The highly addictive fantasy action RPG title “VALHALLA KNIGHTS 3” is hitting PlayStation®Store on 23rd May! Want to enter the paradise of prisoners “The City of Prison” to be part of the “7vs7” heated battle as soon as possible? You better act fast!

If you purchase “VALHALLA KNIGHTS 3” during 23rd May- 6th June, you can enjoy the following offers:

Offer 1:

First Edition Bundle Offer

Get “Sensual “Night Butterflies” Double Pack” for free, which includes the voucher code of two “Night Butterflies” (cast)

Offer 2:

PS Store Download Exclusive Offer*

Download this title on PS Store and get a free exclusive “VALHALLA KNIGHTS 3” PlayStation®Vita wallpaper

*This offer is also available to selected customers who have shared the “VALHALLA KNIGHTS 3” promotion email onto Facebook or Sina Weibo.

About the Game:
Set in “The City of Prison”, a paradise governed by powers and disorder located at the boundary of a warring land. For money, women and life, the strong is the predator while the weak is the prey. You, the protagonist and the allies are spies of your countries, sent into The City of Prison for treason, to find out the secret behind the “treasure of the legendary serious criminal”. Will you be able to survive the evil powers in this city of prison governed by power and disorder?

Features:

• Start the series’ largest 7vs7 overwhelming battle seamlessly from the fields
• Comes with the series’ largest numbers of 7 “Races” and 20 “Occupations”. There is also a random “Character” assigned to the characters. Different characters mean different fighting styles
• Rob beaten enemies of their money and items with the “Groping System”
• Lead your own team to compete via Ad-Hoc connection. Earn “Coliseum Points” to exchange weapons and items
• Enhance your reputation with the women (cast) in various establishments at the Nightlife District, accept and complete requests (special quests) to add the women to your team

Remember, the strong is the predator while the weak is the prey!

Terms & Conditions:

1. The promotion period is from 23rd May- 6th June, 2013 (Both dates inclusive). Sony Entertainment Network (SEN) members must finish the download within the promotion period to be eligible for the special offers.
2. The promotion is only open to Sony Entertainment Network (SEN) members (master account) in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.
3. The “Sensual “Night Butterflies” Double Pack” will be downloaded automatically when the “VALHALLA KNIGHTS 3” is purchased on PlayStation®Store during the campaign period.
4. The “VALHALLA KNIGHTS 3” PlayStation®Vita wallpaper will be sent in the form of voucher code to the PlayStation®Vita message box of eligible SEN members on or before 14th June, 2013.
5. Sony Computer Entertainment Hong Kong (SCEH) reserves the final right in case of any dispute.
6. SCEH reserves the right to amend the terms and conditions without prior and separate notice.

How often in life do you get a second chance? If you're an online “Call of Duty” player, well, that's pretty simple – you get one every time you press Square to respawn. But the concepts of return, reinvigoration, and redemption all play into “Uprising”, the second map pack for “Call of Duty: Black Ops II”, which is already available on PlayStation®Network.

To start, “Uprising” features four new maps for “Black Ops II” multiplayer matches:

Vertigo, the top of a Tacitus mega-structure that’s so tall, it breaks the cloud layer;

  Magma, a small Japanese village that has been engulfed by the lava of a nearby erupting volcano; Encore, the performance stage and surrounding grounds following a London music festival; and Studio, a re-imagining of the “Call of Duty: Black Ops” Firing Range, offering chaotic combat over several movie sets on a Hollywood backlot.

Studio is a particular point of pride here, as it's a re-imagining of Firing Range, which fans of the original “Black Ops” still eagerly choose in multiplayer lobbies. Its compact design and varied lines of sight – sniper perches, blind corners, tight alleyways – make it popular, but thematically, the original level is a bunch of plywood targets, purpose-built for training soldiers. Not only does the level look a lot more colorful now with the addition of crashed spaceships, animatronic dinosaurs, a pirate harbor, and a miniature monster-movie set, but these visual landmarks make it even easier to communicate. When a teammate calls out "there's two in the pirate cove" or "I'm heading to the saloon," there's no confusion in the sitreps. And when you work together as team, you'll find you don't need second chances quite so often.

For Mob of the Dead, the question isn't so much "how often in life do you get a second chance" but "how often in death?" Alcatraz is the setting for this star-studded adventure, as four gangsters – played by Ray Liotta, Michael Madsen, Chazz Palminteri, and Joe Pantoliano – seek to escape one of the world's most infamous prisons. But as you might expect, the bars and cells aren't the only things standing in their way. Zombies – the ultimate benefactors of a second chance! -- have taken over the island prison, so these wiseguys will have to battle the undead if they're going to make it out. New perks like the wittily named Electric Cherry offer players some shocking new gameplay mechanics, as does the new Afterlife Mode, which lets interact with your environment and solve puzzles despite having just had your existence expire. But like I said…a second chance is something you should never take for granted.

“Uprising” is already available in the PlayStation®Store for THB460, but if you are the owner of a “Black Ops II Season Pass”, you already own it – just download it from the in-game Store menu. 

 
  The new “Uprising” add-on for Call of Duty®: Black Ops II will bring us four incredibly diverse multiplayer maps on 16 May! Be part of the intense warfare in these maps during 16th-31st May to get a “Black Ops II Asia-Pacific Pack” add-on and some juicy PlayStation®Network prepaid value! Continue reading the simple steps below to find out how!

First off, you have to download the “Uprising” add-on,either via a “Season Pass” or separate purchase.

Then, go challenge one of the four maps! When you have obtained a satisfactory score, grab your phone (or whatever that snaps a picture) to take a photo of your score. Make sure it shows your PSN Online ID.

Finally, upload your photo and submit your Online ID to our event page in PlayStation Asia Facebook page, then a “Black Ops II Asia-Pacific Pack” add-on that worth THB30 is yours!

And if your score turns out to be beating all other gamers, placing you on the top among all the scores submitted, of course, you deserve a reward! Get your weapons and yourselves ready for the competition!

Special Prizes – Exclusive for “Season Pass” members:

Open Prize for all participants (except winners of Special Prizes):

Terms & Conditions:

1. Campaign period: 16th – 31st May, 2013 Hong Kong Time. Any photo submission after 1st Jun, 2013 00:00 will be disqualified.
2. The campaign is only open to Sony Entertainment Network (SEN) members (master account) in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.
3. To be eligible for this campaign, SEN members must have downloaded a “Call of Duty®: Black Ops II Uprising” add-on either via the Season Pass or separate purchase before campaign ends.
4. The photo submitted must show the Online ID and the score got from any one of the “Uprising” maps clearly. The campaign participant and the SEN account owner of the Online ID submitted must be the same person.
5. Regardless of the number of photos submitted by the same SEN member, only the last submitted photo will be considered eligible for the competition.
6. SEN members who have submitted a photo clearly showing the above mentioned information during the campaign period can receive a “Black Ops II Asia-Pacific Pack” add-on for free. Submitted photos without the aforementioned information will be disqualified.
7. The “Black Ops II Asia-Pacific Pack” add-on will be sent to eligible participants in the form of voucher code on or before 16th June.
8. Special Prizes are open only to eligible SEN members who have purchased the “Call of Duty®: Black Ops II Season Pass”add-on before campaign ends.
9. Each SEN member is only entitled to win ONE prize at most regardless of number of submission and channel of submission. Winner of Special Prizes are not qualified to win the Open Prize.The prizes will be sent in the form of voucher code to the winners’ message box on or before 16th June.
10. Sony Computer Entertainment Hong Kong (SCEH) reserves the final rights in case of any dispute.
11. SCEH reserves the rights to amend the terms and conditions without prior and separate notice.

I believe most of you have started to enjoy downloading and exploring games and contents with the renovated PlayStation®Store interface! No matter you have tried it or not, why not take a look on the video below to check if you’ve missed any upgraded feature?

Note: The contents shown in this video only reflect the PlayStation®Store (English version) on PlayStation®3. Some functions in the Chinese version may differ from the English version.

Hi, I’m Luo Bin, team leader of the visual effects (VFX) team for DUST 514®, and I would like to share our experiences in making VFX for this revolutionary shooter. Visual effects are an important part of CG imaging during post-production, and when properly implemented, can really bring a game to life.

However, VFX design and production differs from character or backdrop creation, because visual effects are more abstract. In most cases, VFX are not fixed forms and require multiple design iterations, and of course, DUST 514 and EVE Online® are closely linked which means that they share similar styles and design. Still, this doesn't mean the VFX in DUST 514 are the same as in EVE Online, because that would be boring.

In DUST 514, VFX styles are determined by factional or racial differences. Each of the four major factions in New Eden uses different technologies to create weapons, and that is reflected in their visual effects. From laser beams to lightning arcs and plasma weapons, each branch of arms technology requires a unique VFX design.

Gallente Light Assault rifle

As an example, let’s take the Gallente Light Assault rifle which is very popular with players. From the design side, the ammunition type it uses is a high energy plasma round. To show this in-game, we’ve taken images of magnetic storms from the Sun as a reference and expressed its innately superheated and unstable state in the muzzle flash of the weapon. The effect of this ammunition upon impact should reflect its high energy potential and cause instantaneous conflagrations. This weapon also has a high rate of fire and to express this in its tracer effects, we wanted to retain its high energy/plasma aspects and combine it with a high emission rate to resemble flames.

Caldari Forge Gun

Now, let’s look at the Caldari Forge Gun. It is also a high energy weapon but it differs from the Gallente Light Assault rifle in that instead of using plasma, it utilizes a high-voltage magnetic propulsion system to deliver its munitions. Because of this design, the entire operation of this weapon system is more complicated, since it requires a charge phase, launch stage, cool down time and finally, a recharge period. Along each of these steps a visual effect is required for the weapon. During the charge phase you will see powerful currents course through the weapon’s chamber and bore. As the munitions exit the barrel they emit a dazzling halo followed by residual high voltage arcs from the projectiles. As the barrel cools the lingering heat from the launch is then pooled and ejected as steam.

Yet, this lengthy process takes place every few seconds. To express this visually, we focused on the electrical arcs that occur when the weapon is fired and designed various types of arcs that can be seen during each stage of the firing. During the initial charge phase the arcs are seen coiled around the barrel of the gun and they appear more warped, and when the round impacts the arcs become more emissive giving it an explosive feel. This is a common theme amongst many Caldari weapons.  

Minmatar HMG

Minmatar weapons resemble modern weapons more closely and are of the gun powder projectile variety. However, this does not mean that they lack the punch of other weapon classes. These weapons have the highest rate of fire and are designed to deliver a hailstorm of bullets to the enemy. The Minmatar Heavy Machine Gun is a veritable hand held Gatling gun and to stress this aspect we’ve amplified its muzzle flash in size and added a shimmering blaze. The end result is that when fired, players will see writhing tracers bolting toward their targets belching smoke trails in their wake.  

Amarr Laser Rifle

When it comes to the Amarr racial weapons things take on a more grandiose tone and this is also reflected in the design of their weapons. From the etched heraldry to the shape of their guns, Amarr weaponry combines religious symbolism with deadly purpose. We took that in to account when designing the visual effects for Amarr weapons with the goal of ensuring that players get a sense of splendor unique to the Amarr.

A good example of this is the Laser Rifle. The weapon itself looks like a sophisticated instrument, precise and measured. When activated, it operates in a similar manner, with very little recoil and a high level of accuracy. Since the weapon deals damage with focused light, we’ve made its muzzle flash in the form of light particles that fan out. Its tracer effects take the form of a continuous light beam accentuated with flickering gleam to emphasize its power.       

To make things even more interesting, a lot of these weapon technologies are fictional and have no real-world references for artists, so we have to rely on our personal creativity to come up with cool concepts of what they should look like. This has been a challenging and enjoyable experience for us.

On the art side, we spent a good deal of time to ensuring DUST 514 maintains a polished look while delivering a smooth user experience. To accomplish this, we spend a lot of time communicating and coordinating with engineers, game designers, and artists to determine the most efficient means of achieving this goal. 

I have used many development tools and in comparison, Unreal is an outstanding software. This is in part due to a fully featured material editor that lets us easily create a multitude of assets. Simply change a few value settings and you can get a vastly different visual effect. This key feature and allows our VFX team to vigorously explore new ideas with a short turnaround time. We've spent a lot of effort in pursuing that perfect balance of beauty and efficiency with DUST 514 visual effects, and we hope you will enjoy seeing them as much as we've enjoyed in creating them.

By CCP Luo Bin

Sometimes it’s nothing wrong to go crazy- it just means switching off your logic for a while and let your emotions take the lead. Try going crazy and game, and you’d realize how good it feels afterwards.

Zombies Go Crazy Driving

Watch out for all the crazy driving TODAY as the Zombie Driver is coming! Ready to meet an insane mix of cars, speed, explosions, blood and zombies in “Zombie Driver HD full game” (THB 310 @ PS Store)! A demo version is available for free on the same date.

Fight through an epic narrative campaign or test yourself in the Slaughter and Blood Race modes. Engage huge bosses, save survivors, drive crazy vehicles such as a bulldozer, fire truck or even a tank and smash everything in your way.

Or you can take part in the Blood Race tournament - chase other cars and take them down without mercy on brutal racing tracks. Jump into the Slaughter mode and survive as long as possible on specially crafted arenas.

Zombie Experience Enhanced with Soundtrack and Add-on

Don’t miss the “Zombie Driver HD Original Soundtrack” (THB 150 @ PS Store) on the same day, which features 20 compelling music tracks. Or grab the “Zombie Driver HD + Soundtrack Bundle” to own both contents at a discounted price (THB 390 @ PS Store).

In “Zombie Driver HD Apocalypse Pack” (THB 90 @ PS Store), experience two apocalyptic, insane vehicles along with a new Slaughter mode arena that will test your driving skills to the maximum.

Action-packed Army of TWO™ The Devil’s Cartel

Pure co-op is back! From 13th March, “Army of TWO™ The Devil’s Cartel” will through this demo version (Free@ PS Store) delivers a fun, over-the-top co-op experience on PS3™. Activate the new Overkill mode to unleash explosive destruction on a lethal Mexican drug cartel. Experience the full action-blockbuster campaign in local split-screen or online co-op!

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Hatsune miku -Project DIVA- f add-on: Capital Letter Pack
Release Date: 12th Mar	Platform: PS Vita    SRP: THB1090
“Hatsune miku –Project DIVA- f” is releasing a new add-on “Capital Letter Pack”! This add-on includes 6 additional songs, modules designed for each of the songs, 4 songs for AR Lives and 2 items for customization. Just download a single pack and you can enjoy all of the contents mentioned above!

	Monster Monpiece add-on: Super Strong Rare Card Set Vol. 3
	Release Date: 14th Mar	Platform: PS Vita    SRP: THB210
	Time to have some super strong, rare, cute and sexy cards for your “Monster Monpiece”! Here comes the add-on “Super Strong Rare Card Set Vol. 3”! You can draw 3 super strong rare cards out of more than 30 kinds of monster girl cards! It is time to download them and rub to increase their powers!

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1. PlayStation®Store Looks Different – Why is this?

We have revamped PlayStation®Store to make it easier to browse and faster for you to find the content you are looking for. You’ll find that the user interface and purchase experience is smoother and there’s a wider range of functionality to enhance your shopping experience. No previously available content or features have been removed and all account management functions remain the same.

There are a number of new functions available on the new PlayStation® Store interface:

2.1 PS Store Front

When you visit the new PlayStation®Store, you will notice the new and improved Store Front carousels which now display new and noteworthy releases across games. We have also split our product catalogue by platform (PS3™, PSP® and PS Vita) which are accessible if you select “Games” and select either PS3™, PSP®or PS Vita from the links on the left.

2.2 Cart

We have also improved the overall purchase experience. You can also now add all your purchases to one cart. You can now choose to immediately download some or all of your purchases straight from the purchase confirmation screen to your PS3™so you can access your new content as soon as possible.

2.3 Search & Browse

We have also made a number of changes to the way we have organised our product catalogue and search functions to bring you an improved browsing experience.

You can access the product catalogues by media type and platform by selecting from the links on the left of the home page. You can then filter the complete product catalogue by Genre, Platform, Game Type, Price, Play Type, Release Date, Accessories or Content Type and you can sort your results by Title A-Z, Z-A, Release Date - Newest First, Release Date - Oldest First or Price, with or without a filter applied.

If you are looking for a specific title you can use our new Tumbler search function to find what you are looking for quickly. The function will find matching products as you type and the list of possible titles will reduce as you add letters. Once the list is narrowed down you can simply press the right button to move to the list and select the content you are looking for by moving up or down the list.

2.4 Product Page

Once you find the title you are looking for a new improved product page will group all content for the title together. For example, you will be able to see all available trailers and add-ons as well as the full game all in one place and skip to the type of content you need using the links on the left of the screen.

2.5 Recommendations

Our new and improved recommendation engine provides better suggestions of titles you might like.

3. What Happens to Any Credit That Was in My Wallet Before PlayStation®Store Changed?

Any wallet credit that you had available to spend in the old store will still be available to spend on content from the new PlayStation®Store.

4. Does the New PlayStation®Store Support In-Game Purchases?

In game purchases and browsing will still be available. However, if you navigate to PlayStation®Store from within a game, the store will look like the old style store for the foreseeable future.

5. Can I Change PlayStation®Store Back to the Old Style?

No. The new PlayStation®Store is replacing the old PlayStation®Store. Therefore, you do not have the option to switch back to the old version.

However impossible it might seem in real life, but if you have ever dreamed of becoming a bike racer or ninja, you will find your wishes come true in the new releases of this week.

The City is Your Playground in “Urban Trial Freestyle” – PSN Exclusive

Master all the seemingly-impossible gravity defying stunts in “Urban Trial Freestyle” (PS3™ version THB460 @ PS Store, PS Vita version THB310 @ PS Store) on 26th February!

Become the urban freestyle bike racer and conquer every spot in the city- Downtown, Industrial, Underground, Outskirt and Train Station and perform the craziest stunt possible! Navigate through tracks filled with obstacles, jumping ramps, steep slopes to maximize the outcome of performed acrobatics or reach the finish line in the shortest time possible with a bike customized out of 64 configurations.

Don’t forget to marvel at or check how you did with the Instant Replay function.

And…It's FREE for PlayStation®Plus Members!

From 26th February to 25th March, PS Plus members can download “Urban Trial Freestyle” for free, right from the day it comes out!

"NINJA GAIDEN Σ2" Gets a Plus

Fans of ninja action will be busy this week! We are getting another ninja action title, “NINJA GAIDEN Σ2 PLUS” (THB 1230 @ PS Store) for PS Vita players to be part of the ninja clan on 26th February! More speed. More beauty. More blood. Amazing graphics and brutal violence!

This Vita version will include a new Heroes mode, which can be activated at any time using the rear touch pad and allows new and casual players to use powerful and exhilarating attacks and advance through the game. New “Tag Missions” have also been added, letting players switch between Ryu and Ayane, Rachel or Momiji at any time, defending their AI partner and using the character best suited to each situation for a more exciting action game experience.

"Call of Duty®: Black Ops II – Season Pass " SPECIAL Offer + New Addon released

During 28th February to 10th March, purchase a Call of Duty®: Black Ops II – Season pass and you will get a Call of Duty®: Black Ops II Lone Wolf Dynamic Theme for free. You already got both of them? No worries! Those who have already purchased the season pass and dynamic theme previously will get a THB90 PlayStation®Network prepaid value.

The “Call of Duty®: Black Ops II – Revolution” (THB460@ PS Store) add-on will be released on 28th February, letting gamers to play as zombies for the first time in this shooting series. It also comes with a new game mode called Turned which puts you as the lone human fighting off zombies; together with four new multiplayer maps, a new zombies co-op map. Click here for more details.

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God of War: Ascension™ "Prison of the Damned" Demo
Release Date: 27th February	Platform: PlayStation®3
“God of War: Ascension” single-player campaign demo is on the way! Bloodied and nearly broken, Kratos has been imprisoned for turning his back on his blood oath to Ares. Experience a taste of the epic new story and combat as the Fury Megaera aims to teach Kratos a lesson about the punishment of traitors. Become the legendary Spartan Kratos in this prequel to the best-selling God of War franchise and witness his fearless escape from the Prison of the Damned.

	MALICIOUS REBIRTH (Localized Ver.) Full game
	Release Date: 28th February	Platform: PlayStation®Vita
	Last year, PS Vita game “Malicious Rebirth”is out as Japanese version and now we have a localized version (Chinese & Korean)! In the game, both of the main characters wear an ever-changing cloak which can transform into wings, fist, sword, lance and shooting gun to fight against enemies. This “Rebirth” version does not simply mean a transplantation from PS3™ to PS Vita, but also features new scenarios, new bosses and control system to provide you an exciting, amazing 3D action experience.

Dynasty Warriors 7 Empires (Eng. Ver.) Full game
Release Date: 28th February	Platform: PlayStation®3
This game is the latest title in the "Empires" series, combining thrilling battlefield action with "annexation-style" strategy gameplay, featuring different character development paths based on the choices you make, a new playable character "Xu Shu", new tactics known as "Stratagems", and a greatly expanded Edit Mode. The gameplay is just epic!

	Senran Kagura SHINOVI VERSUS Full game
	Release Date: 28th February	Platform: PlayStation®Vita
	Here comes the “BREAST” battle game ever!“Senran Kagura”’s latest title is coming to PlayStation®Vita!! The number of playable characters has reached 20 as new forces joined the game. What’s more is that this title supports versus battle through network. Play as different girl ninjas, eliminate all enemies and enemies’ clothes, and go your own way as a ninja!

Mass Effect™ 3 free add-on: Reckoning Multiplayer Expansion
Release Date: 27th February	Platform: PlayStation®3
Free add-on is out for all of the “Mass Effect™ 3” players!The Alliance has reached out to new and unexpected allies in their desperate search for skilled fighters. “Mass Effect™ 3: Reckoning” adds seven new weapons, five new weapon mods, two new pieces of gear, and six new character kits. Download this huge add-on for FREE now!

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28th February - Mark this date down as this is the day when our PlayStation®Store for PlayStation®3 offers a completely redesigned & richer user interface, which delivers easier navigation and powerful content discovery through the integrated catalog of more than 20,000pieces of game-related content!

Experience yourself how much easier it will be to locate the perfect game or application and to obtain in-depth information about the games and contents that you wish to know more about.

More details are on the way to reveal more about this facelift. Stay tuned on PlayStation® Blog!

Remember that from 28th February, the PS Store on your PS3™ will never be the same, so as your gaming experience.

28th February - Mark this date down as this is the day when our PlayStation®Store for PlayStation®3 offers a completely redesigned & richer user interface, which delivers easier navigation and powerful content discovery through the integrated catalog of more than 20,000pieces of game-related content!

Experience yourself how much easier it will be to locate the perfect game or application and to obtain in-depth information about the games and contents that you wish to know more about.

More details are on the way to reveal more about this facelift. Stay tuned on PlayStation® Blog!

Remember that from 28th February, the PS Store on your PS3™ will never be the same, so as your gaming experience.

Hi, my name is Sian Yue Tan and I’m the producer here at Ratloop Asia. It has been a fantastic ride working on the PlayStation®Vita version of "Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken" this past year and we could not have done it without lots of support from our fellow Asians. As we say farewell to the Year of the Dragon, we’d like to usher in the Year of the Snake with a bang in the form of a neat little trailer that also shows of some of the main features of Rocketbirds for PS Vita. – we hope you’ll enjoy it (and watch it all the way to the end).

The game made its debut here in Asia, where it was bundled with the PS Vita over Christmas, while it was also available exclusively to Asian PS Plus members in December. During this time, it became #3 PS Vita game on the PSN Top 10 PS3™and PS Vita Games in December list in Hong Kong, which is awesome! However, this month we heard the game actually hit the #2 spot last month! So thank you!

For those of you that haven’t tried the game yet, you’ll take control of Hardboiled Chicken, the original Cock of War (a chicken so tough, he survived being boiled as a fetus), to lead the rebellion against the draconian penguin oppressors to overthrow their hold on Albatropolis! - It’s an old-school Cinematic Action Adventure set in the Rocketbirds universe, a world filled with some despicable and pretty violent birds.

The game sports Jetpacking sections, Stab-Action in the new Hardboiled Difficulty setting, mind controlling Brainbugs, some pretty nifty PS Vita controls, sweet Music Videos and an Ad-Hoc / Online Co-operative mode with its own separate campaign!

There’s something tragic about flightless birds, so, if they did grow to man-sized proportions, and they did have the brains to come up with some tech, they would – I’m sure of it - make Jetpacks. Those things and Zeppelins with big screens, so that they can expunge their oppressive propaganda, would probably be some of the first things on their list. - and mini helicopter packs. So, three things. Wellp, we hope you’ll enjoy the game’s Jetpacking stages!

The Stab-Action forms part of the Hardboiled difficulty setting, where Hardboiled gets limited ammo, a deagle and an uzi, but one very large knife to complete the game with. To do this right, you’ll need to use the weapons icon, which is located at the top right of the touchscreen. Tapping the icon will auto-switch you between your last two weapons so you can quickly switch between the knife and your gun to close the gap between Hardboiled and the Penguin that’s trying to shoot you. You can also slide this icon to cycle between the weapons in your inventory, or open up your inventory with the D-Pad. In Hardboiled mode, you’ll also need to defeat a different end boss than in Normal mode, but I feel I’ve given away much too much now!

Everyone knows that Penguins are highly allergic to mind controlling Brain bugs. If you get these, you can throw some at the feet of Penguins to make them do terrible things for you (but also some pretty useful things).

The single player game takes you through 15 Chapters of Full-Res Penguin destruction with music video storytelling - and for the PS Vita, we wired the screens to the built-in motion sensors, so you can counter-tilt the detailed, non-scrolling screens at will - and it looks great.

And finally, in the 10 Chapter Co-op Campaign you and friend can choose two of the six Dirty-Half-Dozen Budgie Commandos to go and rescue the General’s daughter, who has been bird-napped by Penguins in Albatropolis. To better fit with the portable nature of the game, you'll be able to connect with a friend via Online or Ad-Hoc mode for cooperative play.

On a final note, to thank the guys and gals who already own the PlayStation®3 version of the game, you’ll be able to unlock the new Sniper Budgie. If you purchase the PS3 demo and unlock the full game afterwards, you can get the new Agent-H Budgie (yes, Agent-H Budgie is based on the talented Herwig Maurer, the guy behind New World Revolution, that sci-fi rock band responsible for all the music used in Rocketbirds). Agent-H budgie is wielding a custom Photon Blaster - with sound effects created by H himself!

So, from all of us here at Ratloop Asia, have a happy and prosperous Lunar New Year!

What are the most popular PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®Vita titles in the very first month of 2013? We have found it out, and so will you… right away!

January 2013 -  PlayStation®3 Game Downloads Top 3
1st Place: Journey	2nd Place: Resident Evil® 6	3rd Place: THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD 4

Journey Safeguards its Unshaken Top Place

Same as last month, PS3™ gamers still find “Journey” their favorite title. (well, we have already lost count of how many times “Journey” has been crowned) But again, I guess nobody disagrees that it is simply soothing to wander on a boundless desert in a grand journey, not to mention the  touching music scores that has even been awarded the Grammy’s. If you still have not tried it, are you ready now for the journey?

“Resident Evil® 6 full game” finds itself newly on the 2nd place of the ranking. Considered as the very best dramatic horror of the series, this title puts the entire world- America, Eastern Europe and China in chaos as the outbreaks sweep the globe. Perhaps, after surviving 21st December last year and knowing that life continues, our gamers want to experience the thrill of a global crisis!?

On the 3rd place is “THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD 4 full game”, one rank down from last month.  Nothing beats being able to use PlayStation®Move controller to shoot evil creatures that get in your way, and enjoy the unbeatable arcade-feeling.

Personal 4 THE GOLDEN Rules with Two Newcomers on PS Vita Ranking

January 2013 -  PlayStation®Vita Game Downloads Top 3
1st Place: Plants vs. Zombies™	2nd Place: Sine Mora	3rd Place: Persona 4 The GOLDEN full game

The Plants and Zombies Rules PS Vita

The war between the plants and the zombies rages on! “Plants vs. Zombies™ full game” seized the throne in January, one rank up from the previous month. It seems that more and more players enjoy strategizing the placement of different plants and fungi, making use of their distinctive abilities to stop the zombies. 

Ranked on 2nd is “Sine Mora full game”, freshly out in January. It is a horizontal shoot’em up that offers a story mode with and over-the-top tale and an arcade mode with deep and varied gameplay. Remember, all that matters is TIME. Try out over 60 weapon combinations to complete all the stages. What’s more, it was a free title for PlayStation®Plus members in January and it will still be so in February! PS Plus members, grab the chance!

It’s still on the list! Although “Persona 4 The GOLDEN full game” has dropped to the 3rd place, this is the third consecutive month that we see this title topping the download ranking, so that’s undeniable proof about the popularity of this RPG title!

PSN Top 10 PS3™ Games in January

1. Journey full game

2. Resident Evil® 6 full game

3. THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD 4 full game

4. OKAMI HD full game

5. FIFA 13 full game

6. TOKYO JUNGLE™ full game

7. Castlevania Harmony of Despair full game

8. RED DEAD REDEMPTION full game

9. Batman: Arkham City full game

10. Mass Effect™ full game

PSN Top 10 PS Vita Games in January

1. Plants vs. Zombies™ full game

2. Sine Mora full game

3. Persona 4 The GOLDEN full game

4. Ragnarok Odyssey full game

5. Assassin's Creed® III Liberation full game

6. Need for Speed™ Most Wanted full game

7. STREET FIGHTER X TEKKEN full game

8. Everybody's Golf™ 6 full game

9. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed full game

10. When Vikings Attack™ full game

February! It’s February! February 2013 means Chinese New year, it also means extending the joy of celebrating the arrival of a new year, which refers to more holidays, more free time to game! This week on PlayStation®Network we have loads of offers and goodies to keep you entertained!

Celebrate Chinese New Year on PSN

Chinese New Year is just around the corner and PSN is also getting into the spirit with a Chinese New Year campaign running during 7th – 20th February.

Simply make purchase on PlayStation®Store for any content and aim to become one of the selected top spenders during the campaign period may earn you red packets, which are PSN prepaid value for your future shopping.

Various Lucky Sets will be available on PlayStation®Home, bringing you different collections of PS Home items at special price! Moreover, the yearly Money God event is back! Remember to walk around PS Home Square to look for Money God Cousin from 6th – 13thFeburary, who will be dressed in gold or yellow. Touching either one of them earns you different rewards! Read on about the details of Chinese New Year campaign here.

Sackboy Says Kung Hei Fat Choy in New Costumes!

"LittleBigPlanet™" is also celebrating Chinese New year by releasing Chinese New Year costumes add-ons on 6th February, usable in both "LittleBigPlanet™ Karting” and "LittleBigPlanet™ PlayStation®Vita”. Dress up your Sackboy and Sackgirl in new year costumes for free! Click here for more details.

“GRAVITY RUSH” Limited Lunar New Year Value Pack Offers

To celebrate the Chinese New Year, a special offer will be available from 7th – 20th February! Purchase the full game (THB1089 @PS Store) on PlayStation®Store and you will get 3 DLCs for free!  A set of 3 add-ons including the Maid Pack, Spy Pack and Special Force Pack will also be offered at a discounted price of THB290!  Those who have not yet played this title should grab this chance to experience an anti-gravity adventure, and if you already own the game, don’t miss the great add-ons to enhance your gameplay! More Details. 

The Cooper Team’s Back - Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time™

When you think that the legendary sneak thief Sly Cooper had retired from his career, the pages of the ancient book of burglary “Thievius Raccoonus” are disappearing and now Sly and the Gang must get back together to save the Cooper Clan legacy from being destroyed forever in “Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time™”, which will be out on 6th February (THB930 @PS Store for PS3™ version and THB830 @ PS Store for PS Vita version) with Demos released on the same day!

In this brand new action adventure, travel through time and embrace yourselves for epic boss battles , a humorous time travel storyline, new stealth moves and engaging puzzles to recover the past to save their future. Purchase the PS3™ version to get a downloadable version of PS Vita for free!

TAKE DOWN THE TERROR – Dead Space 3

Isaac Clarke returns on 6th February, joined by merciless soldier John Carver, to chase a risky plan that promises to finally stop the Necromorphs. Acting as Clarke, you must explore the frozen planet of Tau Volantis together with Carver and track down the secret they hope will end the Necromorph plague forever, all while overcoming avalanches, treacherous ice-climbs, and the violent wilderness.

With the full game version (THB1930 @PS Store), you can enjoy the full campaign in either online co-op or single player mode. Experience a hostile new environment and discover underworld cities and accept side missions to save mankind!

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Highlights of the Week:

	Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed full game
	Release Date: 6th February	Platform: PlayStation®3
	“Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed” PlayStation®3 version has finally come to our store. Sonic and the All-Stars cast line up on the starting grid once again to battle for supremay in the ultimate race. Compete across land, water and air in incredible transforming vehicles that change from cars to boats to planes mid-race. Master your driving skills and be the first!

Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2 (English Ver.) with bonus full game
Release Date: 7th February	Platform: PlayStation®3
“Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2” English version is out! The epic action comic “Fist of the North Star” and “Warriors” series come together again! New events which were not included in the previous title, “Celestial Emperor” and “Land of Shura” are featured in “Legend Mode”! In “Dream Mode”, you can enjoy the original stories especially that of the minor characters in the original comic! Download and feel the new power of the “Fist of the North Star”.

	HATSUNE MIKU -Project DIVA- f add-on: Snow miku 2013 module set
	Release Date: 5th February	Platform: PlayStation®Vita
	Snow miku 2013 in white kimono is joining “Project DIVA f” as an extra module. This tidy and beautiful gesture is a perfect embodiment of snow. This time, there are two versions included in one add-on including the one with Japanese traditional wedding hat and the one without the hat. Let’s welcome a Japanese angel from the country of snow!

MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM EXTREME VS. 2 add-ons: "ASTRAY GOLD FRAME AMATSU"&"ZAKUⅢ CUSTOM"
Release Date: 7th February	Platform: PlayStation®3
"MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM EXTREME VS." has released 2 new playable gundams as add-ons again! One of them is “ASTRAY GOLD FRAME AMATSU” from Gundam Seed Astray and the other one is “ZAKUⅢ CUSTOM” from Gundam ZZ.

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To celebrate the Lunar New Year, two special value packs of PlayStation®Vita exclusive title “GRAVITY RUSH” will be available at PlayStation®Store from 7th – 20th February 2013, inviting those who haven’t experienced the unique gravity operation play into a different world!

Details of the special packs are as follows:

Both packages will be available from 7th February to 20th February 2013 only at PS Store. Don’t miss this chance to enjoy the game & DLCs at once during Chinese New Year!

Get ready for more shooting and battle actions that go on in this week’s most highlighted new releases!

Shooters Get Ready for “DUST 514®”

Following all the PVs, closed beta and more that gave you sneak peeks into its universe, “DUST 514®” is finally releasing an open Beta on 22nd January (Free @PS Store). This free-to-play persistent shooter set in the universe of EVE Online brings intense infantry combat, large scale warfare and rich character advancement, and is set in and connected to the EVE universe. Wage war in the next generation of first person shooters, where your next victory could prove the crushing blow to a galactic empire of thousands of online gamers. Watch out for the coming addons which can fully equip your weapons! More details...

“Guardians of Middle-Earth” Full Game Out with Guardians Add-ons

On 24th January, “Guardians of Middle-Earth” is spoiling gamers with a bunch of goodies, including its full game (THB460 @ PS Store).

In this authentic multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game set in Middle-earth and crafted specifically for console systems, gamers team up as the most powerful heroes from the greatest fantasy epic of all time, bringing up to 10 players together in strategic five versus five competitive multiplayer battle arenas in the epic setting of Middle-earth. A demo version is released on the same date for those who prefer the try-and-purchase option.

Various guardians are also available on PS Store as your playable character- Bilbo, Bert, Great Goblin and Thorin Oakenshield (THB60 each @ PS Store). Or simply go for the Season Pass (THB460 @ PS Store).  that unlocks 8 new Guardians as they are released including Bilbo Baggins, Bert, Barrow-wight Lord, Snaga and 4 mystery Guardians. The Survival mode is included as a bonus!

The Icy Adventure Begins in “Dead Space 3”

“Dead Space 3” brings Isaac Clarke and merciless soldier John Carver on a journey across space to discover the source of the Necromorph outbreak. Crash-landed on the frozen planet of Tau Volantis, Isaac must comb the harsh environment for raw materials and scavenged parts. He will then put his engineering skills to the ultimate test to create and customize weapons and survival tools. The ice planet holds the key to ending the Necromorph plague forever, but first Isaac must overcome avalanches, treacherous ice-climbs, and the violent wilderness. Facing deadlier evolved enemies and the brutal elements, Isaac can choose to team up, not only for his own survival, but for that of mankind’s.

Play together with a friend or go it alone as Isaac Clarke using the seamless new drop in, drop out co-op functionality. Check it out on 23rd January on PS Store for Free.

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Titles Already Out Made a Comeback

As we go over the 3 top-selling PlayStation® games in December last year we cannot help but feel surprised- the top 2 titles were not new ones of the month, proving their unrivalled popularity!

December 2012 -  PlayStation®3 Game Downloads Top 3
1st Place: Journey full game	2nd Place: THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD 4 full game	3rd Place: Mass Effect™

The top-seller of December is “Journey”, an open world adventure game that has been ranked among top 3 a few times; 1st runner-up goes to “The HOUSE OF THE DEAD 4”, a shooting game about saving the world from nuclear disaster. Both were top-sellers earlier in the year, now back in the Top 10 due to the popularity of their Christmas campaign discounts. If you missed our Christmas campaign, don’t worry because more offers are coming in 2013!

“Mass Effect™” on the 3rd place allows gamers to play hero to save the galaxy as they enjoy interactive storytelling and heart-pounding actions. One wrong decision made may mean devastating and deadly consequences, but that’s also the climax and the charm of this title.

Personal 4 THE GOLDEN Rules with Two Newcomers on PS Vita Ranking

December 2012 -  PlayStation®Vita Game Downloads Top 3
1st Place: Persona 4 The GOLDEN full game	2nd Place: Plants vs. Zombies™	3rd Place: UNCHARTED™ Fight for Fortune

For PlayStation®Vita titles, we see “Persona 4 THE GOLDEN” ruling the ranking. This RPG title enjoyed renewed popularity in November when the English version was released, but the craze has shown no sign of declining. This is truly the GOLDEN era of this series.

Ranked on the 2nd place is “Plant vs. Zombies™”, a new take of the title on PS Vita. This strategy game sees gamers using different kinds of plants to fight against zombies, perfect for casual gamers who are after more strategies and who wish to demonstrate their wits.

“UNCHARTED™ Fight for Fortune” on the 3rd place proves that the epic “UNCHARTED™” series is a big hit… even if it is a card game! Based on the “UNCHARTED™” universe, every card you find in this game is a familiar character or artifact… interaction with “UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss” is also available. If you have missed our previous post here, don’t miss it again!

PSN Top 10 PS3™ Games in December

1.Journey full game

2.THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD 4 full game

3.Mass Effect™ full game

4.Castlevania Harmony of Despair full game

5.Batman: Arkham City full game

6.FIFA 13 full game

7.OKAMI HD full game

8.THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD 3 full game

9.RED DEAD REDEMPTION full game

10.TOKYO JUNGLE™ full game

PSN Top 10 PS Vita Games in December

1.Persona 4 The GOLDEN full game

2.Plants vs. Zombies™ full game

3.UNCHARTED™ Fight for Fortune full game

4.PlayStation® All-Stars Battle Royale full game

5.Ragnarok Odyssey full game

6.When Vikings Attack™ full game

7.Assassin's Creed® III Liberation full game

8.Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed full game

9.Need for Speed™ Most Wanted full game

10.Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour Edition full game

As we countdown to Christmas, it’s time to check out new titles that can further color up your vacations!

Licensed to rob in “PAYDAY™: The Heist”

We all love games because they create a world where we can do whatever we want, including robbing a bank! “PAYDAY™: The Heist” (THB630 @PS Store) available now is an action filled first person shooter game for PlayStation®3 that transforms you into the role of a criminal to rob banks, extract prisoners and hijack armored cars. Exactly the same way will not be played twice with the game’s dynamic environment. Load out with an array of weaponry and equipment and work with 3 other players in the co-op multiplayer to make your mission a success. Nurture your character through missions after missions to develop your own assault or support professional…criminal.  Demo version will be out on the same date.

It’s All About Opening a Box!

Released on TODAY is “OPEN ME!” (THB460 @PS Store), a game that is unique in nature. As the name goes, all you have to do for this game is to open the box! And where’s the box? Simply point the PlayStation®Vita’s rear camera to where the AR card is and that’s where a box will appear. Then use touch controls to unlock the box, grab rewards and there you move on to the next level! Have fun with all kinds of boxes including some that are especially for multi-player! There is also “OPEN ME! Digest ver. (Chinese Ver.)” (THB30 @PS Store) for you to get a taste of this game before purchasing the full version(special price offered to demo users).

Ratchet and Clank Face New Nemesis

After the latest release of “Ratchet and Clank Trilogy” earlier this year, Ratchet & Clank will be back on 19th December! The newest Cross-Buy title to the series, “Ratchet & Clank™: Qforce” (THB460 @PS Store) sees the traditional third-person gameplay intact while adding a brand new tower defense element that will have you building and defending a base against invasions. Make sure that you are defeating the enemies- a new nemesis-while keeping your base secure, alone or with a friend together with either split-screen or online cooperative gameplay. Oh yes, you can also make a choice among Ratchet, Clank or Captain Qwark.

On the same date a bunch of add-on packs will also come out, such as “Villains Pack” (THB60 @PS Store) that brings the greatest villains Ratchet and Clank have ever battled in one collection- Chairman Drek, Dr. Nefarious, and Emperor Percival Tachyon in any multiplayer game. Or go for the "Pirates Pack" that crew up your multiplayer games with undead space pirates to pillage the battlefield with.

It’s time to strike back against a massive alien invasion!

PlayStation®Plus Update – December 2012

On 19th December, PlayStation®Plus members will enjoy a new round of offers - DUST 514® Closed Beta, free games such as “Derrick the Deathfin”,  “Zombie Apocalypse: Never Die Alone” and “Flying Hamster HD” (on 20th December)! PS Plus members, don’t miss your exclusive offers!

Special Notice

What’s on PSN this week will take a break in the coming two weeks as all of you celebrate Christmas. We’ll be back on 8th January to bring you more news of upcoming games. Merry Christmas & Happy Gaming!

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Highlights of the Week:

	ZONE OF THE ENDERS HD EDITION full game
	Release Date: 18th December	Platform: PlayStation®3
	Two Kojima Productions' masterpieces have been reborn as HD edition including “ZONE OF THE ENDERS Z.O.E” and its sequel “ANUBIS ZONE OF THE ENDERS” which are released in 2001 and 2003 respectively. This HD edition brings back the epic experience by its delicate graphics and high speed playstyle. Its opening animation has been remade by Sunrise, so even the new players can fully enjoy the series’ universe!

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed full game
Release Date: 19th December	Platform: PlayStation® Vita
Sonic and the All-Stars cast line up on the starting grid once again to battle for supremacy in the ultimate race. Compete across land, water and air in incredible transforming vehicles that change from cars to boats to planes mid-race. Master your driving skills as you drift, barrel roll and boost to overtake your rivals, or use your weapons tactically and unleash your All-Star move to gain the winning advantage.

	HEAVY FIRE AFGHANISTAN full game
	Release Date: 18th December	Platform: PlayStation®3
	“HEAVY FIRE”, a well-received title in America, has finally come to Hong Kong! This shooting game sets in modern Afghanistan. The extremely high-quality graphics and simple control system win itself popularity. The game includes numerous weapons and battlefields, and by completing the missions, you can earn points to upgrade your weapons, increase the number of grenades or earn other bonus. Let’s download the game and get your weapons now!

Sleeping Dogs (English Version) add-on: Zodiac Tournament Pack
Release Date: 19th December	Platform: PlayStation®3
The second gameplay-extending add-on pack for “Sleeping Dogs” is now available! You are invited to an exclusive tournament on a hidden island off the coast of Hong Kong and must overcome the best-of-the-best as you take on fighters from across Asia in a fight to the death! So it is time to show off your skills!

	Rocksmith™ Authentic Guitar Games numerous add-ons
	Release Date: 18th December	Platform: PlayStation®3
	“Rocksmith™” is releasing tons of songs, allow you to play as one of the top-class guitarists. New songs include “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple, “This Love” by Maroon 5, “Welcome to the Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance, “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen and more amazing songs which are listed below. A true rock n roll lover absolutely cannot even think of missing these songs.

LittleBigPlanet® PlayStation Vita – Super Xmas Offer
From 18th December to 8th January, 2013
You will get the “LittleBigPlanet™” PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) version for FREE upon purchase of “LittleBigPlanet™ PlayStation Vita”. You will also receive a “LittleBigPlanet™” monthly theme if you complete your LBP series by purchasing “LittleBigPlanet™ Cross Controller” (addon). Click here for more details.

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