132w ago - Sony PlayStation Network Product Manager James Thorpe has unveiled the treats for PlayStation Plus subscribers this week, which include Dead Nation and Hustle Kings avatars and access to the LBP2 PS3 Open Beta.

To quote: Hi Guys, it's already time to give you the first installment of your festive December treats. So here goes...

You may have seen Alex's post last month about LittleBigPlanet 2 and the amazing new game coming to PSN on 15 December: Sack Boy's Prehistoric Moves.

We thought you guys might like this so we are giving it to you completely free and one week before everyone else on PSN. New, free and early!

The second treat today is also LBP2 related. We were gutted we couldn't give you the first LBP2 beta exclusively but to hopefully make up for it a little, we have managed to persuade the guys to extend the LBP2 beta for you Plus members.

The numbers are unfortunately limited but if you have been chosen then you should have already received an email and are hopefully playing, creating and sharing as we speak.

Another treat for this month is something you have been asking for: There are two Dead Nation Avatars now available for download. Check out your exclusive 'Hero' and 'Heroine' avatars today.

And finally,...

132w ago - Today Senior Marketing and Programming Manager Lindsay Iveson of Sony Network Entertainment has posted up this weeks PS3 UK Video Store PSN updates, as follows:

We have an exciting update this week and I am pleased to inform you that The Expendables will be available to download from Monday 13 December.

Is it possible to get any more Action Legends in one movie? Don't miss this unbeatable cast: Statham, Li, Rourke, Lundgren, Schwarzenegger, Willis and Stallone.

Here's a personal message from Dolph Lundgren and the film's trailer. You should probably listen to him:





Tell us which action star you would most like to work out with in the comments!

You can also download an Inception HD Special Edition including Bonus Features. Inception is the thought-provoking thriller directed by Christopher Nolan and it is available in SD and HD, and to buy or Rent.

Here are the rest of this week's new releases.

To Buy

• The A-Team
• Shrek Forever After

To Buy & Rent

• The Sorcerer's Apprentice (HD)
• The Karate Kid (HD version included free SD download for PSP)
• Brooklyn's Finest (HD)
• 13 Hours
•...

132w ago - Today Chris Hagedorn of the Sony PlayStation Rewards Team has revealed that Quests are being added to the PlayStation Rewards Program.

To quote: Since the launch of the PlayStation Rewards beta, members have been benefiting from doing the things they love to do on PlayStation and progressing towards Select, Pro and Legendary.

You may have even seen some of the members that have already reached a rewards tier showing off their status in the PlayStation.com forums or online via their exclusive PSN avatars.

When we announced the PlayStation Rewards program, we promised that it would continually be evolving. We have heard your feedback and today are excited to announce the addition of Quests to the program, which provide yet another fun way for members to participate and earn progress. Quests are PlayStation-related activities that you can complete to directly add to your progress meter.

For example, with Quests, users will earn progress for playing an eligible PlayStation Move game in the "Move It" quest, for watching PlayStation Network's PULSE in HD on their PS3 system in the "Check Your Pulse" quest, or for visiting the Central Plaza in PlayStation Home in the "No Place Like Home" quest.

Nine Quests will be released in the beta by tomorrow,...

132w ago - Today SCEA Producer Kumi Yuasa has announced that Echochrome ii will be hitting PSN on December 21, 2010 and shared a fresh video below.

To quote: Wow, it's been some time since our last game update so I am very excited to announce that echochrome ii will be available for your holiday gaming pleasure on December 21st!

And if you're already enjoying PlayStation Move and our vast library of Move titles, then echochrome ii will be a great addition to your collection.

If you didn't see my last post and are curious as to what echochrome ii is all about, it's a unique puzzle game using the PlayStation Move motion controller to shine a light on a series of blocks and objects to create realistic shadows on the wall.





The blocks and objects you see in each level will cast different shadows depending on your movement so as you alter the perspective and angles by adjusting this light source, you will manipulate the shadows they cast to ultimately reveal a solution to the puzzle and guide your character to the exit. You can check out some actual gameplay in the video above.

Once you check out the game for yourself I think you'll enjoy how it uses PlayStation Move in this rather unique and original way. The best way...

132w ago - Sony Associate Editor Nathan Ditum has shared a preview of FirstPlay Episode 36 today, which is coming to PSN this Wednesday.

To quote: This week's episode is number 36, and it's on the Store from Wednesday the 8th of December.

Inside we go hands-on for a full preview of Killzone 3, collect another batch of PS3 releases in our reviews round-up, and catch up with Official PlayStation Magazine's Rachel Weber to find out how she got on when she performed her freshly-written rap for some of the country's leading music critics.

We've also got a review of Sylvester Stallone's action throwback The Expendables in Blu-ray, our verdict on Medal Of Honor online, and an in-depth look at the making of 007 Blood Stone with the guys from developer Bizarre Creations, plus an interview with the producer of upcoming exotic racer Test Drive Unlimited 2.

On top of all that this week we've also got a huge competition to win an Epson HD-Ready TW450 projector, worth loads and loads of money.

As always this comes for just 99p, or even less if you buy a 12 week subscription for £8.99. Which, you know, you definitely should. FirstPlay: See the future of PS3. First.