PlayStation Store Update for Dec 22nd 2009

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The PlayStation Store has been updated today, rather than the usual Thursday updates. A large number of games have been discounted until January 7th 2010. PSOne classic Vagrant Story is now available to purchase, and new playable demos have been added too. The first set of Premium Avatars are also available for purchase, all based on LittleBigPlanet. adhocParty is also finally available in Europe too. The LittleBigPlanet Pirates of the Caribbean costumes are available to purchase on both the US and European Stores.

Details Of Premium PSN Subscriptions Leaked

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A survey sent to Kotaku from IPSOS Online Research gives an indication into the type of packages that Sony might be offering via paid subscriptions to the PlayStation Network. The survey gives an indication of cost and features that will be available for each option, including: 1 one hour trial of full titles, cross-game voice chat and free access to PSOne classics, PSP Minis and PS3/PSP themes, and member only in-game content.

MAG Open Beta Announced

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With the release of MAG not far off now, Zipper and Sony Computer Entertainment have teamed up to bring you the final and 100% open PSN Beta. This will be a global Beta allowing you to compete with players from all over the world, with access to the game’s 64-player ‘Sabotage’ and 256-player ‘Domination’ game modes. New Beta users will have access to the download on the PlayStation Store from January 4th onwards, with the Beta ending on January 10th at 07:59 GMT.

PlayStation Network Video Store Review

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The PlayStation Video Store is a great addition to the PS3 and PSP, adding to a number of entertainment services already available on the PlayStation. The Video Store has been available in North America for over a year now and was only recently released in a few countries in Europe. The online service allows you to rent or purchase movies straight from the comfort of your home.

PlayStation 3 Trophy System Explained

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We’ve received numerous requests to explain how the PlayStation Network trophy system works in determining your level and number of points. Each trophy you earn represents points, for example, the bronze trophy is worth 15 points, while the platinum trophy is worth a whopping 180 points (which is the equivalent of 12 bronze trophies). Below, you will find a breakdown of each trophy’s value and the thresholds for each level.

Final Fantasy XIII Trophies

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Final Fantasy XIII has 28 trophies in total, including 16 hidden bronze trophies and the coveted Platinum trophy. The full list of trophies can be found below including the 16 hidden ones.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Beta Statistics

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The Battlefield: Bad Company 2 beta is soon coming to a close, and has been running since November 19th 2009. DICE has shared some useful statistics about the beta, which as seen over 300,000 players and over 45 million kills in total. Once the beta finished, you will not be able to play the game until a multiplayer demo is released prior to the game’s release in March 2010. Check out the statistics below.

Introducing Heavy Rain Chronicles and The Special Edition Box

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Heavy Rain, due for release in 2010, is getting a special edition box as well as downloadable content, dubbed the Heavy Rain Chronicles. These are a series of additional, fully-playable scenes, where you’ll learn more about the backstory of some of the characters you’ll meet in Heavy Rain itself. The first episode will centre on Madison. In addition, the Collector’s Edition of Heavy Rain will feature a special ‘rain-effect’ slipcase, which “gives the impression of being streaked with 3D rain-drops.”

Uncharted 2 Patch v1.03

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The latest Uncharted 2: Among Thieves patch is now available to download. The new patch adds several new features to the game including Clan Tags, “Rematch” functionality, while also fixing a number of issues in the game. Uncharted 2 lacks full clan support but the ability to add Clan Tags in front of your PSN ID will let players advertise their affiliation. The load times within the game have also been significantly reduced. You will notice that the game loads into a map much faster after leaving the vote screen.

EA Holiday Sale Now On

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This Christmas, EA is discounting a number of titles on the European PlayStation Store to get you into the holiday spirit. From December 17th right through to January 7th just visit the Special Offer section of the PSN Store to download any of these Christmas treats including: Battlefield 1943, Red Alert 3: Commander’s Challenge, Burnout Paradise and 3 On 3 NHL.