News of Sony’s Playstation Network being down is nothing new, but after a month’s worth of downtime the company is making good on creating several deals for the loss in service. Amid the package are free games, movie rentals and Playstation Plus access for 30 days.

Wan’t the full story? Check out Game Rant.

The Package

All PlayStation Network customers can select two PS3 games from the following list. The games will be available for 30 days shortly after PlayStation Store is restored and can be kept forever.

• Dead Nation
• inFAMOUS
• LittleBigPlanet
• Super Stardust HD
• Wipeout HD + Fury

For PSP owners, you will be eligible to download two PSP games from the following list. The games will be available for 30 days shortly after PlayStation Store is restored and can be kept forever.

• LittleBigPlanet (PSP)
• ModNation Racers
• Pursuit Force
• Killzone Liberation

• A selection of “On Us” rental movie titles will be available to PlayStation Network customers over one weekend, where Video Service is available. Those titles will be announced soon.
• 30 days free PlayStation Plus membership for non PlayStation Plus subscribers.
• Existing PlayStation Plus subscribers will receive an additional 60 days of free subscription.
• Existing Music Unlimited Premium Trial subscription members will receive an additional 30 days of free premium subscription.
• Additional 30 days + time lost for existing members of Music Unlimited Premium/Basic subscription free of charge for existing Premium/Basic members.
• To welcome users Home, PlayStation Home will be offering 100 free virtual items. Additional free content will be released soon, including the next addition to the Home Mansion personal space, and Ooblag’s Alien Casino, an exclusive game.

DICE cancelled their development of Battlefield 1943 and Battlefield Bad Company 2 Onslaught mode for the PC yesterday, which foreshadowed something big was about to release. In fall of 2011, Battlefield 3 will officially release and bring soldiers what they have been asking for: Prone firing, 64 online multiplayer (PC) and jets.

From the trailer you will notice that there is still a lot of guess work to be done, as DICE loves to slowly roll out small details until the big show at the Games Developer Conference going from Feb 28 until March 3. It appears that Game Informer also has the first exclusive look into the game, and will have a full spread for their March edition.

Pre-orders also begin today for the limited edition PC version of the game, which can be purchased through the EA Store and downloaded in the Fall.

So, how about those PC games now?

Details

Full single-player campaign and a co-op campaign

64 online multiplayer for PC

Prone firing (laying down)

Using the new Frostbite Engine (new destruction and graphics)

Interactive environments (possibly setting down stationary guns, machine guns, anti-tank rockets, etc.)

Jets

Helicopters

Official Trailer for Battlefield 3

Y2K also ate my baby.

Rumors over the weekend on the Play Station Network being down are false, the issue is with the Operating System.

The old operating systems that are contained within the BIOS of the first models of the Play Station 3 have caused a clock issue, which cause the entire system to bug out. Much like the very similar issue that occurred in Microsoft Zune’s at the start of 2009.

Little do some electronic owners know, the tiny clock at the bottom right of your screen right now holds a lot of power over your computer. If the clock is off, programs don’t update properly, some programs that rely on dates and times are even completely thrown off. Hell, the same issue can be seen in Tamagotchi’s and other handheld video game units that base their date off of time.

The first PS3 just needs an update to fix their clock updating function and all should be fine. In the mean time, Sony has some tips and their regular public relations jabber to help clarify some concerns. We figured this was a clock issue as soon as we heard the original PS3′s were bugging out, yet the Slims were just fine.

From Sony:

As you may be aware, some customers have been unable to connect to the PlayStation Network today. This problem affects the models other than the new slim PS3.

We believe we have identified that this problem is being caused by a bug in the clock functionality incorporated in the system.

Errors include:

• The date of the PS3 system may be re-set to Jan 1, 2000.
• When the user tries to sign in to the PlayStation Network, the following
  message appears on the screen; “An error has occurred. You have been
  signed out of PlayStation Network (8001050F)”.
• When the user tries to launch a game, the following error message appears
  on the screen and the trophy data may disappear; “Failed to install
  trophies. Please exit your game.”
• When the user tries to set the time and date of the system via the
  Internet, the following message appears on the screen; “The current date
  and time could not be obtained. (8001050F)”
• Users are not able to play back certain rental video downloaded from the
  PlayStation Store before the expiration date.

We hope to resolve this problem within the next 24 hours. In the meantime, if you have a model other than the new slim PS3, we advise that you do not use your PS3 system, as doing so may result in errors in some functionality, such as recording obtained trophies, and not being able to restore certain data.

As mentioned above, please be advised that the new slim PS3 is not affected with this error. We are doing our best to resolve the issue and do apologize for any inconvenience caused.

For the latest status on this situation please continue to check either the PlayStation.Blog orPlayStation.com.

Hell yeah it's groovy.

Hey gang, we found this deal you can’t pass up. Free Norse Mythology add on for LittleBigPlanet!Just go to the follow link and put in your code. It may not last long, so get it while it’s hot!

Shot from the UAV helio and damn is it sweet.

Battlefield Bad Company 2 may not be out till March 2010, but we’ve got the first look and it is pretty.

Everything that was wrong about Battlefield Bad Company 2 seems to have been repair in the newest installment from DICE. Battlefield games are honestly one of our favorites, so this may just be a bit biased, and keep in mind that it’s still in beta testing. From the beta test we can inform you that there will be a much better form of destructibility, which DICE calls destruction 2.0. Rather than an entire wall just blowing up it now fragments and acts more realistic. Entire buildings can be destroyed by blowing out it’s infrastructure and you can even create improvise gun holes will a drill.

The next biggest upgrade to the game comes with fully customizable kits. You start with each of your basic weapons and every time you upgrade a kit, all classes get that same weapon. Clearly the assault and media class won’t get specialized guns like a sniper riffle, but you can mix and match them. Additionally, for each gun you choose under a class, you can choose the specific add ons.

Personal upgrades and add ons:

You can now upgrade your character will items that improve accuracy, damage, defense and additional weapons. Each sunsetting you set under a class will remember the personal upgrades you choose, which makes this a great improvement.

Goodbye old school artillery:

Remember that ridiculous large gun that you had to sit in to fire artillery at the enemy, only to get team killed? Well from what it seems, it’s finally gone. It has been replaced with a mobile computer that controls a small UAV helicopter (can be seen in the various screen shots), which can fire a missile that will pretty much take out anything. Every 40 seconds or so you can fire another missile, but the UAV helicopter is pretty weak, as one shot with a sniper rifle will take it down.

Graphics:

The details in the graphics have clearly been upgraded, which is always nice. It also doesn’t seem to slow down game performance of any kind.

Audio:

Where is the new remixed Battlefield theme? For shame DICE/EA! The sound in the game has also been upgraded. If you are camping in an area it’s not hard to hear those above you running around.

Kit improvements:

Guns are now more powerful, although are generally the same as the first Bad Company game. The medic now has paddles so if your teammates suck, you can do a bit more than just throwing health packs. Health packs themselves are now thrown down and heal all those who sit around it. Your health is no longer a static thing, as they took a card out of the Halo series and placed health regeneration into the game.

More to come as it’s discovered. Follow the various battlefield and Playstation names on Twitter, as you two can get your hands on the closed beta access. For those without a PS3 you can get it on your PC in the upcoming months and at the begging for 2010 it will be downloadable on the Xbox 360.

Zombie Ninja will own you.

Xbox Live has officially launched it’s early release update to allow it’s users onto Facebook and Twitter when connected to Xbox Live Gold. While the features are pretty dull and outdated, this can open up new doors to having “apps” on the Xbox 360. The quick  update will take less than 5 minutes to download, with an additional download needed for Facebook. Although currently it just lets you post your status and see basic updates there is obviously room for advancement. Twitter keeps all of it’s functionality with the exception of the explanation of why trending topics are trending topics (honestly our favorite thing on there, whoever writes those snarky brief explanations rocks).

Sadly there are no options at this time to update your status automatically by what game you are playing, even though over a year ago a Facebook app was made just for that. There will probably be an update in the not so distant future to automatically update your status with what you are doing on the Xbox and also boast about achievements and other nerdy gamer things. Perhaps this could lead to another form of parental control, where mommy and daddy can ensure little 12 year old billy is in fact doing homework and not playing Grand Theft Auto while acting like a bad ass (it’s happened to you and we all hate them kiddies). Obviously any half minded person can turn these features off but still, there is quite a bit of potential available.

Obviously Microsoft is a bit behind as the Wii and PS3 both have Web browsers in them, which means you don’t need to download apps just to get on Facebook or Twitter. PS3 also is a bit nicer as you can watch streaming videos on your TV rather than a smaller computer monitor (sorry tiny HD monitor, I love your big sister more).

More likely than not these custom apps will start to be more prevalent on the Xbox 360 and by time Project Natal is completed some form of a Web browser will be installed onto the console. Speaking of, around the time Natal is complete an accessory add on for Blu-Ray will in fact be available.

[polldaddy poll=1898444]

PS3 Slim

We will be getting our hands on the PS3 Slim this Monday – Perhaps Tuesday. Just a wee bit earlier than the other folks and plan to give a full hands on review. Not much may have changed but we will focus on those specifics.

Rumors have been circulating for quite some time on the possibility of a PS3 to be released in the coming months. Officially there will be an announcement at GameCom this Tuesday over the long awaited rumor; however, there is a 100 percent notice of a price drop for PS3 consoles. The general rumors and quantity of the current consoles being provided to retailers either are a result of a new PS3 combo pack or the release of the PS3 slim. Either way in just two short days the world shall hopefully see a much more affordable PS3 game console. Full system specs – REAL images and other information will be provided upon receiving it.

At this time it would seem relatively hopeful for a PS3 Slim to be released already; however, a smaller unit could reduce the costs of producing this item. There will surely be a price drop, most likely that of $100 giving a basic console a price of $300 (Don’t forget the wireless headset $50, additional controller $60 and assortment of games). While we would love to see a PS3 hit the market in the second week of September *cough cough* it still may just be rumored.

Thus being said don’t buy a PS3 till after the announcent on Tuesday during the three hour press conference from Sony.

Looks like Sweden -Who generally is early with the games – Has some pre-order action going.

Play This is back in full swing so expect more updates, quite a bit more often. We will also be posting more humors articles that involve ridiculousness that occurs in Washington DC.

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Left 4 Dead is like being in a Zombie film

editor@playthismag.com                                                         www.playthismag.com

Zombie games usually get great reviews (Resident Evil) or flop (Evil Dead: Fist full of boomstick [Regeneration was bad ass though]) all due to how the story line is dropped on it’s user.

Left 4 Dead is just shy of perfection and with some simple updates it could easily have hita perfect score. Left 4 Dead is unlike any other Zombie game as it practically throws you into the middle of four different Zombie film types. Any where from Zombies chasing you through corn fields to a hospital filled with evil reincarnates seeking to eat your flesh.

The replayability of this game is just plain sick unless you can’t deal with the harder difficulties, where some gamers may get fed up and turned off from the game.

Boomer is like the drunk girl you picked up at the bar, he loves to puke on you.

The breakdown: Left 4 Dead

Graphics & Cinamatics:4/5

Sound FX & Music:5/5

Replayability:5/5

Multiplayer:5/5

Achievements: 5/5

Overall: 96% Left 4 Dead receives 5/5 Burritos

Graphics & Cinamatics:

Unfortunately this is the department where Left 4 Dead loses some points. There are some relatively annoying bugs in the game that cause you to become stuck in a position, only to await the next on coming horde of Zombies. When closing a door you can become pinned again an area and some reason you can not shot the door up enough to destroy it and move yourself. There are several other instances like this, but aside from these the graphics are supreme and you can tell the creators put a lot of love into this game.

They go as far as creating a commentator section, where you can go through the game and see what the creators were thinking and how they created it. They went as far as making movie quality lighting and matching music to the situation you are in. The over all graphics of the game are next generation material and look great on HD.

Sound FX & Music:

The true zombie film material is plastered all over this game, which can best been seen in the music and sound effects. The game is impossible to predict on the difficult settings, but sound and music cues help you navigate safely to your destination. All in all the music does a great job of not only helping you stay alive but build suspense and add a creepy feel.

Replayability:

Left 4 Dead is 100 percent replayable as the AI in the game has no set spawn points, spawn times and you can play in various locations. The only major downside is the minimal selection of weapons and there is no chainsaw! The VS mode shakes things up and lets you become the Zombies, which has got to be one of the coolest features to hit a Zombie game.

Multiplayer:

Multiplayer in this game is a must as you can play with up to seven other people in VS mode or three other friends in the regular campaign. The best thing about the online multiplayer… the long since forgotten two players on one console is back! You can play in any mode with you and another person on your console without having to have a second Xbox live account.

The versus mode can be one of the best things to hit zombie games, because it lets you become one of four special zombies to thwart away the survivors. Sadly if you do not use team work and are stuck with relatively inexperienced people, chances are you will not do very well. The basic idea is to wait till the survivors are separated and strike with everything you’ve got.

Achievements:

If you are looking to rack up another 800 achievement points, Left 4 Dead is the game for you. A majority of the points can be achieved relatively quick with the exception of some specialty ones that require a ridiculous amount of game play, if you can put this game down after your points that is.

Overall:

If you are any type of zombie fan this game is almost required. Don’t rent this bad boy it’s surely worth the purchase.

**Editors note

This is one of the most bad ass experiences you will get from a game, forget COD World at War, this game just drop kicked it in the face! -EvO

For Left 4 Dead cheats check out CheatCC.com

Achievements for Left 4 Dead

	Helping Hand	20
	Revive 50 incapacitated Survivors.
	Field Medic	20
	Heal 25 Survivors with a first aid kit.
	Pharm-assist	20
	Give pain pills to 10 Survivors.
	My Bodyguard	15
	Protect any Survivor from an attacking Infected 50 times.
	Dead Stop	10
	Punch a Hunter as he is pouncing.
	Cr0wnd	30
	Kill a Witch with a single headshot.
	Untouchables	30
	No Survivors take damage after contacting the rescue vehicle.
	Drag and Drop	20
	Rescue a Survivor from a Smoker’s tongue before he takes damage.
	Blind Luck	20
	You or another Survivor take no damage after being vomited on by a Boomer.
	Akimbo Assassin	30
	Survive an entire campaign using only pistols.
	Hero Closet	10
	Rescue a Survivor trapped in a closet.
	Hunter Punter	10
	Shove a Hunter off of a pinned and helpless Survivor.
	Tongue Twister	20
	Free yourself from a Smoker who has grabbed you with his tongue.
	No Smoking Section	15
	Kill 10 Smokers as they are pulling helpless Survivors.
	101 Cremations	20
	Set 101 Infected on fire.
	Do Not Disturb	20
	Sneak past all Witches in a campaign without disturbing one.
	Man vs Tank	30
	Single-handedly kill a Tank.
	Tankbusters	20
	Kill a Tank without it dealing any damage to a Survivor.
	Safety First	30
	Play an entire campaign with no Survivors taking friendly fire damage.
	No-one Left Behind	20
	Beat a campaign with all 4 Survivors.
	Unbreakable	30
	Finish a campaign without ever being healed.
	Witch Hunter	20
	Kill a Witch without any Survivor taking damage from her.
	Red Mist	20
	Kill 1000 Infected with a mounted machine gun.
	Pyrotechnician	20
	Blow up 20 Infected in a single explosion.
	Zombie Genocidest	20
	Kill 53,595 Infected.
	Dead Giveaway	10
	Heal a fellow Survivor when your own health is below 10.
	Stand Tall	20
	Survive a campaign without being incapacitated.
	Zombicidal Maniac	30
	Survive any campaign on Expert.
	What Are You Trying to Prove?	35
	Survive all campaigns on Expert.
	Nothing Special	30
	Survive a campaign with no Survivors taking damage from Special Infected.
	Burn the Witch	10
	Light a Witch with a Molotov.
	Towering Inferno	10
	Light a Tank with a Molotov.
	Spinal Tap	10
	Kill an Infected with a single blow from behind.
	Stomach Upset	20
	All Survivors complete a campaign without being vomited on.
	Brain Salad	15
	Make 100 headshot kills.
	Jump Shot	20
	Headshot a Hunter while he’s leaping.
	Mercy Killer	15
	Survive the No Mercy campaign.
	Back 2 Help	20
	Leave a safe room to save an incapped teammate and bring them back safely.
	Toll Collector	15
	Survive the Death Toll campaign.
	Dead Baron	15
	Survive the Dead Air campaign.
	Grim Reaper	15
	Survive the Blood Harvest campaign.
	Ground Cover	30
	Save another Survivor from a Special Infected while on the ground.
	Clean Kill	10
	Shove a Boomer and then kill him without him splashing on anyone.
	Big Drag	20
	Drag a Survivor 100 feet with your tongue.
	Chain Smoker	20
	Constrict two Survivors in one life as a Smoker.
	Barf Bagged	20
	Cover four Survivors with Boomer bile at once.
	Double Jump	20
	Pounce two different Survivors in one life as a Hunter.
	All 4 Dead	30
	Kill all four Survivors in one life while playing as a Tank.
	Dead Wreckening	20
	Dole out 5000 total Survivor damage as a Special Infected.
	Lamb 2 Slaughter	20
	As an Infected, incap a Survivor who has entered and left a safe room.

-Source http://www.xbox360achievements.org

Need for Speed Undercover

editor@playthismag.com

www.playthismag.com

NFS Undercover gets 4/5 burritos on the Play This burrito rating systems

Need for Speed has long since been forgotten with a new title each year, but like the last few NFS Undercover was rushed out and has little to offer. There are very minor differences from the previous NFS pursuit games, but does not disappoint the fans of previous NFS games. The game play is fast paced and has a high replayability level when cops are thrown into the mix, but as far as purchasing this game goes for it’s new features, not worth the moolah.

The only negative thing on this game, aside from it being relatively boring after a few hours of straight game-play (which is bound to happen) is the terrible sound effects (SFX) throughout the game. One of the most annoying things that can be stuck in a game much like a film are unnecessary SFX. When starting your car from a stopped position it makes one of the most fowl tire screeching noises, but this would be perfectly ok if you floored it. This happens when even tapping on the gas peddle, which obviously is a bit ridiculous and relatively annoying.

Graphics & Cinematics: The graphics are great for a racing type game, but as most NFS games are not meant to be entirely realistic there is still a cartoony/Gone in 60 seconds feel to it. The cut scenes/cinematics of the game are another story, as they have live action cut scenes. For whatever reason they decided to get singer Christina Milian (pictured below) as their leading actress and did a terrible job, but she shouldn’t feel bad as all of the acting was trash. 3/5

Christina Milian - It's sad that this picture alone brings in 1,000 visitors a week.

SFX & Music: While the SFX were especially poor, the music was great. Any racing game that features intense speeds and running from the cops is loosely associated with some sort of techno/trance music with a fast paced beat. While there were only a few well known artists on the sound track, the mixes were still a great fuel to the fire. 4/5

Online/Multiplayer: The multiplayer feature has some new editions for the NFS series as they finally have some original content that you can not get during the actual game play. Cops and Robbers is a new feature that allows you to take place of the in game officers and take down the offenders. The game is just a glorified version of tag and is pretty unbalanced in the game play. Playing regular races is also very unbalanced as it doesn’t have a matching system. A new feature for NFS is that photo mode, which allows you to pause the game and take a photo of your current situation. [Example of ours shown below] 4/5

The 5-0 don't like when you run people off the road

Achievements: For those of you looking for easy achievements, NFS Undercover is the game for you. After just a few hours of game play you can get nearly 75 percent of the entire lot. Simply put rent this game, rack up on achievements and once you’ve had your fill ditch it. 5/5

Random annoyances:

• There is no main menu and the user interface is a pain.
• The AI can push you around and kill your cars engine but you can’t do it back.
• The terrible SFX.
• Photo mode’s photo is relatively hard to find.

Achievements

Accomplish the indicated achievement to get the corresponding number of Gamerscore points:

• Community Member (15 points): Create or use an existing account to sign into EA Nation.
• Active Community Member (20 points): Participated in any Community Day. Visit NeedforSpeed.com for more info.
• Freeze! Hold it right there! (25 points): Take a Photo and upload it to NeedforSpeed.com.
• Learner’s Permit (5 points): Acquire your first car in Career Mode.
• Apprentice Mechanic (5 points): Customize a car in Career mode.
• Meet Zack (10 points): Face off against Zack in ‘Rush Hour’.
• Meet Carmen (10 points): Face off against Carmen in ‘The Game’.
• Meet Hector (10 points): Face off against Hector in ‘Versus’.
• Meet Nickel (10 points): Face off against Nickel in ‘Road Rage’.
• Meet Rose (10 points): Face off against Rose in ‘Rollercoaster’.
• Zack Trap (25 points): Complete the Zack sequence in ‘The Trap’ mission.
• Bowling with Hector (25 points): Complete the Hector sequence in the mission ‘Kingpin’.
• To Protect and Serve (25 points): Complete the Carmen sequence in the mission ‘Rematch’.
• Nickel and Dimes (25 points): Complete the Nickel sequence in mission ‘Payback’.
• 2 Birds, 1 Stone (25 points): Complete the mission ‘Double Trouble’.
• Gold Coast to Ocean (15 points): Dominate the Gold Coast to Ocean event.
• East Fasulo Bridge (15 points): Dominate the East Fasulo Bridge event.
• Pine Creek & Douglas (15 points): Dominate the Pine Creek & Douglas event.
• South Canyon Hwy (15 points): Dominate the South Canyon Hwy event.
• East I-5 (15 points): Dominate the East I-5 event.
• Bay Drive & Harbor (15 points): Dominate the Bay Drive & Harbor event.
• Tri-City Run (15 points): Dominate the Tri-City Run event.
• North River Expressway (15 points): Dominate the North River Expressway event.
• Lose the Eye in the Sky (25 points): Escape from a helicopter in a successfully completed pursuit. (Must be Career level 8 or greater).
• Path of Destruction (10 points): Disable 10 Police Cars in a Pursuit and successfully evade in Career.
• Get out of the way! (5 points): Avoid 5 Road Blocks in a Pursuit and successfully evade in Career.
• Aficionado (10 points): Purchase or win any 5 cars for your garage.
• Keys to the City (5 points): Unlock Port Crescent in Career.
• Branching out (10 points): Unlock Sunset Hills in Career.
• Window Shopper (20 points): Discovered all 3 Pro Shops in Career.
• Nothing Stock (20 points): Discovered all 3 Tuning Shops in Career.
• Retired (40 points): Finish the Career Story.
• Hired Goons (20 points): Takeout all the ‘Goons’ in Career.
• 5 Finger Discount (20 points): Complete all Hot Car Missions.
• Chase or be Chased (20 points): Win all the Highway Battles in Career.
• Own the Road (25 points): Dominate 25 events in Career.
• Completionist (100 points): Complete all events in Career.
• Unstoppable Force (10 points): Avoid 50 Road Blocks in Career.
• Wasting Tax Dollars (20 points): Get $100,000 Cost to State in a single pursuit and evade.
• Spiked Punch (10 points): Avoid a spike strip in a Pursuit and successfully evade in Career.
• Love thy Tires (15 points): Avoid 12 Spike Strips total in Career pursuits.
• Lose the Fuzz (10 points): Successfully complete 5 Pursuits.
• Most Wanted (100 points): Successfully complete 50 Pursuits.
• Scrapheap (25 points): Disable 100 Police vehicles.
• Crossing the Line (10 points): Win a Ranked Multiplayer Cops and Robbers event.
• First! (10 points): Won a Multiplayer Ranked Game.
• First of Many (15 points): Win a Ranked Multiplayer event against 7 human players.
• Among the Best (25 points): Won 25 Ranked Multiplayer events.
• Notorious (50 points): Finish 119 Multiplayer Races in any position.
• Cat and Mouse Virus (5 points): Infected with the Cops and Robbers virus by another player in a Cops and Robbers event.

Check out Cheat CC for codes on NFS Undercover