PS3 adds VUDU streaming service for HD movies on demand

Sony announced yesterday that HD video streaming service VUDU will be coming to the PS3 via an application that will launch November 23. VUDU offers over 4,000 HD movies from all major Hollywood studios, and even has movies up the same day they’re released to Blu-ray Disc. Many titles are even available for only $2 for a two-night rental. “PS3 is tailor-made for the high-quality, high-speed VUDU streaming experience,” said Edward Lichty, general manager, VUDU. “Now with VUDU on PS3, we are able to deliver a completely immersive experience to those loyal to their entertainment system when they want, where they want.” The VUDU app will be available in the “Media” section of the PlayStation Store. If you’re new to the VUDU service, you even get a $5.99 credit, so you can give it a try on a new release.

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Sonic turns 19, makes us feel better about being old with prizes and a sale

It happens a lot more these days – I get the message that “Such-and-such game character is turning 15 this week!” and I remember my first encounter with that character, when I may or may not have been in elementary school. Except this time it’s Sonic the Hedgehog, he’s turning 19, and I was definitely in preschool. Nothing like not-quite-retro gaming to make you feel old, right? It’s okay, though. In celebration of the speedy blue guy’s birthday, SEGA’s having a sale on all digital Sonic titles, which includes those up for sale on the Xbox LIVE Arcade, PlayStation Store and iPhone/iPad App Store. (For a full list, see this post over at the Sonic blog.) In addition, there may be a few goodies on the way if you follow Sonic’s Twitter and Facebook pages.

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“LittleBigPlanet” Adds a Much-Needed Dose of Cute to “Heavy Rain”

This week, two PS3-exclusives are crossing paths, and they’re two titles you wouldn’t expect – the “interactive drama” Heavy Rain and Media Molecule’s adorable platformer LittleBigPlanet. You can now dress your Sackboy or Sackgirl as any of the main characters – well, if you’re in the US, anyway. Readers in the UK, your definition of “now” is Wednesday, and the rest of Europe gets them on Thursday. So, what levels do you think are going to appear with these costumes in the wild? It wouldn’t be unrealistic to expect some recreations of portions of the game. I’m personally hoping for a new version of “Press X to Jason.” [Source: Kotaku]

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Final Fantasy IX Confirmed for PSN in North America

If you want to play fan-favorite Final Fantasy IX, you’ll have a little bit of a wait before it escapes its disc prison. Sure, the Japanese version will be in the PlayStation Store on May 20, but North Americans are going to have to wait. Of course. How long? Well, PlayStation.Blog isn’t giving an exact date. Just “soon.” Also coming soon? The announcement of a release date. Everything’s coming soon with you guys, isn’t it?

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Lost Planet 2 Multiplayer Demo Open to the World

Hooray! If you’ve been waiting for access to the Lost Planet 2 demo that’s been going around with all of its early access and sneakery and donating money to charity, you finally get your shot today! No, we don’t have any more access codes, but we do have information that you can just download it on the PlayStation Store and the Xbox LIVE Marketplace starting today! (So, like I said, hooray!) The demo includes just one of the ten available maps on the retail disc, which will be available on May 11. In the meantime, though, download the demo before May 5 to help contribute to the charity effort I linked above.

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LittleBigPlanet Gets a Little More…Incredible

Your copy of LittleBigPlanet will be getting a little more “super” starting April 8. Well, as long as we’re talking about superheroes, anyway. (LBP was already quite super on its own, thanks.) The LittleBigPlanet costume kit for Disney/Pixar’s “The Incredibles” features nine costumes, including the stock “Incredibles” getup, and fashions to transform your Sackperson into allies Frozone and Edna Mode. A costume for nemesis Syndrome will also be available, as well as a “retro” Mr. Incredible. No capes allowed. Rounding out all this “Incredible” content is The Incredibles Level Kit, which gives you a Gallery Level to obtain all of the materials necessary for making your own Incredibles levels. The level kit includes locations from the film, such as the Parr family home and Nomanisan Island. A little earlier than that, the LittleBigStore will feature an April Fools’ “Fragrances” costume (no, I’m not making that up) for PS3, and an

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PlayStation Store’s Spring Fever Sale Starts Tomorrow

From March 25 to June 1, the PlayStation Store will be in full-blown Spring Fever! Yeah, it’s time for the Spring Fever sale again. This week, PSN is offering exclusives Gravity Crash and Everyday Shooter for half off ($4.99). For future weeks’ offers, check the PlayStation Store, or just go to PlayStation.Blog. The sale also features some benefits to PlayStation Home users as well. If you buy something every week, you can complete an entire “Spring Bumblebee” or “Spring Flower” costume. There are five parts, corresponding to the five weeks. This week’s item? Shoes. Buy something every week to complete your costume, and you get to “buzz” all around Home! (I don’t know what you do if you already have everything on sale that week.) Hopefully some awesome deals come out of the sale!

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ZEN Studios’ Move-Compatible Planet MiniGolf Announced, Accompanied by Screenshots and a Trailer, Of Course

ZEN Studios, makers of Zen Pinball, have taken that engine to a new course – the minigolf course, actually. Later this Spring (only in the PlayStation Store), ZEN’s Planet Minigolf will bring their acclaimed ball physics to several beautiful courses with over 140 holes in a deep single-player campaign. There will be multiplayer, of course, and competition modes. ZEN provided a full list of features: A deep and engaging single player campaign taking players through fantastically designed courses with over 140 different holes Worldwide Tournament Play – Set up personal tournaments with a group of friends or go online up against gamers from around the world! Golf Course Editor – Build, manage and share golf courses…make them crazy, challenging and wacky and then upload to share them online! PlayStation Move Functionality – Planet MiniGolf will be fully compatible with PlayStation 3’s upcoming motion control system, “Move” Multi-national Game – Countries

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New DJ Hero Tracks From Eminem and Jay-Z Coming March 18

DJ Hero Renegade Edition headliners Eminem and Jay-Z are coming to three new DJ Hero tracks to be released on the PlayStation Store ($7.99) and Xbox LIVE Arcade (640 MS Points) on March 18 as the JAY-Z vs. Eminem Mix Pack. Songs in this mix pack are: “Shake That” by Eminem Mixed With “Show Me What You Got” by JAY-Z “Without Me” by Eminem Mixed With “Encore” by JAY-Z “Can I Get A…” by JAY-Z Mixed With “Lose Yourself” by Eminem This is the third Mix Pack available for DJ Hero.

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Reverb’s Publishing Program Brings More to the Digital Marketplace

Reverb Communications, a company best-known for public relations and marketing (they’ve worked with RedOctane of Guitar Hero fame in the past), announced their plans to offer digital publishing today to help smaller and mid-level developers get their project to the digital marketplace. So, for any digital title, they’ll be taking care of all the little things leading up to release: ESRB submission, testing, first-party submission, and accounting. They are able to submit games to the PlayStation Store, Xbox LIVE Arcade, the App Store, and WiiWare. They’ve already done this (and had success!) with quite a few digital titles, like Greed Corp, iSamJackson and Cro-Mag Rally. To learn more about their digital publishing offerings, visit http://www.reverbpublishing.com.

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