The PlayStation Recap

Not a bad week, despite the fact that we’re in a traditionally quiet season. But with Madden NFL 11 coming out next Tuesday, and PlayStation Move and major game releases in the following weeks, the craziest time of the year is nearly upon us. The excitement builds!

Speaking of which, if you have game suggestions for future PlayStation.Blog posts, let me know in the comments. Where possible, we’ll try to make it happen.

• I’m playing: Deathspank, Red Dead Redemption, Tekken 6, Mortal Kombat II
• I’m watching: The Descent Part 2, Up in the Air, True Blood Season 3, Fringe Season 2
• I’m reading: Wired July issue (“Sergey’s Search”), The Walking Dead Book 5

• NEW Madden NFL 11 PSP Bundle — Available starting August 10th, get a piano black PSP-3000 with Madden NFL 11 for $169.99.
• God of War: Ghost of Sparta Official Release Date and Pre-Order Pack — A red-and-black PSP bundle, plus extensive pre-order DLC bonuses for the UMD and digital versions of God of War: Ghost of Sparta.
• ModNation Monday: Title Update 1.02 Releases August 4th, Brings Improvements — Load time improvements, exploit fixes, and more. Also, get an update on the issue affecting XP Race and XP Series here.
• PlayStation Network Summer Sale: Fat Princess, PixelJunk, Chinatown Wars and More — A full list of PSN game discounts, with up to 50% off Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars and PixelJunk Shooter for a limited time.
• NBA Elite 11 for PS3: New Controls and NBA Jam Confirmed — NBA Jam modes come to NBA Elite 11, and the EA Sports team gives us the full rundown on the new control scheme.
• Pulse 8/3 Edition Now Available — Christina Lee digs deep into the PlayStation Store Summer Sale, and makes a couple of Clash of the Titans jokes for good measure.
• Coming Next Week to PlayStation Plus: Red Faction Guerrilla Game Trial and More — Updates next week include new games and new discounts, plus early access to PixelJunk Racers: Second Lap and TerRover.
• PlayStation Store Update — Earthworm Jim HD? Groovy! Shiny Entertainment’s classic hits PSN with new co-op modes and revamped graphics, plus a free demo.
• Coming Soon to PSN: Who’s That Flying?! for PSP and PS3 — The creators of the cult hit Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess return with another offbeat gem for PlayStation minis. First screens inside!
• Mos Eisley Cantina Comes to PlayStation Home + Exclusive Star Wars Events & Items! — Hang out in a wretched hive of scum and villainy during the 30th anniversary of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
• Digital Comics Store Update — General Zod returns in the free comic Superman: War of the Supermen, plus new Vampire Hunter D Volume 2 and Captain America.
• Ys Seven Comes to PSP in August — Falcom’s classic action-RPG comes to the PSP this month, and we’ve got a full details. Protip: Ys pronunciation rhymes with “freeze.”
• Euro Event Report – James Bond: Blood Stone for PS3 — Bizarre Creations is prepping a new 007 adventure for 2010, and the new trailer is *well* worth watching.
• LittleBigPlanet 2: Adventure Trailer Revealed — The Grappling Hook, Power Glove, and bounce pads take center stage in this peek at the universe-spanning Story mode.
• Maximizing minis: Young Thor & Frima’s Love for All Things Tiny — The concept art in this behind-the-scenes PSN peek is well worth a look.
• Flower Power: Art Contest Winners, New Demo — We showcase the five winners of the Flower art contest, and add a quick reminder about the new Flower PSN demo.
• PlayStation Move: The Precision Swing In John Daly’s ProStroke Golf — Learn how the development team has harnessed the precision of the PlayStation Move to create an authentic golf swing.
• PlayStation Network Video Content Update — New movies include Kick-Ass and The Ghost Writer, plus new discounts on action and martial arts flicks.
• Mafia II’s PS3-Exclusive DLC: The Betrayal of Jimmy — PlayStation 3 owners get free, exclusive DLC on launch day with “The Betrayal of Jimmy,” a fast-paced side story for Mafia II.

Courtesy of Jeremy Dunham

• Zipper Profile: Mary Olson — Mary works to make sure that everything your speakers pump out is music to your ears. She has a lot to say, so get reading.
• Zipline Podcast – Episode 14 — This week we’re joined by Cade Myers, Assistant Producer on SOCOM 4, who also had a hand in MAG’s production.

Courtesy of Arne Meyer

• REMINDER: The Lab – Co-op Crushing — With only 80% of your normal health, you’re a softer target for the waves of enemies trying to dispatch you in Survival and Gold Rush.
• “The Lab” – August 2010 Schedule — During the weekend of 8/20, “The Lab” will be running No Power Weapons in Team Deathmatch, i.e. no M-32 Hammer, GAU-19, SAS-12, or Pistole.