The PlayStation Card: Maximize Your Gameplay and Points-Earning Power

We’ve been hard at work with our colleagues over at Capital One to create a credit card with rewards designed withPlayStation fans in mind. That’s why I’m excited to officially introduce the PlayStation Card to you today!

The PlayStation Card lets you earn points on all of your purchases, including 10X points on every purchase you make on PlayStation Network. That means you can earn 10X points on each of your game-related PSN purchases as well as PSN movie or TV episode purchases and rentals. EVERY purchase you make using this card lets you rack up points you can redeem for PlayStation games, accessories, and PlayStation Network content – along with other great products from Sony.

In addition to earning 10X the points on all PSN purchases, cardholders will receive the following additional purchase rewards:

• 3X points on ALL PlayStation and Sony purchases at Sony stores and Sony.com
• 3X points at quick service restaurants, at movie theaters, and on your mobile phone bill
• 1X points on ALL other purchases

You can also earn a $50 PlayStation Network code after your first purchase with the PlayStation Card. Additional details on the $50 PSN code offer can be found here.

It’s a great opportunity for any gamer looking to earn rewards just by purchasing the items you already enjoy. To learn more about the PlayStation Card and to apply today, click here. Happy shopping!

Need for Speed The Run: PS3-Only Supercars Revealed, Michael Bay Trailer

We’re days away from the release of Need for Speed The Run, the illicit cross-country race from San Francisco to New York in the fastest cars on the planet. Jack (played by Hollywood actor Sean Faris) finds himself racing against 200 other racers in pursuit of a $25 million cash prize.

Speaking of Hollywood, if PlayStation fans haven’t seen the new trailer directed by Michael Bay, definitely take a look right now:

Seriously cool, huh? In true Michael Bay form, it’s jam-packed with action and explosions. What’s really neat is that Bay actually took time to get his hands on the game, and talk with our creative team for inspiration.

If you’ve already pre-ordered the Limited Edition of the game, then you’re entitled to some really slick cars, including the Lamborghini Aventador.

But PS3 players get another bonus: seven supercars! Today, exclusively on the PlayStation.Blog, we are revealing two of these seven cars with in-game screenshots and specs. Which one is your favorite?

Lexus LFA

Lexus enters the world of 200mph supercars with the LFA. Helping push it over the 200mph barrier is a 4.8L V10 and a carbon fiber frame to minimizing weight. The engine can go from idle to redline in 0.6 seconds, forcing Lexus engineers to use a digital display because the needle wasn’t fast enough. In Need for Speed The Run, hear what is described as “the roar of an angel” as the Lexus LFA battles it out with the fastest supercars in the world.

Porsche Carrera GT

With an engine originally designed to be an endurance racing prototype, the Porsche Carrera GT is a 200mph bullet. Production ran from 2004-2006, but the mid-engine V10 is hardly forgotten. Boasting 604hp, 15-inch brakes and an automated spoiler that adjusts above 70mph, the Carrera GT is as beautiful in its design as it is in its sound. In The Run, you’ll find yourself turning up the volume just so you can hear the incredible whine coming from the dual exhaust pipes.

• Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
• Hennessey Venom GT
• GUMPERT apollo s
• Lamborghini Countach QV5000
• Koenigsegg Agera R
• Lexus LFA
• Porsche Carrera GT

The Run was developed on PlayStation, and these cars are going to look spectacular. Who wouldn’t want to start with some of the fastest cars on the planet right off the bat?

Remember, Need for Speed The Run is out next Tuesday, November 15th,

PlayStation’s 3D Display Hits This Weekend, Watch the Full Tour

Hi everyone! It’s officially dark at 6pm and the crisp, woodsy smell in the air lets me know that the holidays are just around the corner. With so many great 3D-compatible titles, such as UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception, Batman Arkham City, and Assassin’s Creed Revelations, recently launched and coming, there’s no shortage of 3D entertainment on the PS3 system this holiday season. That being said, the 3D Display is sure to be a hit under the tree, so we thought we’d give you all a personalized tour of the product.

Featuring a luminous 24” LCD screen with full HD 1080p 3D presentation, the 3D Display delivers an incredible high-definition stereoscopic 3D experience, offering best-in-class visuals in both 2D and 3D for all of you gamers. As our first official gaming display, the 3D Display is enhanced for gaming with SimulView, a special feature that allows you to view individual, unique, full-screen images of gameplay in two-player mode.

We’re very excited to be able to deliver a comprehensive 3D package at an affordable price. We firmly believe that 3D games will lead the charge into 3D adoption and this bundle arrives when great 3D games are launching. The 3D Display bundle is available at a retailer near you for $499.99 (MSRP). It includes the 3D Display, a copy ofMotorStorm Apocalypse, one pair of PlayStation 3D Glasses, and an HDMI cable. The 3D Glasses will also be available separately for $69.99 MSRP.

What 3D titles have you played? Are you excited about SimulView? Let us know! 

DICE Won't Tolerate Cheating Or Exploiting In BF3

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Hey cheaters. Yeah, you. Real gamers don't think too highly of you, and neither does DICE.
If you're concerned about cheaters in Battlefield 3, DICE is on your side and is prepared to be both vigilant and harsh when it comes to offenders. Just check out some of their recentTwitter updates; a few of the more important ones have been summarized at The Gaming Liberty:
"We take cheating and exploiting very seriously in Battlefield 3 and want to make it clear that it will not be tolerated..."
And then:
"This week we’ve banned hundreds of offending accounts and have stats-wiped accounts for exploiting (such as boosting)."
So yeah, don't think you're going to get away with extensive cheating. To be perfectly honest, even though I'm not much of an online player, I can't see the fascination in cheating. Isn't that a completely hollow victory? Don't you know you aren't actually winning anything? Or is it just fun to be a di**? Maybe I'm just old-fashioned in my belief that if I accomplish something, I want to say I accomplished it.
And DICE will continue to keep an eye out.
"We’ll continue to be monitoring and taking action against the minority that doesn’t respect the integrity of the game."
So, you know. Take that

Is Skyrim The Next Marriage Killer?

 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

You know, given that radiant quest system in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim that technically makes the gameplay almost limitless, maybe spouses have to worry.
I well remember "EverCrack" and an organization formed due to its heavily addictive qualities; I believe it was called "Wives Against EverQuest," or something like that. In general, if I were to guess, I'd say that when it comes to legitimate cases of video game addiction, 99% of the time, it's due to an MMO. It's the combination of an immersive fantasy world and the ceaseless drive to level up and progress from an individual standpoint.
Although Skyrim has a narrative and the game can be completed, it has a lot of the same elements found in MMOs. I only just realized this; I made the connection as I found it difficult to tear myself away from Bethesda's latest. I'm free from its clutches now - got way too much to do, and I've never had a personality prone to obsession or addiction - but I sensed the drive to keep playing at the cost of any and all free time.
You could dump hundreds of hours into this game without a problem, and I'm wondering if this is the latest "marriage killer" in the video game world. Sure, there are plenty of hardcore Call of Duty fans but then again, I feel online multiplayer has a few of those addictive elements found in MMOs...essentially, CoD online isn't much different; it may not be "massive" but it's definitely "multiplayer online," and some people can't seem to stop.
But The Elder Scrolls is different. Gamers want to lose themselves in another world; simple escapism could become something a tad more dark and dangerous. So the question is, will we start seeing spouses flipping out over the amount of time their husbands are spending with Skyrim? I have a feeling we might...

Assassin's Creed Embers Trailers: Ezio's Last Adventure?

Assassin's Creed has always featured a decent story and now, Ubi Workshop will produce a short film adaptation.

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It's called "Assassin's Creed Embers" and it takes place many years after the events ofAssassin's Creed: Revelations, which launches on November 15. Can't wait for that.


Here are a couple trailers that might pique your interest. In the first, we see an old Ezio - and you thought Snake was the only geezer that could still fight! - who has tried to leave everything behind him, but trouble is heading his way. It sorta reminds me of John Marsten in Red Dead Redemption.

The second trailer involves another part of the story. A young female assassin has been looking for Ezio; she wants him to teach her the secret tricks of the trade before her enemies close in. We see some of the same footage, but at least we get a different plot angle.

Anyway, this one looks interesting. I'm very much looking forward toRevelations and if done correctly, this short film adaptation could be excellent as well.

Battlefield 3 Campaign Wins Out Over Modern Warfare 3

For the record, I gaveBattlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 the same score. Very similar games, but I give the campaign edge to BF3 and the multiplayer edge to MW3, so any differences canceled each other out.

 Battlefield 3

That's the simplified comparison, of course; read the full reviews for extra elaboration. But the point is this: I know nobody is supposed to care about the campaigns in such games, as multiplayer is obviously the biggest draw. However, believe it or not, there are people out there who love fun, intense single-player adventures in a first-person shooter. And so, we're telling you flat-out: if you're a campaign fan who doesn't dig online multiplayer, but you still want a great shooter experience, go withBattlefield 3. It's close but only one can win.
Not only does it look better, but it's also a little more varied and a little more involving. It's also more realistic, which makes it much more challenging and keeps you on the edge of your seat. While MW3 features a similar roller-coaster ride with plenty of great thrills, it doesn't feel as "next-gen" as BF3; it's more of the "been there, done that" sensation, despite its definite appeal. Too many of the missions in the MW3 campaign felt like straight-up run and gun, while BF3 seems to offer more diversity.
And I have to say that in terms of sheer, "holy sh**" moments, BF3 has a slight edge, although MW3 really tries to keep shoving bad-ass scenes in your face. Oh, and let's not forget that BF3's campaign is at least a few hours longer. So, single-player fans, you know what to choose.

Xbox.com update is live, features Beacons and local Auto Renewal options

As expected, the new update to Xbox.com, featuring the new Beacons functionality to mark certain games you'd like to play with friends, has gone live and is now available to anyone with an Xbox Live account. The update looks clean and purty, and features not only those Beacons, but revamped friends and messaging functionality, and a nice quick interface for browsing through games and achievements.

And there's something else new on the page: The option, as seen above, to cancel your autorenewal subscription right there on the site. Previously, doing so was more of a pain, and you had to leave the site to go to Microsoft.com and do it, but now you can click through to your account and change any subscription settings right through Xbox.com.

A note of warning, however: Microsoft will put a few special deals in front of you as you click through, including a discount on the subscription designed to keep you around. But that's understandable -- someone's got to pay for the design money that went into this update. And speaking of update, where's thatconsole dashboard update we were promised? Soon.

Yakuza's Kazuma enters the Binary Domain

You'd think the team behind the awkward Yakuza: Of the End (coming here asYakuza: Dead Souls) might want to hide its shooting pedigree in trying to market Binary Domain -- but we suppose the selling power of the charismatic Kazuma Kiryu outweighs gameplay concerns.

Fans who buy the first pressing of the Japanese version of Binary Domain will get the option to play as the Yakuza protagonist, who has somehow warped 100 years into the future to shoot robots. If you play on the government side, Kazuma will wear his flashy white suit; if you choose the resistance side, he'll don a guerrilla getup, complete with headband.

Modern Warfare 3 sells 6.5M in biggest day-one ever

We all need some extra cash in the holiday season, and if you're looking for someone to hit up for a loan, we'd recommend your rich Uncle Activision. The company just announced Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 sold 6.5 million units in the US and UK on its first day, good for $400 million. To put it in perspective, that's the biggest day-one for any entertainment product ever in history. This tops previous records set by Modern Warfare 2: a paltry $310 million and Black Ops, estimated to have made $360 million in its first day.

Of course, analysts had pre-orders pegged at roughly 9 million, so you know what that means to Battlefield 3 fans. Yes, Modern Warfare 3 is a huge disappointment falling well short of expectations. See, internet? Everybody wins!

Polyphony working on Gran Turismo 6

Your grandkids are going to love it.

Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge to launch alongside Wii U

As part of its financial results, Tecmo shared plans for its upcoming titles. As discovered by Andriasang, of particular interest is the company's launch plan for Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge for Wii U, which is based on the Xbox 360/PS3 release. According to the presentation materials, Ryu Hayabusa's tablet-powered adventure will arrive alongside the Wii U launch, which is slated for sometime after April next year.

We can't be certain but – dismemberment or no – we're fairly confident that it will be the most violent title ever to launch with a Nintendo console.

Assassin's Creed: Embers launch trailer shows Ezio's spark renewed

Taking place many years after the events of Assassin's Creed: Revelations, this short film produced by Ubi Workshop shows Ezio as a much older dude with a family, retired from the assassination game. But when a young assassin suddenly asks for his help, Ezio must put down the cane and crossword puzzle, and once again pick up the blade. Which is great because he was totally stuck on 13 down anyway.