Gran Turismo 5 fans are treated with a new update for the PS3 exclusive racer. The new update will bring the game to version 2.03 and add a bunch of improvements to the experience. Along with the update, 2 DLC will be available for purchase as of today. Starting off with the all new Car Pack 3 , priced at $5.99 , which will include six cars: the astonishing Lamborghini Aventador, Jaguar XJR-9 LM, Ashton Martin V12 Vantage, 66′ Volkswagen 1200, Mini Cooper S Countryman, and the Nissan Leaf. A new test Course pack will also be available for the price of $3.99 . The course pack will feature Route X test course , best described by PlayStation blog as a “massive oval with giant banking corners”. Here is Update 2.03 full details: Improvements: – 12 new My Home theme colors and 12 new wallpapers for (GT Mode) have been added to the game. Please find these from the [My Home Settings]-[My Home Design] menu on the left side of the screen. – Tire wear speed prediction has been added to the pit stop decisions in B-Spec, to prevent tires from wearing out completely during long races. – Regenerative braking (which recovers energy by converting kinetic energy into electricity) in electric cars have been made stronger to extend driving distance. – Electric cars will now also creep forward (as in standard automatic cars) when the brake is released without pressing the accelerator. – Regarding the Chaparral 2J race car’s performance points, the increased performance factor due to the downforce produced by the fan is now calculated. Correction of Known Issues: – A issue has been corrected where the car would pit in unintentionally during the last lap of a B spec race. For more details on upcoming Gran Turismo 5 DLC stay tuned to PS3Blog.net

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Gran Turismo 5 Update [2.03] and New DLC detailed

Naughty Dog’s new DLC entitled Flashback (Available in the PlayStation store at the moment) will feature 4 new/old maps digitally remastered with dynamic lighting effects, new textures, weather effects and few technical changes from the 2010 game of the year winner Uncharted 2. The maps Cave, Fort, Lost City, and Sanctuary are available for the price of $9.99 . If you are a member of the Fortune Hunters’ Club then this DLC is completely free of charge. For more details on the Fortune Hunters’ Club (AKA Uncharted 3 season pass) check our previous post . Naughty Dog has also detailed 3 upcoming character packs including Rogues Pack 1 and 2 which will let you play as some of the major thugs and minor characters from Uncharted 3, and the Donut Pack 1 , which, if you guessed, will grant some of your favorite characters from Uncharted 3 a giant size. Donut Sully for the win! The developer has also teased an “online adventure” DLC to be announced later. This can be best described as a new campaign DLC *fingers crossed*. For more details on the upcoming DLC from Naughty Dog visit the official PlayStation Blog . Are you excited about the new DLC? Let us know in the comments below.

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Incoming Uncharted 3 DLC | Flashback

Loyal Minions! Anybody who has MW3 and would like to get their game on with a minor internet celebrity – yours truly – feel free to join in the hijinx this Friday. Join in and be privy to all sorts of craziness and random acts of tomfoolery. Be sure to join up so we can talk about Tosh behind his back and start nasty rumors about Jcmdaddy. And as always feel free to join up for the game night and tell me how much you love/hate/loathe our high quality podcast! At the end of the day it’s all about having fun, right? When I invite you to the XMB text chat room. PLEASE JOIN IT! If you have a headset, even better – but it’s no required… Makes it much easier to communicate quickly if we loose somebody. Plus this is where I share the secret word so you can get your game night points below. Enter the secret word sent to you on the PSN by the game host to get your 100 points! We will begin around 5 pm PST, 6 pm MST (UTC -7), 8 pm EST; I can play for at least 3 hours. If you’d like to join us, leave your PSN ID below. My PSN iD is FooBear408, but mention “PS3Blog.net Game Night” in your PSN friend request message or I will NOT add you. And if you happen to get a random survey from PS3BLOG.NET’s Management regarding my performance, can i count on you to give me 5 out of 5 stars? I’ll be there like shareware, ya’all!

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[Game Night] Modern Warfare 3 | Jan 20th

Amy is probably my most anticipated PSN game of all time. I got a chance to look at is closely at E3 last year, and wrote this preview . Unfortunately, we now have to wait another week to play it, however it is only going to cost $9.99 now. From what I’ve seen, the game is easily worth a full retail release, and $9.99 is going to be a steal! Hit the jump for the official press release, and three awesome looking screens. Lexis Numérique and VectorCell today announced that they will drop the PSN price of AMY in the US to $9.99, which will therefore push the release date back to January 17, 2012. The delay in release is because changing a price in the PlayStation™ Store system takes some time because of technical reasons linked to the servers. This price drop will not effect the release of AMY in the other territories, or on other platforms, as the release date for the XBLA version is still slated for January 11, 2012, for 800 MS points in the US. Following initial confusion over the price difference between both versions in the US, Lexis Numérique and VectorCell decided to organize a poll that ended today at 12:00pm PST, to let the community decide what was the best solution between an immediate release with the current pricing scheme and a postponed release with a reduced price. 70% of the community advocated for a price drop while 30% agreed with the current price. Honoring their commitment to the players, Lexis Numérique and VectorCell asked Sony to drop the price of the PSN version in the US to $9.99. Source: Press Release

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Amy Will Release on Jan 17th for $9.99 and some New Screens

The end is coming to an end… everyone better run and renew their Playstation Plus subscriptions or subscribe for the first time since in December Sony is ending the year with a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! We get a FULL PS3 game for free AND a PSN release as well as a new minis as well as content from PS+ releases from the past that has passed us in passing. The image gives you a preview, but for a list of all the content AND the discounts we’ll enjoy during december, you need to read along and sing along and hop along and… read along some more? PS3 Full Game: Tomb Raider: Underworld (PS3 Full Game) – 12/6 Free PSN Game: Marvel Pinball (PSN Game) – 12/13 Free minis: Orbit (Early Access, Exclusive) – 12/6 Mad Blocker Alpha (mini) – 12/6 A Space Shooter for 2 Bucks! (mini) – 12/20 Free PS one Classics: Spyro the Dragon – 12/6 Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage – 12/6 Spyro Year of the Dragon – 12/6 Full Game Trials: Dragon Age II – 12/6 Need for Speed Hot Pursuit – 12/6 Alice: Madness Returns – 12/13 Call Of Juarez: Bound In Blood – 12/13 Red Faction: Armageddon – 12/13 Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway – 12/20 Carnival Island – 12/20 Motorstorm Apocalypse – 12/20 NCAA Football 12 – 12/20 Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands – 12/20 Sports Champions – 12/20 Media: Qore Episode 43 – December – 12/6 Discounted PSN Games: Penny Arcade Adventures: Episode 1 and 2 (Bundle) – 80% off – 12/6 Beat Hazard Ultra – 50% off – 12/13 Renegade Ops – 25% off – 12/20 SEGA Bass Fishing – 30% off – 12/20 Sonic Adventure (Game + Add-On) – 30% off – 12/20 Sonic 4: Episode 1 – 30% off – 12/20 SONIC’S HOLIDAY BUNDLE– 25% off – 12/20 Space Channel 5 Part 2 – 30% off – 12/20 Tales of Monkey Island Bundle – 75% off – 12/20 Discounted PS3 Full Games: Assassins Creed 2 Bundle – 30% off – 12/13 Assassins Creed Brotherhood Bundle – 30% off – 12/13 Borderlands Bundle– 25% off – 12/13 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Bundle – 25% off – 12/13 Homefront Bundle – 30% off – 12/13 Red Dead Redemption Bundle – 30% off – 12/13 Red Faction Armageddon Bundle – 30% off – 12/13 Split Second Bundle – 30% off – 12/13 Warhawk Bundle – 25% off – 12/13 LA NOIRE Bundle/Complete Edition – 30% off – 12/20 Discounted minis: Snowy – 75% off – 12/6 Ikari Warriors II: Victory Road – 20% off – 12/13 Psycho Soldier – 20% off – 12/13 Prehistoric Isle – 20% off – 12/20 P.O.W. – Prisoners Of War- 20% off – 12/20 Discounted Add-Ons: Marvel Pinball: Captain America (Add-on) – 50% off – 12/13 Marvel Pinball: Fantastic Four (Add-on) – 50% off – 12/13 Exclusive Themes and Avatars: I am Alive Dynamic Theme – 12/6 Exclusive Games: Orbit (Early Access, Exclusive) – 12/6 I like the discount (50% off!) on the extra Marvel Pinball tables. When we got Elemental Monster for free we had a chance to buy booster boxes at 50%… and that got me to spend $10 on the game so I was happy and the publisher (Hudson) was happy! I’ll be buying both pinball tables, Prehistoric Isle and I MIGHT get the LA Noire Complete Bundle if the price is right. Oh, and Beat Hazard Ultra! So, is the december content for PS+ a good enough deal for you to renew or subscribe?

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Playstation Plus Subscribers: Your December Content is Almost Here!

I had a chance to play the original side-scrolling fantasy action-adventure “Trine” recently and I loved it. It pushes some of the most dynamic and beautiful graphics ever made for a PSN title. Come December 20th , developer Frozenbyte and publisher Atlus will deliver the next installment in the series, entitled Trine 2 , on the PlayStation Network for North America . The European release date hasn’t been announced, the price hasn’t been confirmed either. But I would suspect a $14.99 tag. Hopefully a PlayStation Plus members’ discount will follow. If you haven’t seen Trine 2, check out the co-op video after the jump … Trine 2 will have enhanced features, graphical updates and (what I am personally excited about) online co-op . Mark your calenders for December 20th, as this Christmas’ magical adventure shouldn’t be missed.

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Trine 2

With the growing rumors implying that Sony’s and Microsoft’s next consoles may being revealed within the next year or so, I’m beginning to wonder just what it will cost to purchase software on these new systems. The price for video games has increased with the introduction of every new home console over the years. Back in the day games for the PS1 cost $40, the price for PS2 titles increased to $50 and today a brand new PS3 game will set you back $60. See the trend? Assuming the price for a new console game will set you back $70 will gamers finally ask how much is too much? If the next gen gaming experience is anything like what we’re seeing today – single player campaigns only lasting 6-8 hours, extra content that could easily fit in the game being offered later as paid dlc, online passes- will it be worth it? The first next generation machine we actually know will release in 2012, the Nintendo Wii U, may give us an idea on what we can expect from the future of software pricing. Games on the Nintendo Wii are usually priced at $50, this includes AAA titles like the newly released Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. In comparison a big AAA title on either the PS3 or 360 will set you back $60. The $10 difference is partially due to the fact that the Wii doesn’t offer the same kind of high definition graphics that the PS3 and 360 does. What does this have to do with the Wii U? doesn’t According to reports the Wii U is expected to be as powerful as current HD systems which could indicate that software for the console will cost more than its predecessor. If it does this could be a good preview of just how much more we’ll be paying for games on the PS4 and next Xbox. On the other hand if you listen to the analysts who assume that the digital age, made popular by the iPhone, Kindle and other similar devices, will soon replace disc format in home consoles then perhaps that may offset the cost of video game software. But the probability of that happening is unclear at this point since my crystal ball is still in the shop. We do know that Nintendo won’t be relying on digital downloads as the sole format in the Wii U and I’m going to make the bold prediction ( without my crystal ball ) that neither Sony nor Microsoft plans to ditch the disc based format in their next systems. So come 2013 or 2014 when the next big gaming machine launches, how much will you be willing to spend on video games?

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How Much Are You Willing To Spend On Software Next Gen?

Sony has announced 2 new PlayStation Move bundles just in time for the holidays! The first bundle will include the PlayStation Move motion controller, a PlayStation Eye camera and a copy of Sports Champions and Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest for the price of $99.99 . The second bundle entitled “ Everybody Dance bundle “, is available now exclusively at Target and will include a 320GB PlayStation 3 system, a DualShock 3 wireless controller, a PlayStation Move motion controller, a PlayStation Eye camera and a copy of Everybody Dance all for the price of $299.99 . Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest will be out on Tuesday, November 15th. For more information on the new PlayStation Move bundles visit the the official PlayStation Blog .

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New PlayStation Move Bundles Announced

Payday: The Heist is a very unusual game, placed in a market practically dominated by platformers. The PSN is home to few downloadable, exclusive first person shooters. To be honest, this is the first game of the genre I’ve seen there, but there must be another one. Most aspects of the game might raise similar questions, which eventually made me feel in doubt too. It certainly has aspects that are interesting and fun, on the other hand, some of them are lacking in quality and functionality. Conceptually the game intends to put players behind different heists, all well worthy of a movie script… in theory. I was expecting some interesting game mechanics that would allow me to approach situations differently, or at least in a smart manner, but most of the time you’re just shooting your way through a bunch of cops and security personal to get where you want to go. You might not think this is a big problem, after all, the game is a shooter, but so is Deus Ex: Human Revolution. I’m not comparing both, but I have high expectations and standards, so sue me if you must. The story development is basic, but it works just fine for the premises established. Each of the six levels has a voiced introduction to the mission; the same guy will be guiding your way through the heist. You’ll do a little of everything here, rob banks, diamonds and even break a prisoner out of a police convoy. The setting is usually interesting and makes for a decent change of pace between missions, it’s a shame that there’s so much shooting involved, otherwise this would be a completely different (and better) game in my opinion. All the shooting sometimes gets in the way of strategizing, which also play an important role here, especially when playing online and makes the game a much more pleasant experience. However, if you’re more interested in solo play, prepare to be underwhelmed. The friendly AI is so bad you’re more than likely to think you’d be better off without them. During the heists you’ll be setting up some gadgets to help you make your way through the areas, however that means waiting 200 seconds for the thing to actually work, let alone the fact you’re usually dealing with about 4 of those at a time, if that wasn’t already overly boring, the timer for said gadgets might eventually freeze, meaning you’ll have to manually reset it. Basically you’ll be babysitting some idiotic power tool while handling various assaults of the SWAT team. Not such a huge problem online, if you’re offline though, your buddies don’t seem to think that’s part of their job, so you’ll be left with the task to do that all on your own while they sit back and have a cold one. I realize this was conceived as a multiplayer game, but anyway, it feels really awkward. Enemies aren’t much smarter unfortunately. Playing online really makes the game shine though, communication is key to easy and faster success. No need to worry about all the gadgets at the same time, nor do you need to constantly check you six for cops, because your buddies will have your back, at least that’s what they should do. Your co-op partners will be of great help, they’ll have their own special gear (unlocked as you level up) and are able to perform some human exclusive assignments. It is remarkable how well it works when you’re playing online, I only wish it was easier to connect. It took my dozens of tries to get into a match, all other rooms were already filled. I don’t know if it’s because the game is fairly new, or if it’s just because I’m playing on a different region, but it is very disappointing when you have to wait 20 minutes to play a game. The game looks decent, considering it’s a PSN title, and runs smoothly with no slow down problems. Textures and models are a bit too simple, sometimes feeling like an older title. Partially that problem comes from the fact the game is a shooter, one of the busiest markets today, making comparisons inevitable. Each of the levels presents different environments, but you’re bound to encounter some things over and over again, especially policeman, apparently Senator Palpatine is planning another Clone War. Jokes a part, the looks are compatible with the price and scope of the game, but some might find it lacking one way or another. Sound design is ok, but doesn’t stand out. Voices are a bit cartoonish and stereotyped but portrayed the crooks well. Gun noises lack some impact and never feel heavy enough. The screaming on the background is actually very good, and serves as a decent setting to your robberies. It’s unfortunate that when you’re most enjoying the game, most of these aspects will be ignored while communicating with your crew, sometimes making you miss some audio cue said by your character. The game is very easily controlled, however, feels a bit sluggish at times, sometimes I couldn’t help to feel like I was hitting enemies way too easily, maybe I’m just getting better at aiming with my Dualshock. There are 120 levels for you character to unlock, each will come with different guns, accessories and abilities, making for a great deal of customization that eventually makes all the difference. Some mechanics are very well designed, for example, you can cuff civilians in order to make them hostages, in case one of your team mates die or get cuffed himself you can use those hostages to bargain his release and get him right back in the action. This was a very surprising system that I’d love to see implemented in other games. Overall Payday: The Heist is decent, but can be great when played online with friends. It lacks some polish seen on bigger titles, but offers enough content for a reasonable price. This is a game that incites players to replay levels over and over, trying to achieve better results and does a good job at it. Just don’t expect too much if you’ll be playing this by yourself, this is not intended to you. Review Pros Cons Great cooperative action Different from most PSN titles Interesting mechanics Lots of replay value if you like the game Overall lack of polish Dumb AI is most of the time annoying Looses its charm when playing solo offline Rating 80%

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[Review] Payday : The Heist

GameStop is running a deal where you can score MW3 for only 99 pence. Insane? I think so, seeing as what is required made me chuckle. How it all works: 1: You order Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3 from GameStop (UK) and return BF3 in the prepaid envelope before MW3 launches; you’ll be refunded the money (save for 99p), and it’s yours. Crazy? Smart marketing? Did your jaw just drop to the floor like mine did in shock? They are also running another deal where you can get MW3 50% off. Get Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Half Price When You Trade in A Selected Game! Terms and Conditions Apply. . Selected Games: . Gears of War 3 (Xbox 360) Dead Island (Xbox 360/PS3) FIFA 12(Xbox 360/PS3) Batman Arkham City (Xbox 360/PS3) Resistance 3(PS3) Formula 1 2011(Xbox 360/PS3) Forza 4(Xbox 360/PS3) Dark Souls(Xbox 360/PS3) Ace Combat Assault Horizon(Xbox 360/PS3) X-Men Destiny(Xbox 360/PS3) . Offer Ends 17/11/11 . Terms and Conditions: Offer Ends 17/11/2011. Offer available for a limited period only while stocks last. Purchase Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 at half its stickered price when you trade-in Gears of War 3 (Xbox 360), Dead Island (Xbox 360 / PS3), FIFA 12 (Xbox 360 / PS3), Batman Arkham City (Xbox 360 / PS3), Resistance 3 (PS3), Formula 1 2011 (Xbox 360 / PS3), Forza 4 (Xbox 360), Dark Souls (Xbox 360 / PS3), Ace Combat Assault Horizon (Xbox 360 / PS3), X-Men Destiny (Xbox 360 / PS3) and the trade-in is deducted from the selling price of a Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3. Trade-in offer only applies when the trade-in and Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 purchased are in the same transaction. Cash trade-in value may vary. To trade-in; all games must be in original packaging, in good working order and of satisfactory quality. Ask staff for details. Trade-in offers are open to members of the public only and GAME reserves the right to refuse any offer to anyone believed to be representing a trade buyer. This offer can be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers in store. This does not affect your statutory rights. Source: Gamestop

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Get Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 for 99 Pence in UK