5w ago - Old School Games Producer Nick Madonna announced via Sony's blog today that God Mode storms PlayStation Network on April 23, 2013.

To quote: Old School Games is a new game studio launched by Saber Interactive whose focus is to deliver low-cost, high-quality downloadable titles.

Using Saber's technology and development platform, we strive to create digital games that look like retail products. With our first release, God Mode, we wanted to create a lighthearted throwback experience, which focuses on arcade-style action over story. We came up with a classic premise - fighting to get out of Hell - then wrapped it in a third-person shooter with 3D graphics on par with full-price titles.

Finally, we added a slew weapons: plasma launchers, rail guns and what we affectionately call the "buzzsaw," in order to wipe out waves and waves of demonic hordes.

We decided that God Mode should be less about deep narrative and more about action. This approach gave us the ability to really go crazy and build a unique world full of plenty of characters to shoot, blow up, impale and maim.

After making this decision early on in the design process, the designers...

8w ago - Today Sony Computer Entertainment Hardware Engineer Todd Tokubo has announced news of a Bioshock Infinite Audio Mode for the Pulse Elite Edition Headset.

To quote: Tomorrow marks a big day for world-acclaimed studio Irrational Games with the release of Bioshock Infinite, so it's only suitable that we mark the occasion with something special.

For the first time, we are partnering with a game developer to deliver a specially crafted audio experience exclusive to PlayStation. Tonight at midnight, we are launching a new audio mode for the PULSE-Elite Edition Headset designed especially for BioShock Infinite. Better still, it will be free.

Why a custom audio mode? Irrational Games wanted to elevate the dark world of BioShock Infinite to a new level by providing a richer gameplay experience.

We worked with them to take advantage of our new BassImpact technology embedded in the Pulse-Elite headset to create a sound profile that enables players to feel gunshots and explosions in a much more dynamic and powerful way.

Engineers on both teams worked together to tie the pulses from BassImpact to key audio elements in the game, creating a more immersive experience as you fight your way through...

24w ago - Comcept Founder Keiji Inafune has posted up a video today showcasing both Leviathan and Ghost Mode in PS Vita's Soul Sacrifice below.

To quote: Today, I'm pleased to reveal a new monster, "Leviathan," and to share its backstory.

Meet Leviathan

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far away, there were two twin princes. The older twin excelled at everything, and the younger one failed at just as much. The two were so different that it was a wonder that the same blood flowed through their veins. It was like pairing up a giant and a dwarf.

The younger brother grew up with a severe inferiority complex and developed an extremely dark personality. He started to enjoy collecting ferocious animals, one in particular being a crocodile from another kingdom. He put the crocodile in a cage, where he tormented it. It was the only time he could ever feel strong.

Years went by, and it was finally time for the heir to take the throne. Of course, the chosen heir was none other than the eldest of the twin brothers. Jealous, the younger prince stormed off to his room. He sat there, staring at his crocodile.

"If only I could get the crocodile to kill my brother..." he thought. Just then a strange voice resonated in the room and the prince could feel his body...

28w ago - Following up on his previous release, this weekend PlayStation 3 developer HDMadness has updated PS3 ErmaC 4.30 CFW to version 1.3 which now includes a completely fixed Demo Mode and more as outlined below!

Download: ErmaC 4.30 CFW 1.3.rar / ErmaC 4.30 CFW 1.3.rar (Mirror)

PUP MD5: CD938B39F2E2B2FEE05FE14AF72F2272

Changes from the included Release Notes:

ErmaC 4.30 CFW v1.3

• More Stable than any other 4.30 CFW out there (Tested with numerous PS3, slim and phat models)
  
• Can run games with the latest updates signed with Keys up to 4.30 without any patching needed
  
• PSN enabled
  
• Cinavia protection disabled
  
• No "Demo Mode", XMB fully optimized so you can have the best performance with your console
  

Changes since 1.2:

• "Demo Mode" is now completely fixed, no more demo/kiosk fw messages*
  
• Some more small bugs fixed, XMB is now fully optimized (XMB is faster than ever before, in-game or not) so you can now have the best performance with your PS3

40w ago - IO Interactive Community Manager Nick Price has unveiled the Contracts Mode in upcoming PS3 video game title Hitman: Absolution today.

To quote: One of the best things about working with a vibrant and productive community, such as the one attached to the Hitman games, is that you can learn a lot by just watching people play.

Going back to the previous games in the Hitman series, we've always enjoyed watching videos of how the fans tackle the different levels; both in terms of strategy and approach to the emergent systems within the game but also in terms of how they change the rules by going against the core of the level.

A great example is when we see people trying to set up mission parameters all by themselves. The previous games didn't really support this - you were supposed to play a level in one of several different ways but targets always remained the same - but the fans pretty quickly started setting up conditions for completion themselves.

Kill everyone with a particular weapon. Don't get spotted by anyone. Only wear the chicken outfit. Kill that waiter in the bar at the Meat King's party.

Sometimes these conditions would be extremely hard to fulfill but equally satisfying when they did get completed. So for...