Mojang, a team of just 22 workers with one super successful game, valued at more than every baseball team in the US (save for the New York Yankees of course). There was no way they could say no to that. And while a few of the top executives have left in this acquisition, including the game’s original lead game designer Markus “Notch” Persson, many will still be on board for Mojang’s future.

So now what? It’s valid to assume that the guys still left at Mojang will have some control over development. But what will the future of Minecraft look like under the guidance of Microsoft? Here are a few things that have fluttered through my mind…

Pack-in with Windows Computers?

Minecraft, while wildly popular, is still a pretty simple game. The game has an audience of people of all ages and backgrounds – from the casual explorer to the megatropolis constructor. Minecraft is also pretty small when it comes to needing computer space and can be run on many low-end computers. Granted, while it wouldn’t be a big money maker if it was freeware on every computer, it could be a factor for some people to choose Windows computers and tablets (and the struggling Windows Phones) over other devices.

If the free route isn’t plausible, perhaps we could see something similar to the already available Minecraft demo – but perhaps more fleshed out and without a time limit and the option to upgrade to the full version later. Could we one day see Minecraft and Minesweeper as brothers under the Window’s Games Tab?

More Dedicated Servers!

For sure. If it’s one thing that big time Minecraft players are always looking for, it’s bigger and more powerful servers. Aside from independent servers and the online hosts for console versions, Mojang has had to bear the brunt in making stable servers to accommodate millions of players around the world.

With Microsoft in the mix now, there’s the potential for entire divisions of people who will focus solely on building and maintaining bigger and better servers for online play. We could one day see worlds that can host hundreds of players building (or destroying) together and enough world space to create full-scale models of entire countries.

Future Exclusivity?

“There’s no reason for the development, sales, and support of the PC/Mac, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, Vita, iOS, and Android versions of Minecraft to stop. Of course, Microsoft can’t make decisions for other companies or predict the choices that they might make in the future.” –Mojang Statement

Although Mojang has expressed that support will continue for all current versions of Minecraft, it’s not too early to start wondering if the Xbox and PC versions of the game will get special treatments. We’ve already seen Steve dressed as Master Chief and company. What else might they have in store?

This acquisition also makes it even more unlikely that Nintendo will get the chance to make versions for either the 3DS or Wii U. Unless one has been secretly in development behind the scenes this whole time, Nintendo has pretty much missed the boat on this one. Such a waste given that both systems have the second screen that would make accessing navigation and inventory seamless.

Conclusion and Sequel?

Like I said before, Minecraft is a single game. There have been countless updates and downloadable content but technically, it’s still “the first” Minecraft. There hasn’t been a “Minecraft 2”…but could there be?

Will Mojang, under the guidance of Microsoft, bring the game to a close in order to bring in a completely separate Minecraft title that expands and optimizes the concept in a brand new way? And will it become exclusive to the Microsoft/Windows network of devices?

Should Fans Be Worried?

Well… you tell me, fans. I’m not gonna sit here and tell you how to feel. It’s always nerve wracking when a major developer is bought or changes hands. Heck, remember when Rare left Nintendo to work with Xbox and STILL hasn’t been able to rekindle the magic that it had with the former?

The operation can go in many directions: Microsoft could allow the Mojang division to do whatever they need to do as if they weren’t there, they could take over and force Mojang to cut all ties with other systems and micromanage the game, or they could work together to make something where everyone wins. Only time will tell.

What do you think is going to happen? Leave us a comment (or 12) on how you feel about this turn of events!

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: Mike Volpe

The Geek Generation – #104 – The Ultimate Earworm

[download] [subscribe in iTunes]

Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • E-mail it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
  • Tweet it to @GeekGeneration on Twitter
  • Call 508-316-9787 and leave a voicemail
• Geek Outs:
  • New York Comic Con
  • Warehouse 13 and Alphas
  • The Newsroom
  • Call Me Gangnam
• Freak Outs:
  • Facebook fights
  • Backstabbing friends
  • Family issues
  • Late show intros
  • Butthole pain
• Listener Mailbag
• Game: Top 3
  • Top 3 childhood movies you’d like to see rebooted
• News/discussions
  • Two versions of Nintendo Wii U announced and priced
  • Another new model of the PS3 has arrived
  • PSN Day 1 Digital kicks off in October
  • Stan Lee gets a pacemaker
  • First look at new RoboCop on set
  • Garfield and Webb confirmed for The Amazing Spider-Man 2
  • Mark Millar joins 20th Century Fox as a Marvel consultant
  • Assassin’s Creed: Ezio Trilogy available November 13th
  • Mass Effect Trilogy coming to Xbox 360, PS3, and PC

Host: Rob Logan
Co-hosts: Mike Volpe, Bryan

The Geek Generation – #102 – Video Game Nostalgia – part 2

[download] [subscribe in iTunes]

Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • E-mail it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
  • Tweet it to @GeekGeneration on Twitter
  • Call 508-316-9787 and leave a voicemail
• In Part 2, the boys continue to look back at Rob’s video game history, starting with the PC and ending with current generation consoles.

When the PlayStation Store update goes live today, it will include a brand new YouTube app, which will be available for FREE. While PS3 already allowed for viewing YouTube videos, this new experience is optimized and designed for viewing on the big screen.

The YouTube app provides the following functionality:

• Search: Finding the videos you want is easier than ever, with search suggestions and instant video results while you type.
• Your subscribed channels: Sign in to find the latest videos from your YouTube subscriptions, which now also includes official music videos.
• Your phone as a remote: With a quick pairing process, you can control YouTube on PS3 with a smartphone. Find a video on your phone and with a button it’ll play on the big screen. While the video is playing you can control it from the phone, or keep browsing YouTube for the next one.

You’ll be able to find the new app in the PlayStation Store under My Channels. North America is getting the app today, while other countries will get it in the coming months.

They also demoed some of the single-player experience, which you can watch here.

On the PlayStation Blog, the company expanded on what took place in the demo, as well as announced a limited Collector’s Edition of the game that will be released.

In the single-player demo we showed off some of our new gameplay mechanics and combat systems. We’ve evolved our combat system to be more immersive and powerful than ever with a new tether system allowing you to sling enemies around as a wrecking ball, while maintaining a blade attack at the same time, in the air and the ground. Our new world weapon system also allows Kratos to steal enemies’ weapons to use against them. Now you can now easily switch back and forth between the blades and sub-weapons mid combo.

Also, if you watched the demo closely, you’ll notice that we’ve replaced some of our QTE mini-game button prompts with a new prompt-less free-form system. While in the mini-game, you’ll need to focus when to attack or dodge based off of the enemies actions, instead of an indicated button prompt.

We also showcased our new Life Cycle mechanic. Kratos can use this new ability to control the flow of time on various objects in the environments to solve puzzles, and freeze enemies during combat. Watch the demo for a better illustration of this.

Information on the Collector’s Edition:

Last time around for God of War III, our Ultimate Collector’s Edition took our fans by storm, so we are pleased to announce a truly special Collector’s Edition again for God of War: Ascension. We know you’ve been asking for the ultimate collectible, a Kratos statue, that will be the prized 8” centerpiece of this edition. The CE is also jam-packed in a premium steel book game case, with the official game soundtrack (digital version), a PS3 dynamic theme and PSN avatar pack, double XP points for multiplayer (more on that later), and a DLC pass to unlock all future DLC releases at no additional cost. The team is working hard on a dedicated post-launch multiplayer experience, XP and DLC are going to be treasures you will want. Get started with the Collector’s Edition. You’ll be able to pick up the Collector’s Edition for just $79.99 on March 12 next year. We’ll have more information and pictures of the content in the near future, so hang tight.

Before I let this topic get to full boil, though, I have a confession: I am a late-in-life console gamer.

The shame, the pure shame of it all!

Now this doesn’t mean that I haven’t played my fair share of games in my younger years. To the contrary – I’ve been a gamer to some extent for the majority of my life. I played computer-based point-and-click and “God” games for years, but I never really made the jump to console gaming. That is, until I lived with a gamer guy and learned how much I enjoyed having high-quality, high-resolution gaming at my beck and call.

After I moved out of that living situation it took me about another year and a half before I bought my first console. The reason for this was rooted in a fundamental understanding passed down to me by my parents: gaming is too expensive.

This point was reiterated several times over the years by my middle-class parents. The high cost wasn’t associated with the console itself, mind you – that one-time expense would have been fine if not for the pyramid-scheme of other costs that is inherently associated. From my family’s perspective it was the constant consumerism that surrounded gaming that was considered to be too pricey.

When one owns a game console, there are steady expenses perpetually coming your way. The most obvious expense is naturally the games themselves, with most today starting off at $60 a pop. After that comes buying multiple controllers, accessories, and the never-ending stream of batteries. When all is told you pay a pretty hefty fee to be a gamer, and while the hours of enjoyment from a good game makes that investment very worthwhile, there is still the inescapable truth that this little hobby can come at a significant hit to your wallet.

So in my adult years I finally bit the bullet and purchased my long-coveted X-Box 360. However, while I was still reveling in my late-night Assassin’s Creed sessions, though, the gaming industry was about to give me several slaps to the face that made me, at least briefly, question if I had made myself into a chump.

First, both Microsoft and Sony announced the creation of new consoles, both set to premier before 2013. This meant that my brand-new console instantly had an expiration date put on it, and that even if I don’t get the Red Ring of Death it’s just a matter of time before it becomes an antique.

Now this was clearly just bad purchase timing on my part, but mind you this announcement came after a winter of both Microsoft and Sony heavily pushing their consoles, offering amazing deals on them just in time for Christmas. I’m sure I wasn’t the only person who felt like I had the last blast of a soon-to-be-dated product pushed at me just to feel foolish mere weeks later.

Then there is the persistent buzzing about lackluster downloadable content (DLC) that has been getting louder since the beginning of 2012. In all fairness, I don’t partake in this particular element of owning a console, but I also know that I am by far in the minority. Most gamers will readily purchase additional content to supplement their gaming experience, with a lot of DLC being a means of adding some extra value to an already beloved game. However, I’ve also heard a lot of negative feedback about DLC. Nearly all of my gamer friends have at some point expressed that they have felt cheated by disappointing downloads, over-priced additional characters that are essentially just new skins, and entire new campaigns that fail to live up to the hype and cost.

But what is far more outrageous has been the emergence of Day-One DLC, as recently happened with the release of Mass Effect 3. Amid the outcry caused by this marketing move, gaming executives rushed to point out to fans that DLC can take a significant amount of time to develop and must be worked on in conjunction with the original content. The DLC is set to go before the base-game release date regardless, therefore the date that it is made available for download is irrelevant.

They essentially claimed that this DLC icing on the gaming cake is just as sweet if you put it on day one as if you put it on day thirty. But from the gamers’ perspective, this just leaves me wondering why you didn’t put icing on my cake.

There is an inherent question of, “Why should we have to pay extra for something that is set to go on the release date?” When we buy a $60 game, we assume that we have the final product in hand. To have additional content be released at a cost in conjunction with the original game makes the buyers feel that they are simply an ATM with calloused thumbs to the game development companies, and discourages us from wanting to buy it in the future.

And then there is the hardest hit that we are being forced to take, and boy is it going to leave a mark.

Both Microsoft and Sony are reportedly going to side with the developers in the anti-piracy fight and make their new consoles put the kibosh on used games. In fact, this has already begun for EA games, and is anticipated to become more prevalent sooner rather than later.

Essentially, both companies are implementing anti-used game elements that allow for one-time game play, making it so that only an original game owner may have access to a game through a one-time use code. Not only could this spell the end of game resale companies such as GameStop, but it could also make operations difficult for the direct-to-home gaming companies like GameFly.

But what strikes me as being even worse than those possibilities, though, is the gaming industry’s blatant disregard to how gamers game. How many times have you taken a game over to a friend’s so you could crack a beer together and play live instead of over the internet? Who hasn’t wanted to play a game, but knew it wasn’t something you needed or wanted to play immediately, so you opted to wait a few months to get it resale at a cheaper price?

The anti-used gaming coding that is being set forth solves the piracy problems that the gaming industry is facing while much more offensively neglecting the interests of the consumers that quite literally nourishes it. As a marketing geek I find this endlessly frustrating since I suspect that there are other possible solutions that aren’t being fully embraced because they might be a bit more complex/difficult to implement, but would minimize the effects felt by the gamers. While this might be frustrating for game development firms and the creators of the consoles, they must ensure that the interest of the gamer is always far more important than their own comfort, lest they alienate the people they are counting on to keep purchasing their products.

Which is essentially what is happening with me: this late-in-life console gamer is already perturbed with the gaming industry to such an extent that she is strongly considering not purchasing another console. While I’m just one person, I am surely not alone, and if the gaming industry keeps going down this path the number of people joining me in this passive ambivalence will become large enough that they will have to take notice. The question now is will they do so before they irrevocably damage their industry?

The most ambitious God of War adventure in the series so far, God of War: Ascension takes us right back to where it all began. Discover the origins of Kratos as he takes his first steps on a now legendary quest for freedom and vengeance.

Seemingly out of nowhere, Amazon Instant Video is now available on PlayStation 3, making it the first and only console to offer the service (bragging rights!!).

Head on over to the TV/Video Services category of the XMB, where you can download and install the new Amazon Instant Video app right now for free. Once you launch the app, you’ll have instant access to thousands of streaming and downloadable movies and TV shows for rental or purchase. There are more than 120,000 commercial-free movies and TV shows for rental or purchase, including new releases, classic favorites, major TV shows, full seasons and even new episodes of some of your favorite TV shows the day after they air. Many of the DVD and Blu-Ray titles on Amazon.com are also offered on Amazon Instant Video available through this new app.

If you’re an Amazon Prime member like me, you’ll also be able to watch as many of the more than 17,000 Prime Instant Videos as you can handle, at no additional cost. If you’re not yet an Amazon Prime member, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial right there within the app or just sign up—it’s $79 per year.

For the first time, the version of Mega Man featured on the original Mega Man 1 box art will make the jump from the cover to be a playable character, with Pac-Man taking on all challengers as he rides atop Mokujin.

Mega Man and Pac-Man join the previously announced PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita exclusive characters, Cole from inFAMOUS plus Toro and Kuro.

The audience whispers excitedly as the lights dim in Muppet Theatre. Indeed, tonight’s Muppet Show features quite the special guest. It’s none other than Little Big Planet’s very own Sackboy! But beware; the mysterious Phantom has plans to get in the way. With the help of new inventions – Attract-O-Gel and Attract-O-Tweak – it’ll be up to you to help the Muppet cast put on the show of a lifetime. On with the show!

The Muppets pack is filled with tons of decorations, stickers, objects, music tracks, sound effects, and voices, plus 7 new trophies, 12 new pins AND a bonus costume of Rowlf the Dog.

But that’s not all folks, that new glowing blue Attract-O-Gel material mentioned above allows Sackboy to walk on walls and ceilings, whilst the Attract-O-Tweak gadget can be used to give these sticky properties to any material.

The Muppets Premium Level Kit is available today, January 24th for $5.99 on PSN.

The Last of Us is a genre-defining experience that blends survival and action elements to tell a character driven tale about a modern plague decimating mankind. Nature encroaches upon civilization, forcing remaining survivors to kill for food, weapons and whatever they can find. Joel, a ruthless survivor, and Ellie, a brave young teenage girl who is wise beyond her years, must work together to survive their journey across what remains of the United States.

Eric Lempel, VP of Sony Network Entertainment, announced via the PlayStation blog that there will be some changes to the amount of licenses allowed for content downloaded from the PlayStation Network. Currently, users have been able to activate up to 5 PS3 and 5 PSP consoles on one account, which sometimes led to users sharing purchased content with other users. Starting November 18, 2011, this is being changed so that only 2 PS3 and 2 PSP consoles can be activated with one PSN account.

If you’re worried that you’ll now be losing licenses for content that you’ve already purchased, don’t be. This change will only apply to game content purchased after November 18, 2011.

In addition to controlling console activation through the consoles themselves, Sony Computer Entertainment also plans to provide a new PlayStation Network account management website where users will be able to deactivate particular devices attached to their PlayStation Network account via their PC.

The full announcement:

We’d like to inform you of some upcoming changes to the usage policies for PlayStation Network game content. As of November 18, 2011, the number of devices that can be activated on one PlayStation Network account for game content purchased from the PlayStation Store will be updated as follows:

For game content purchased after November 18, 2011, a new policy will apply and the number of devices that can be activated will be as follows:

• PS3: Users will be able to play the game on up to 2 activated PS3 systems.
• PSP: Users will be able to play the game on up to 2 activated PSP systems.

Please note that this update will not affect game content purchased before November 18. The PSP rights include PSP-1000/2000/3000 series as well as the PSPgo system.

PlayStation Network users are able to change the activation setting through each device, and Sony Computer Entertainment plans to provide a new PlayStation Network account management website where users will be able to deactivate particular devices attached to their PlayStation Network account via their PC.

Ubisoft announced via the PlayStation blog that the PS3 version of Assassin’s Creed: Revelations will include the full version of the original Assassin’s Creed game on the same Blu-ray disc. The catch is that there are a limited supply of copies that will include this bonus, so pre-ordering Revelations is your best shot at getting the original game.

Here’s the full statement from Ubisoft:

Hey there PlayStation Assassins! We have something exciting to share today: thanks to a special partnership with PlayStation and the incredible storage space offered by Blu-ray discs, we are offering a full version of the original Assassin’s Creed for free if you’re one of the first to buy Assassin’s Creed Revelations! Supplies are somewhat limited, however, so you’ll need to act quickly (pre-ordering might help ;D) in order to get a copy of the original Assassin’s Creed included on your Assassin’s Creed Revelations Blu-ray disc.

As you know, Assassin’s Creed Revelations will see Ezio follow in the footsteps of the legendary Assassin Mentor Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad on a quest to understand the true nature of what it means to be an Assassin. To prepare you for this journey, we thought it might be a good idea for you to have the game that started it all on-hand just in case you needed a quick refresher on Altaïr’s history.

Vittoria agli Assassini!

Host: Rob Logan
Co-hosts: Bryan Lipsitz, Mike Volpe

The Geek Generation – #049 – August 22, 2011 News

[download] [subscribe in iTunes]

Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • Send it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com OR @GeekGeneration on Twitter OR call 508-316-9787
• Blu-ray and Video Game releases
• News:
  • The new Ultimate Spider-Man unmasked
  • First look at Henry Cavill as Superman in Man of Steel
  • Laurence Fishburne joins Man of Steel
  • First look at Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises
  • PlayStation 3 price drop announced
  • inFAMOUS 2: Festival of Blood DLC announced
  • Valve announces Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO)
  • GameFly adding “Unlimited PC Play” via new Digital Client
  • Mike Myers signs for Austin Powers 4
  • Bradley Cooper flies away from The Crow reboot
  • Kraft launches the Triple Double Oreo
  • Hugh Jackman confirms The Wolverine villain
  • NBA Jam: On Fire Edition – trailer and info
  • Promotional images and premiere details for new Two and a Half Men
  • Warehouse 13 renewed for fourth season
  • Voltron live-action movie in the works
  • Eddie Murphy to voice Hong Kong Phooey
  • Sin City: A Dame to Kill For moving forward
  • Robert Rodriguez takes Heavy Metal
  • Release dates for various movies

It was just announced at Gamescom and by Jack Tretton, President & CEO of SCEA, that the PlayStation 3 will be seeing an immediate price drop.

The official announcement:

I’m excited to share with you that effective immediately at retailers throughout North America, the 160 GB PS3 and the 320GB PS3 are now available for $249 and $299, respectively. In addition, a limited edition inFAMOUS 2 bundle is now available at participating retailers across North America. The bundle retails for $299 and includes a 320 GB PlayStation 3, a copy of inFAMOUS 2 and a 30-day membership to PlayStation Plus.

Namco Bandai Games have announced that Tekken Hybrid will be released on Blu-ray exclusively for PlayStation 3 this November. Tekken Hybrid is a collection featuring the new full-length 3D compatible movie Tekken: Blood Vengeance, a high-definition remake of the PS2 classic Tekken Tag Tournament titled Tekken Tag Tournament HD, and additional content yet to be announced.

“Tekken Tag Tournament is considered one of the best titles in the Tekken franchise, and one of the greatest fighting video games of all time, so we’re thrilled to be bringing this property into HD for current generation gamers,” said Carlson Choi, vice president of marketing for Namco Bandai Games America.  “Including the remake as part of Tekken Hybrid alongside Tekken: Blood Vengeance allows our passionate fans to immerse themselves in the storied histories of the Tekken characters on their path to the King of Iron Fist Tournament.”

Of course, Tekken Tag Tournament HD will also include a version of the popular Tekken Bowl as well.

First, Kratos returns in the God of War: Origins Collection, set to release on September 13th for $59.99. The collection features both previously released, but now remastered God of War PSP titles: Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta.

Second, the Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection will be hitting stores on September 27th for $39.99. The development team is hard at work to meet and exceed expectations for The Last Guardian, so this collection is the perfect remedy to tide you over until the team’s latest gaming masterpiece is ready.

For those of you who don’t know the original inFAMOUS story, Cole’s electrical powers appear when he’s caught in the blast of a mysterious device called the Ray Sphere. Cole gains more and more abilities, becomes more and more powerful, and survives the gauntlet of Empire City… but he also is given a glimpse into his future. He realizes that even at the height of his powers, he is no match for the challenge that awaits. A battle with a great Beast looms, and Cole isn’t ready to face it.

So in inFAMOUS 2, Cole travels South to New Marais to trace a path to the man behind the Ray Sphere technology, Dr. Sebastian Wolfe. With buddy Zeke riding shotgun, they set off to find the key to the next step in Cole’s evolution and a new level of power– powers that will be necessary if Cole hopes to survive the upcoming battle.

When Cole and Zeke eventually track down Dr. Wolfe, he explains that over years of experimenting, he had isolated the specific type of energy responsible for all genetic mutations. Dr. Wolfe’s technology—like the Ray Sphere—was all created to concentrate and manipulate this energy. To most people a dose of this mutative energy is fatal—but for a small fraction, the energy unlocks their untapped potential. These rare individuals are called Conduits, and of course Cole is one of them.

Wolfe has also developed a device—called a Blast Core—which can store this type of energy safely for an extended period of time… Over the years, he’s built and charged six of these Blast Cores. So to continue his evolution, Cole will need to locate these all-important Blast Cores, and absorb their energy into his body. But Wolfe fears the Blast Cores will fall into the wrong hands, so he has moved them to safe locations around the city — and Cole will have to hunt them all down.

Of course our story will take some important twists and turns along the way, we’ll meet other Conduits, and as in the original inFAMOUS game, your choices about what kind of person you are. But no matter which path Cole follows, one thing remains the same: without the Blast Cores he won’t survive.

If you thought you were excited for inFAMOUS 2 already, Sucker Punch’s latest announcement should “amp” that up to a new level (see what I did there).

According to the latest news from Sucker Punch, inFAMOUS 2 will follow other PlayStation successes like LittleBigPlanet and ModNation Racers by allowing users to create missions within the game, theoretically making the replay value endless.

Some quotes from the creators:

We thought inFAMOUS 2 would be better if it didn’t end—if you never ran out of missions and mini-missions to play and things to do. So… we spent the last two years adding a User-Generated Content feature to the game. With User-Generated Content, inFAMOUS 2 players can build new missions, then share them with the world.

There really aren’t a lot of limits to the sorts of missions you can build. Mission creators have access to the same set of characters, creatures and props—so if you want to set a pack of Hive Lords rumbling after Cole through the streets of New Marais, you can do it. If you want to have Cole and Zeke face off against Nix and Kuo, you can do it.

If you want to bend the rules of inFAMOUS 2 to create new kinds of missions, you can do that too. Wish I2 had pure stealth missions? No problem, you can create stealth missions. Looking for more of a challenge? Try taking away some of Cole’s powers—see how the player does facing a platoon of Militia wielding only his Amp. Or add an old-school platforming challenge, or a race, or… I could go on all day.

User-generated missions show up in the world just like regular missions. When you walk up to them, you see the PSN tag of the mission creator, plus extra information like the mission’s current rating.

June 7th can’t come soon enough.

A first for the PixelJunk series, the Online Battle feature also makes its breakthrough appearance. Fight players from around the world, experimenting with 20 unique items in fun and interesting ways to suit your style of play in this cat-and-mouse mode. It’ll be a blast!

You can read the first details about Nathan Drake’s next adventure in this excerpt from the Naughty Dog press release:

UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception features the return of famed fortune hunter Nathan Drake and follows him through a gripping, action-packed storyline that will take you all over the world. In his search for the fabled “Atlantis of the Sands,” Nathan Drake and longtime friend and mentor Victor Sullivan set off on a daring trek into the heart of the Arabian Desert. But when terrible secrets of this lost city are uncovered, their journey becomes a desperate bid for survival that will force Drake to confront his deepest fears.

Throughout UNCHARTED 3, you’ll be taken to spectacular new locations around the globe,that will showcase all of the work we’ve taken on to take acclaimed physics, particle and visual effects to a new level.

Competitive and co-op multiplayer will return as a key ingredient to the UNCHARTED 3 package, where all of the new features we have planned will combine with our signature single-player cinematic gameplay to create a unique action-adventure multiplayer experience that can only be found in the UNCHARTED universe.

Oh, and there’s one more thing – UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception fully supports high-resolution Stereoscopic 3D.

Hulu Plus subscription service has been available since July 2010 to select PlayStation Plus subscribers via PS3, but starting next week, PS3 system owners with a free PlayStation Network account can download and subscribe to the Hulu Plus service, accessing it under the “Video” icon on the XMB (XrossMediaBar) menu. Hulu Plus is still in preview, and subscriptions are available from Hulu for $9.99 per month.

The way EA explains it: if you drop $60 on NBA Elite 11, due on October 5, the game will offer a “one-time download code” for three modes of NBA Jam, including Play Now, Classic Campaign and Online. The “Remix Tour” mode remains exclusive to the Wii version.

The next logical question is, “What if I don’t want to shell out $60 for NBA Elite 11 and just want to purchase NBA Jam to download??” Well then, you’d be out of luck.

The official word from EA: “NBA Jam has been optimized for the Wii, but the content of the Classic Campaign and Play Now modes will be the same as the Wii version. Jam is only available with the purchase of NBA Elite 11. There are no plans to sell it as a standalone product on the Xbox 360 or PS3 at this time.”

Let’s hope the keywords there are AT THIS TIME. I won’t be a victim to your trickery EA… but I do love NBA Jam… no, I WON’T!!

A startling gaze into the lives of those willing to do anything for love.

Every once and awhile a game comes along that makes me take a serious look into what I define as entertainment. Heavy Rain, a game developed by Quantic Dream, is a tale that follows the adventures of four characters in search of the Origami Killer. Everyone is searching for the Origami Killer for different reasons, though they are all equally dedicated to solving this complex and engaging mystery. The game takes place in a fictional east coast town known for its high precipitation, and somewhat sleazy atmosphere. Heavy Rain is classified as an interactive drama, and there is not a better classification that I have heard anyone come up with. It’s a huge stepping stone for this genre, and I hope to see more come from its success.

Instead of going into detail about the plot (and potentially spoiling this masterpiece), I want to explore the reason as to why this game works as well as it does. You start the game as Ethan Mars, a happily married father of two who works as an architect. You quickly find out that this is not your usual game. All actions are executed by correctly hitting the correct button that flashes up on the screen. This can be a bit tricky at times, especially if you are a Microsoft fan (as my roommate found out quickly). However, this can be remedied by changing the difficulty, which is not traditionally something you see in adventure games such as this.

The graphics are breathtaking throughout the entire game. I had difficulties at times actually progressing because I would get stuck exploring the many varied environments. Everything from the home of Ethan Mars, to a hopping techno bar, to an abandoned apartment in a shady section of town; it all came to life. There are times when this game feels very voyeuristic, peering into the lives of these characters at some of their lowest and most desperate moments. I have never experienced a game where I felt like I knew and cared for the characters more while putting in less than 10 hours to the game overall. I have gotten attached to characters before, but in Heavy Rain, it is much more than that.

One of my favorite components of Heavy Rain, and truly what makes it work most for me, is the fact that there are twenty-two unique endings to this game. I played through the entire game in probably about 7 hours; however, there are certain things that I did that in the long run shortened the experience. As heavy as the character development in Heavy Rain is, there is the option (or consequence), that certain decisions may lead to the demise of a character (or more) throughout the game. Once a character is dead, you simply do not play their scenes throughout the rest of the game, and outcomes then change without their involvement.

It is a rarity that I find myself wanting to play through a game a second time directly after beating it; Heavy Rain makes me want to sit through and get all twenty-two endings. I am curious really as to how much can and will change based on my decisions, though from the way that my first play through went, I think there is much to be done differently. I will say that I lost a character about halfway through the game, and the impact of that was largely noticeable.

One more thing I want to touch on is the saving feature. This game auto saves like crazy, and thus, anything that is done is done. As in, when something major to the way the plot progresses is completed, there is no going back. This makes the game very engaging, as you are not riddled with trying to get past a certain point. If you cannot complete a task that is given to you, you go on through the game living with the consequences of not completing said task.

In an industry that seems to be ruled by so many factors other than a compelling story, Heavy Rain is more than just a video game. If it continues to do as well as it has been, we can all hope to see more of the interactive drama genre come to fruition. Another promising attribute to games like this is the highly likely addition of quality DLC to the mix. I’m looking forward to seeing what they have to offer when the time for DLC comes.

Heavy Rain by all accounts should not be a popular game, but it surpasses all the hype surrounding it and delivers an amazing experience. In it’s “choose your own adventure” of murder, mystery, and intrigue, you truly do feel as though you are not playing a game, but living in this haunting world.

Sean’s Final Result:

[xrr rating=4.5/5]

Last October, Sony finally reached an agreement to include Netflix streaming movies on the PS3. Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter said the deal seems to have worked out nicely for Netflix, even though it’s not built into PS3’s XMB interface…yet. “The robust subscriber guidance for Q1 suggests to us that the recent PS3 partnership is driving significant subscriber growth, and it is likely that the Xbox 360 deal continues to contribute a large number of new subscribers as well,” he said. Currently, PS3 owners have to load a DVD into the console in order to stream content from the service, but according to Patcher, that will change near the end of this year.  “Based upon comments in the earnings call yesterday, it appears that Netflix’s exclusive relationship with Microsoft on the Xbox 360 will end in November (after two years), allowing the service to be accessed via the PS3 dashboard later this year.”

Nintendo more recently also reached a deal with Netflix to add the service to the Wii, but Pachter doesn’t think that many Wii owners will take advantage of it. “Some time this Spring, Netflix will be available (in standard definition) on the Wii platform, and even at a lower adoption rate, it is likely that there is significant room for subscriber additions from both the PS3 and the Wii during 2010. All of this activity will ultimately wane, but we expect any declines in subscriber additions from the three consoles to be offset by increased activity on other consumer electronics devices, particularly as price drops for such devices continue.”

Sony Japan has announced the upcoming release of a new USB device for the PS3 named torne. Apparently the device is part TV tuner and part DVR as it allows you to watch, search, and record television using the PS3 itself. DVR’d shows can be saved either to the PS3’s hard drive or a USB-connected external drive. The device can record even while the PS3 is engaged in a Blu-Ray or game. Shows can also be watched on a PSP using Remote Play or transferred to a Memory Stick. torne will be available in Japan this March. As of right now there have been no announcements on releases in other regions.

Attention, PlayStation 3 owners: want to watch a movie streamed instantly from Netflix via your PS3? I’ve got terrific news for you; very soon you’ll be able to do just that.

We’re excited to announce today that Netflix and Sony have partnered to bring you thousands of movies and TV episodes streamed instantly from Netflix to your TV via your PS3 system at no extra charge. When the application launches next month, you’ll be able to access and watch thousands of Netflix choices directly through the XMB. We think that the nearly nine million PS3 enthusiasts and 11.1 million Netflix members in the U.S. will make quite a match.

If you want to get a head start on your PS3 Netflix experience, you can sign up today at http://www.netflix.com/ps3.

For more information, check out the press release below (or click here), and stay tuned to the PlayStation.Blog for further updates on the rollout.

*****

COMING SOON: NETFLIX MEMBERS CAN INSTANTLY WATCH MOVIES AND TV EPISODES STREAMED TO TVs VIA THE PLAYSTATION®3 COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM

With Movies Streamed Instantly from Netflix, Blu-ray/DVD Playback and Downloadable Videos via the PlayStation®Network, the PlayStation 3 System Offers The Industry’s Most Comprehensive Options for Watching Movies and TV Shows

FOSTER CITY and LOS GATOS, Calif., October 26, 2009 – Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) and Netflix, Inc. [Nasdaq: NFLX] today announced that they are joining forces to make thousands of movies and TV episodes from Netflix available to be streamed instantly to TVs via the PlayStation®3 (PS3) computer entertainment system. Netflix expects to begin streaming via the PS3 system next month at no additional cost to Netflix members in the United States who have a PS3 system.

Today’s announcement pairs two of the most popular and fastest growing home entertainment brands in the U.S. The PS3 system’s installed base has reached close to 9 million units in the United States, and Netflix recently reported 11.1 million U.S. subscribers as of September 30.

The partnership further solidifies the PS3 system as the most complete home entertainment hub on the market today, enabling consumers to play high-definition games, watch Blu-ray movies, listen to music, view photos, browse the Internet, and download content from PlayStation®Network ? from exclusive games to blockbuster movies and popular TV shows. PS3 system owners will soon enjoy an unparalleled experience watching their favorite movies and TV shows streamed instantly from Netflix, downloading from the PlayStation Network or watching Blu-ray/DVD media. The Netflix offering expands on the entertainment experience delivered to PS3 system owners via PlayStation Network.

For only $8.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed to their TVs and computers via Netflix ready devices such as the PS3 system and can receive unlimited DVDs delivered quickly to their homes.

“The PlayStation 3 system has always been about more than just gaming, and it will soon be the only platform in the industry to offer consumers such a variety of convenient options for enjoying movies and TV shows,” said Jack Tretton, president and CEO, SCEA. “Whether you want to watch content on Blu-ray disc and DVD, download it from the PlayStation Network’s video delivery service, or stream videos instantly from Netflix, the PS3 system is the only solution that offers it all.”

“As instantly watching movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix becomes an increasingly popular way to enjoy the Netflix service, our goal is to rapidly expand the devices that stream to our members,” said Netflix CEO and co-founder Reed Hastings. “As a leading game console and Blu-ray disc player, bringing Netflix to the PS3 system is a real win for both Netflix members and PS3 system owners.”

Initially, watching movies instantly streamed from Netflix via the PS3 system will be enabled by a free, instant streaming Blu-ray disc that is being made available to all Netflix members. The free instant streaming disc leverages Blu-ray’s BD-Live technology to access the Internet and activate the Netflix user interface on the PS3 system, which must be online via Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

Netflix members simply slide the disc into their PS3 systems to reveal movies and TV episodes that can be watched instantly. These titles are conveniently organized into a variety of categories based on members’ personal preferences, popular genres, new arrivals and members’ individual instant Queues. Members can use the Netflix Web site or navigate directly on their PS3 systems to add movies and TV shows to their Queues. With the PS3 system’s Wireless Controller, members can choose a movie to watch from their instant Queues or just play directly from any of the lists. They also have the ability to read synopses and rate movies. In addition, they have the option of fast-forwarding and rewinding the video stream via the Wireless Controller.

Netflix members and PS3 system owners can now reserve a free instant streaming disc for PS3 systems by going to www.netflix.com/ps3. Upon availability, the instant streaming disc will be delivered for free by first-class mail, generally one business day after members request it.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one® game consoles, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, the ground-breaking PlayStation®3 (PS3) computer entertainment system and its digital services which include the PlayStation®Network and the PlayStation®Store.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one® game console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, and the PlayStation 3 and PSP systems for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

About Netflix, Inc.

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) is the world’s largest online movie rental service, with more than more than 11 million subscribers. For only $8.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed to their TVs and computers and can receive unlimited DVDs delivered quickly to their homes. There are never any due dates or late fees. Netflix members can exchange DVDs as often as they want using a postage-paid return envelope. Members can choose from a vast selection of DVD titles and a growing library of movies and TV episodes that can be watched instantly. Netflix is partnering with leaders in consumer electronics to bring to market a range of devices that can instantly stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix directly to members’ TVs. These devices currently include Blu-ray disc players and new Internet TVs from LG Electronics; Blu-ray disc players from Samsung and Best Buy’s Insignia brand; the Roku digital video player; Microsoft’s Xbox 360 game console; TiVo digital video recorders; and, soon, the PS3 system and Internet TVs from Sony and VIZIO.