Hasta La Gadget!

Just like your car, online gaming networks and services, too, require maintenance from time to time, and the same applies to Sony’s PlayStation Network – or PSN for short. Sony has just announced that in their continued efforts to deliver the best online games experience on PSN, they will be performing a routing maintenance from the morning of this Thursday at approximately 8:00AM PT (9:00AM MT / 10:00AM CT / 11:00 AM ET) and last until around 8:00PM PT (9:00PM MT / 10:00PM CT / 11:00PM ET). Needless to say, during these time periods, you will most probably receive a maintenance notification should you attempt to access your PSN account.

Take note that both the PlayStation Store and Account Management will not be available throughout the maintenance period, although you will still be able to make your way through to online play and apps assuming you signed into PlayStation Network at some point between now and the time of the maintenance. A necessary evil, folks, nothing to be alarmed of.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: BioShock Infinite PC Specifications Released, Disney Infinity Launching This June As A Sandbox Game With Real-Life Toys,

Jetpack Joyride is already on a number of different platforms – most notably iOS and Android – but just in case the mobile version isn’t enough to satisfy your coin collecting cravings, you might like to know that it’s going free-to-play on PSN. The switch is happening today in Europe, while North American PSN users will have to wait until Monday, December 31 to snatch the game up at no cost. Interestingly, Halfbrick announced the “launch” the game today, even though it was previously available as a PlayStation Mini for $3.99.

There’s no explanation as to why the game is going free-to-play, but it seems to be getting a couple new features in the transition. Specifically, we’re talking about trophy and leaderboard support, so you’ll be able to compete with your friends over PSN and earn trophies for your collection while you do so. It’ll also feature HD graphics after its free-to-play switch, which is yet another perk to look forward to.

The game will be compatible with the PS3 and the PS Vita when it becomes free, so it seems to be losing PSP compatibility with this switch. As many of you already know, Jetpack Joyride places players in the shoes of Barry Steakfries and tasks them with guiding him through a never-ending side-scrolling level. Along the way, Barry will need to dodge electrified gates, laser beams, and rockets as he collects coins.

You’ll be able to stash these collected coins away and use them to purchase new upgrades and items that will help you progress further. It’s a very addictive and fun game, so if you’ve never played it before and you own a PS3 or a PS Vita, you might want to check it out once it’s available for free. Are you ready for some more Jetpack Joyride?

Jetpack Joyride becoming a free download on PSN is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

PS3 owners: do not adjust your TV sets, the PlayStation Store has received a makeover. Sony’s new revamped media portal is now available in the US, Canada, Mexico and Brazil. If you’re experiencing a case of déjà vu, the update was originally set to hit back on October 23rd, but was sidelined after its UK launch was derailed by some early performance hiccups. Now that it’s here, users will be treated to a snazzy new UI along with Most Popular charts, streaming videos on item pages, improved filters and an enhanced search engine. If you haven’t already, you can grab this update by firing up your PS3 and directing the XMB to the PlayStation Store icon.

Filed under: Gaming, Sony

Redesigned PlayStation Store now live in North America originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Nov 2012 00:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony is always looking for more ways to make the PS3 standout from the likes of the Xbox 360 and Wii (soon to be Wii U), and one new way its doing that is by putting games on PSN the same day they launch at retail. Unveiled today, Sony’s new “PSN Day 1 Digital” program will kick off in October with the release of Resident Evil 6, letting users purchase and download full, new games on launch day right from their couch. Even better is that PS Plus users will get to enjoy a 10% discount in some cases.

Out of all of this, the fact that PS Plus users get 10% off is probably the most surprising. Console manufacturers – Microsoft especially, Sony to a lesser extent – sometimes like to keep prices high on digital versions of retail games. The result is that occasionally you’d end up paying more for a digital copy of the game than you would for a physical copy from a brick and mortar store, but this time around, Sony is ready to pass on some discounts provided you’ve subscribed to PlayStation Plus. Of course, just being a PS Plus member doesn’t automatically mean you’re entitled to the discount, as you’ll have to pre-order the game in question before Sony and the publishers will shave 10% off the purchase price.

Here’s the full list of games that will be launching on PSN on launch day. Keep in mind that PS Plus prices only apply if you pre-order the title unless otherwise stated:

• Resident Evil 6 – October 2, $59.99
• NBA 2K12 – October 2, $59.99/$53.99 for PS Plus members
• Dishonored – October 9, $59.99/$53.99 for PS Plus members
• Doom 3: BFG Edition – October 16, $39.99/$35.99 for PS Plus members
• 007 Legends – October 16, $59.99/$53.99 for PS Plus members during first week of availability
• Medal of Honor Warfighter – October 23, $59.99
• Need for Speed: Most Wanted – October 30, $59.99/$53.99 for PS Plus members
• Assassin’s Creed III – October 30, $59.99

Unsurprisingly, three of October’s biggest games – Resident Evil 6, Medal of Honor Warfighter, and Assassin’s Creed III – don’t come with a discount for PS Plus members, though Assassin’s Creed III is still available for pre-order. There’s no word on if these games will be available to download at midnight on launch day, but Sony’s recent launch day release of Borderlands 2 wasn’t, so it isn’t looking good for the rest of the bunch. More details will almost certainly be coming shortly, so stay tuned.

[via The Verge]

Sony unveils PSN Day 1 Digital program is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Sony has announced today alongside its new and enhanced PS3 two new colors for its PS Vita with the “Cosmic Blue” and “Sapphire Red”. Technically identical to the actual PS Vita, these new gaming consoles are schedule to hit Japanese shores around November 15th.
Nothing breathtaking here but the good news however comes from the new PS Vita PSN+ that will include a selection of “Free Games”, preferred price on some selected games and DLC, as well as 1GB of …