. It’s quite colorful and also very graphic.

But that’s what also caught my attention about Hell Yeah! While the game may deal with sensitive topics, not every player will get its potty humor. Guermonprez compared this to Pixar movies where parents laugh at the subtle humor while kids may simply miss it altogether. His daughter for, example, has an innocent viewpoint as to why Ash is not happy that people saw him with his ducky. For her, he is simply angry. Still, the game will be rated M in the US but PEGI 12 in the UK. Localizing some of the game’s jokes has also proven difficult, he mentioned, as the subtle punch lines are often lost in translation.

My brief demo with the game took me a while to complete simply because there was so much to explore and many areas that would require revisiting. There were a few instances of trial-and-error, and I was constantly looking at my map to see where I had to go next because there were so many interconnecting paths. When I defeated a monster, more paths opened up for me to discover. This, coupled with the various weapons you unlock, provided for a much layered experience.  Guermonprez promises Hell Yeah!’s single player mode is so huge and full of customization that he did not see a need for it to have a multiplayer mode.

While Guermonprez told me he literally finished the game on Thursday, the same day he left France to head to Boston, Hell Yeah! doesn’t have a definite release date yet. Expect the game to come out sometime this summer on both Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network and expect to experience Hell in a whole new light.

LOS ANGELES — Blast Gaming Editor Joe Sinicki and Blast Editor John Guilfoil are in The Los Angeles Sports Arena for Sony’s press conference. Stick with us for up to the minute updates.

We open to a rather long video, then Jack Tretton shows up, he’s talking about the PSN hack. He days you’re welcome to the press and thanks well…pretty much everyone.

Consumers are the lifeblood of the company. He apologizes for the hack.

Triton encourages those who left or who are afraid to embrace it as a result of the hack to open up to the brand.

Sony will soon be offering free access to cinema now.

Naughty Dog is now on the stage to talk Uncharted 3. Its new footage not seen anywhere else. A boat level where Drake is constantly swaying and yes, it’s gorgeous.

Water effects are fantastic.

Like previous Uncharted games, the scale on this game is astounding.

As you’d expect, very cinematic, very cool.

Multiplayer beta begins June 28.

New contest will give people first access to entire game.

New level features Drake scaling an airplane as it takes off.

Marcus Smith from Insomniac is up to talk about Resistance 3.

Were seeing new footage from the St. Louis section of the game.

It, like most other games in the lineup is on 3D. Not completely sold on the tech, but it works well here.

Were now talking PlaystAtion move. Were getting a bundle with everything you news for the move, the sharpshooter and r3.

God of war, ice and shadow of colossus are getting 3d treatments.

Two new 3d products, one a 24 inch display. It will be able to let two people see two distinct 3d images. Were also getting a more affordable pair of 3d glasses. There’s also a bundle with the monitor, glasses And resistance for $499.

2k sports is now up to talk NBA 2k12 with the move.

NBA on the move will allow easy play with move controller.

Kobe Bryant is here. He’s going to show how easy it is to play with the move. He doesn’t seem to be doing so well.

Kobe calla the game so realistic it’s frightening. It comes out October 12.

Were now seeing medievmoves, a new move game from the team that made sports champions.

No inventory system, what weapon you use depends on what motions you use.

This reminds me of sorcery from last year. Wonder what happened to it.

It features pretty impressive 1-1 motion.

It’s available this fall.

Were looking at infamous 2. Yeah, we know it comes out tomorrow.

The game gets user created content and move support this fall. Little big planet 2 gets further move support as well.

Starhawk is up next. Great reaction from the crowd.

Jack is now talking about a return, it better be… It is…. Sly Cooper is back!

Sly Cooper: thieves on time coming next year.

Dust 514 only for PS3. Will combine with Eve Online.

The ability to create one persistent world is awesome. Dust looks great too.

Closed beta hits this fall.

Bioshock infinite is shown. Incredible.

Looks so much different than any other game on the series.

Ken Levine talks about the move and his doubts. He talks how Sony has made him a believer by allowing new people to experience his games.

Yes, Bioshock infinite will feature move functionality.

Bioshock is also coming to the NGP.

Saints row 3 will feature brand new ps exclusive content. So will the new Star Trek game.

New phaser peripheral coming.

At an alpha stage. The game looks impressive.

SSX will feature exclusive content, as will need for speed: the run.

Battlefield 3 on PS3 will include bartledie 1943 on ps3 only.

Kazuo Hirai is up to talk about NGP.

Playstation suite will allow ps content to be available on android smart phones and tablets.

It’s official. It’s PlayStation Vita. It’ll be working with AT&T for 3G versions. The crowd laughed and booed at that.

Near is a streetpass like system for vita.

Uncharted Golden Abyss is being demonstrated.

So wait, is there only touch controls for combat?

The game is very heavy on touch control.

Next were talking about Ruin, a social action rpg compatible with the vita and ps3. So far…kind of underwhelming.

Saves will work on PS3 via cloud tech.

Mod Nation Racers is coming to Vita.

Where is Kevin Butler?

Mod Nation Vita will feature a cool track editor that you can trace with your fingers. Even the lighting can be changed.

PS3 tracks will work with Vita Mod Nation Racers.

Little Big Planet Vita is coming. Will revolutionize portable gaming. Rather cool ways that the features work with already in game mechanics. It will allow you to use textures from pictures as well as the PS3 game.

Sf x Tekken is coming to Vita.

Cole from Infamous joins the game.

Vita will be available this holiday. Wifi only retails for $249. The 3G model goes for $299.

The PSN store is fast becoming the premiere testing ground for smaller indie games. For every Limbo that Microsoft throws into the spotlight, Sony usually has three other strange, yet lovable little games available that you should also be playing. Such is the case with Hoard, the latest to hit the PS3 download scene.

Essentially a cross between a strategic, dual-stick shooter and a board game, Hoard pits up to four dragons against each other over a medieval landscape in a contest of wealth and plunder. The gameplay is, at heart, pretty simple. You fly around an overhead map, attacking villages, caravans, castles, and other human constructions, pick up the gold left behind from the attack, and bring it back to your lair. The dragon with the most gold at the end of the game wins. Easy-peasy.

There are variations on the theme, of course. One game mode focuses on kidnapping and ransoming princess, for instance. Anytime you put a royal damsel in distress, the pesky humans will send out knights (aka, fried food) to rescue her. Hold on to the gal long enough and the humans give up and just provide the ransom instead. As it turns out, this is an incredibly lucrative career choice, as those princesses are worth lots of gold.

The interaction with towns is an area of particular creativity in Hoard. Sure, you can go around blindly burning everything to the ground, but as is so true in life, if you merely hurt them just enough, the humans will give up and start working for you. So long as you don’t destroy their town center, a conquered town will stop attacking you (while their archers will continue to attack your opponents) and send a steady stream of gold-laden caravans to your lair in what can only be presumed as a pre-Mafia, fantasy protection racket.

Letting towns prosper also makes the pay offs far more substantial. Caravans might start out carrying a few hundred gold, but as the game progresses, will end up containing three or four times as much. Beyond merely attacking towns, caravans, and princesses, the board offers several other creative obstacles. Wizard towers offer tons of gold and even special gems, but are absurdly well protected. One blast from a tower will send your dragon straight back to its lair to regenerate health.

Giants will often appear later in a game and start rampaging against both humans and dragon kind. If you attack one hard enough, it will get distracted and follow you instead of attacking a village. From there, you can potentially lead the idiotic brute to towns protected by other dragons, or just set it off to terrorize the hillsides. There are a lot of little touches like this that affect the gameplay in minor ways, but add up to a level of strategy that will please RTS-centric gamers without completely leaving casual players or newcomers behind.

While there are certainly some layers of depth to Hoard, the game is, at heart, built around the same sensibilities of a board game. There’s no persistent level building from game to game. You build up your dragons stats within a single game, but nothing remains past that. The maps vary in size, but are all fairly small and don’t change in any fashion beyond buildings falling and rising. The whole entertainment value of the game relies entirely on its pick-up-and-play design. Matches last about ten minutes, and then the game kicks you back out to the main menu.

The visuals are more utilitarian than beautiful. Hoard looks fine for what it offers, but the maps are rather bland looking, with simplistic representations of buildings and human units. The single player games consist purely of tutorials or bot-matches, so anyone expecting a story-driven campaign or anything beyond simple multiplayer will be out of luck.

For about $15, Hoard offers a distinctively fun and creative multiplayer game. It’s one of the few games that works equally well whether all players are in the same room or across the globe. Hoard is sure to draw in non-traditional gamers who want a game that mixes easy action with more strategic, slower pacing. That’s not to say Hoard is slow—it’s still all about gathering up as much gold as quickly as possible.

Blast Factor: Hoard is a pretty narrow game. It’s not epic or particularly deep, and is mostly just for players who want a quick match of something different. That said, the game goes about giving players a creatively fun multiplayer experience very well.

SEATTLE — Who didn’t ever wish to be Godzilla at one time or another and destroy a whole city? This game is all about that.

In Eat Them, you start by creating a monster. They give options for its upper body, lower body, arms, legs and head. So your monster could have three legs, or just one big one. Your monster can have a claw, or a circular saw for a right arm. You can be Godzilla or Robot Godzilla.

The game starts with you in a city with your monster. The goal of the game is to wreak as much havoc as monstrously possible. The level is played with the PS2 controller, with a different button for each type of attack, one for his head, one for each of his arms and one for his legs.

I was also told you can actually pick up the people in the city and eat them, but I was unable to get the game to do that.

It was incredibly satisfying smashing the buildings and stomping on people and vehicles. As the game progresses they send more and more police and military after you to stop you. This starts with a couple of cop cars, than goes up to helicopters and tanks. The more they throw at you the harder the game gets, but your score is based on dollars of damage and casualties, so you want to destroy everything. The game has a red outline of where in the city you can go and that line moves when you destroy enough of the city.

The details in the game are well done, with people streaming out of buildings before they collapse, and the different building styles, and even train tracks in the demo that I got to play. The game features comic book graphics and style — simple but effective.

I thought the game was a lot of fun, if you are feeling frustrated, or angry you can take your anger out on virtual buildings and level a city that you shouldn’t attempt in real life.

SEATTLE — Kung Fu Rider will be coming the PlayStation Network, and it will use the Move Controller. The game features an office worker in Hong Kong riding less traditional "vehicles" down the busy streets.

It was described as similar in style to Crazy Taxi, and we wholeheartedly agree. The demo that we got to play was with an office chair. The character sits on the office chair, backwards, using the seat back as a steering wheel. The final game will feature a variety of weird vehicles.

The movements are fairly simple. You move the controller up and down to go faster, quick upward jerk will cause the chair to jump, so you can leap over objects and grind on rails if you land correctly. They also use two buttons on the controller, one to lean the character back, to duck under objects, and another to do a round house kick. This makes the controls very simple. The game was very arcade like also with the graphics very cartoonish.

The animations in the game when you’d lean back, kick or jump or even when you’d get knocked off your chair were hilarious. Getting knocked off your chair happens in slow motion, with an exaggerated fall backwards.

The object of the levels was to get to the bottom within a time limit, and falling off would punish you by losing time and speed. They have money scattered throughout the level to collect for points.

I thought it was a fun, and quick game. It’s not going to be a real deep story line game, but if you want something quick and fun, you’ll like Kung Fu Rider.

Kung Fu Rider is for 1-2 players and comes out this month.

Game features:

• Find the best routes of escape while racing through 27 exciting courses in six unique areas of Hong Kong.
• Slide solo in single-player mode or have a friend use a PlayStation Move motion controller to aim a "target" around the screen in order to collect items and fend off enemies in the offline multi-player co-op mode.
• Unlock 12 new vehicles that will help you make a speedy getaway through the streets of Hong Kong.
• Check out the tally screen at the end of each race to see your reactions captured by the PlayStation Eye camera during your most extreme wipeouts.

Regardless of the turmoil between Modern Warfare 2 developer Infinity Ward and publisher Activision, MW2 is still out there and is a hugely popular, chart-dominating online shooter.

And it’s likely to get even more popular today, as Activision and Sony today will release the first batch of the game’s downloadable content, the “Stimulus Package,” for the Sony faithful on the PlayStation Network.

Even at its steep $15 price point and its inclusion of two CoD4 map remakes, the DLC sold heaps and heaps on Xbox Live. Wonder how it’ll fare with the Sony crowd?

Read the full announcement on the PlayStation Blog and keep you eyes fixed on Infinity Ward creative strategist Robert Bowling on Twitter @FourZeroTwo for information on when exactly the DLC will go live.

Frantic, frenetic combat racing on the PlayStation Network just got cheaper today.

Sony, this morning announced a slew of price drops happening on the PSN, but the best one is definitely a temporary 50 percent price drop on combat racing title “WipEout HD,” effective immediately and running until next Wednesday.

WipEout HD is on sale for $9.99 (regular price $19.99) Offer good through Wednesday, 4/21
Valhalia Knights 2: Battle Stance Permanent Price Drop (now $19.99, original price $29.99)
Tank Battles Sale (now $4.99, original price $6.99)
TV Show King Sale (now $4.99, original price $6.99)
UNO Sale (now $4.99, original price $7.99)

Can’t think of a better way to start a weekend off than by saving money and playing a great game. OK, maybe this is better, but where could you ever find that?

Source: The PlayStation Blog

Braid, the mini-adventure game from Hothead Games, is finally primed for a PlayStation Network debut.

After seeing release on the PC and the Xbox Live Arcade, Braid comes to the PSN in North America Nov. 12, followed by a “later date” for European markets.

Braid has a truly unique hand-drawn art style, an interesting game mechanic in controlling time, and now mass appreciation, sadly, it’s on my shame list of games I’ve yet to play.

Anyway, head on over to the game’s official page for more information on anything you can imagine, except rabid wildebeests.

Fate/Unlimited Codes is a fighting game which was initially released for arcades and the PS2. Capcom has developed a PSP version for fans of the original game and anime. Based on the visual novel Fate/stay night, Fate/Unlimited Codes collects these characters (divided into Masters and Servants) and has them fight each other in what is known as a Grail War. The winner gets to fulfill their hearts desire thanks to the Holy Grail. The game’s visuals match those of most anime and are consistent throughout the game.

In the vein of fighters such as Tekken, Fate/Unlimited Codes is a basic fighting game where you go head to head with other characters while trying to execute combo moves to beat the other player. The game starts with 14 characters, with all the main Fate/Stay characters from the anime present along with some original characters. You can also unlock three other characters as you fight through the Arcade mode. There are three initial fighting modes as well as an unlockable Survival Mode which adds to the amount of fun you can have. When you begin the Arcade Mode, the character you selected follows their own storyline in order to obtain what they want when they win the Grail War. This gives each of the characters a certain amount of depth and also rewards repeat game play since each character’s story unfolds as you fight through the Arcade mode.

When you begin the Arcade Mode, you start with a small cinematic introduction where the two fighters tough talk each other (a la most anime). The arena stages are instantly striking and visually impressive, but you’re only given as much room as in a regular fighting game. The soundtrack creates a tense mood which helps to get players into the fighting spirit. As fights progress, players can utilize special combo moves which can also trigger cinematic sequences which are seamlessly integrated into the fight. With each battle, more and more information and bonuses are unlocked. Once the Arcade mode is completed, you can also undergo numerous missions to unlock various other things. Mission Mode is where players are forced to show their fighting abilities.

Now, while these positive aspects exist in the game, the game is rather two dimensional. Fights can easily be won by pressing various buttons, even on the highest difficulty level. The A.I. controlling the opposing fighter is not very impressive and can’t really put up an entertaining fight. This reduces the experience of the Arcade mode to a series of button mashing sessions and robs players of the ability to truly display any level of skill against their opponent. Fighting, the main focus of the game, is where the game is lacking. The combos are easy to use but barely essential and the character graphics are lacking, especially considering the level of graphics available which have been utilized among other fighting games.

Another large detractor from the game is the fact that it is mainly in Japanese. While most of the pre-fight sequences are subbed in English for background, the cinematic preludes to the fights are not. It can be a little distracting to have to read while the characters speak in Japanese, and it can get downright annoying when coupled with the lousy fight put up by the A.I.

However, the game has an Ad Hoc multiplayer which completely removes the computer’s limited A.I. In the multiplayer, you and a friend can go head to head against one another in order to showcase your skills and see who is the better fighter. The gameplay on the Ad Hoc network gives the game a much needed boost in fun and is one of the highlights of the game.

Blast Factor: All in all, this game is acceptable. The lame‚  A.I., subpar graphics, lack of English voicework and limitations of the arena definitely bring down what could be an awesome fighting experience. Multiplayer is where the game shines, and the survival mode presents more of a challenge than the Arcade mode can at “Hard.” If you’re a fan of the visual novel or anime fighting games in general, then this game was made for you. If you’re just looking for a fighting game for long road trips, this game is entertaining enough with its plot to keep you interested.

Fate/unlimited codes is available on the Playstation Network for download at the cost of $29.99

Those who have been waiting, rejoice! Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 is now available through the Playstation Network. However, there is also a limited retail release of the game at Gamestop for $14.99.

People who buy the limited retail copy will recieve a code to digitally download the game from the Playstation Network and also a redemption code for a month’s subscription of digital comics from Marvel.com.

There are only 15,000 retail copies available though, so if you want one you’re going to have to be quick to get a copy. Curious about our thoughts on the game? Check out our review for the Xbox 360 version.

ZEN Pinball, the 3D pinball game which has been a hit on the PS3, will be receiving its first expansion pack on August 20, 2009. The expansion will be a Street Fight II Tribute table and will be available through the Playstation Network.

The new table will allow players to experience the arcade thrills of a realistic pinball experience combined with the awesomeness of the Street Fighter franchise. The soundtrack, sound effects and voices used for the expansion come straight from Street Fighter II. As you use the various ramps and orbit shots, you can fight through the World Warrior Championship until you beat M. Bison himself! This add on is a must have for fans of Street Fighter as well as anyone looking to have a more interesting round of Pinball on the PS3.

For more information, check out Capcom’s site for Street Fighter info and ZEN Pinball’s website for more information on their game.

Harmonix revealed today that a Bonnaroo-inspired track pack will be inbound next week, sporting the heavy-hitters of the annual Tennessee music festival.

It’s been a dream of mine to attend the show in person some year, but now if tickets fall through I’ll have both the chance to see the show broadcast on TV and play some of the tunes in Rock Band.

Here’s the track list:

Ben Harper and Relentless7 “" “Shimmer & Shine”
Coheed and Cambria “" “A Favor House Atlantic”
Coheed and Cambria “" “The Running Free”
Phish “" “Wilson (live)”
Shooter Jennings “" “Steady at the Wheel”
TV on the Radio “" “Wolf Like Me”

All tracks are master recordings and will be available next Tuesday (Xbox 360) and Thursday (PS3), priced at $1.99/160 MS Points a pop or $9.99/800 MS Points for the entire Bonnaroo Pack.

Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2009

Tired of teamwork, sharing, saving Sheva’s ass when she gets pinned? Ready to make some heads explode on your own?‚  Capcom feels your anguish and is offering up an online multiplayer mode to satiate that consuming thirst for blood of yours.

Resident Evil 5 ventures even further away from its origins with “Versus” mode pitting players against each other in a contest of survival.

Play as Chris or Sheva (or other secret characters) and either duke it out 1 v 1 or as a team in 2 v 2 competing in two very different game types:

Slayers Rule- is a point-based game that challenges players to kill of the games horrifying Majinis.

Survivors Rule- challenges gamers to track down and kill each other.‚  Classic slayer mode.

Versus will be available on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network “a few weeks” after the release of RE5 (tomorrow) with pricing set at 400 MS points and $4.99.

Sony confirmed today via the official PlayStation website that somene may have used a PC to access and expose user data on the popular Playstation Network online system.

In a web posting, Sony warns that some users could be victimized, their personal infomration viewed and games and downloads charged to their credit cards.

“We have investigated the extent of unauthorized access and possible alteration of passwords that could have occurred before corrective measures were taken, and are directly contacting customers who may have been affected by this incident,” Sony said in a statement Thursday. “In order to verify that your account is intact, we strongly suggest that PlayStation Network users sign in to the service. If you can successfully sign in with your pre-set password, your account is not affected by this incident.”

It is important to note that while the Playstation Network does store user credit card information for purchases, this data is not visible to anyone (including the user) after entered.

So, presumably,the hackers can’t use people’s credit cards for anything other than PlayStation Network downloads.

While Sony has said that they will be contacting users effected by the breach directly, they encourage anyone who believes they might be experiencing problems that can not be resolved from the methods listed on the website to e-mail them directly.