The awesome bonus is a free copy of Far Cry 2 – you only have one week to take advantage of this so snag it if you can. A third entry is looming for later this year, and while the game has many detractors, it’s also got a slavish cult fanbase. Go see why Pat likes it so much.

PS Plus members also get a free trial of Grand Theft Auto IV, which is now available to buy as a stand-alone downloadable title or as a complete bundle with all DLC, both at a pretty thrifty price.

Elsewhere it’s pretty much just Vita, Vita Vita. Get the full details below, courtesy of the US PS Blog.

PlayStation Plus
• PS3 Full Games:
  - Far Cry 2 (V-Day Special One Week Offer)
• PSN Games:
  - Battle Fantasia
  - Fatal Inertia
  - Hamsterball
  - Inferno Pool
  - Mahjong Tales
  - Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket Powered Battle Cars
• Full Game Trials:
  - Grand Theft Auto IV
• Discounted PS3 Full Game:
  - Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition (PS+ Price: 23.99)
• Discounts:
  - The House of the Dead III (PS+ Price: $4.89)
  - Worm Ultimate Mayhem (PS+ Price: $11.99)

- Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Poogie Sleepy Sheepy Avatar

• Free Theme:
  The House Of The Dead III Dynamic Theme (PS+ Exclusive)
• Free Avatars:
  - The House Of The Dead III – Agent G Avatar (PS+ Exclusive)
  - The House Of The Dead III – Lisa Avatar (PS+ Exclusive)
  - The House Of The Dead III – Z1 Avatar (PS+ Exclusive)
• Exclusive Avatar Bundle:
  - Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Avatar Bundle 4 (PS+ Price: $0.99)

PS Vita Games
• Super Stardust Delta Interstellar Bundle ($14.99)
• Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3 ($39.99)
• Escape Plan Full Game ($14.99)
• Blazblue: Continuum Shift Extend ($34.99)
• F1 2011 ($39.99)
• EA Sports FIFA Soccer ($39.99)
• Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour Edition ($39.99)
• Asphalt Injection ($26.99)
• Dungeon Hunter: Alliance ($35.99)
• Lumines Elecronic Symphony ($35.99)
• Michael Jackson The Experience ($35.99)
• Rayman Origins ($35.99)
• Super Stardust Delta ($9.99)
• Uncharted Golden Abyss ($44.99)
• Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational ($35.99)
• Wipeout 2048 ($35.99)
• ModNation Racers: Road Trip ($26.99)

PSN Games
• The House Of The Dead III (+ Gwp Hod III Z2 Avatar) ($6.99)
• Worms Ultimate Mayhem ($14.99)

PS3 Full Games
• Grand Theft Auto IV ($19.99)

Game Demos
• Mass Effect 3 Demo
• Binary Domain Demo

Bundles
• Tales From Space: About A Blob Premium Bundle ($9.99)
• Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition (Bundle) ($29.99)

PSP Downloadable Games
• Hakuoki: Demon Of The Fleeting Blossom (Public Release) ($24.99)

Add-on Game Content
• Zen Pinball: Epic Quest Table (Public Release) ($2.49)
• Everybody Dance Pack 7 ($8.99)
• Twisted Metal Online Pass ($9.99)
• Disney Universe – Phineas And Ferb Level Pack ($4.99)
• Crazy Machines Elements – Brainfood Pack 1 ($2.99)
• TNT Racers – Drift Challenge ($2.99)
• TNT Racers – Formula TNT ($2.99)
• Choplifter HD Chopper Add-Ons (Use Ver 1.O) (x5) (Free – $0.99)
• Ace Combat Assault Horizon Assorted Add-Ons (x13) (Free – $5.99)
• Soulcalibur V Customization Equipment 2 ($1.99)
• Soulcalibur V Downloadable Music Pack 3 ($2.99)
• Soulcalibur V Downloadable Music Pack 4
• Soulcalibur V Downloadable Music (11- 20) ($0.99 each)
• Disgaea 4 Assorted Add-on (x4) ($0.99 – $2.99 each)
• Saints Row The Third: Funtime! Pack ($2.99)
• Saints Row: The Third – Money Shot Pack (Public Release) ($2.99)
• UFC Undisputed 3 Add-ons (x3) ($1.99 – $9.99 each)

Rock Band 3
• “Alone” – Heart ($1.99)
• “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” – Poison ($1.99)
• “Never Gonna Give You Up” – Rick Astley ($1.99)
• “To Be With You” – Mr. Big ($1.99)
• Gold Start My Heart ($6.99)

Rock Band Network v2.0
• “30 Lives” – The Motion Sick ($0.99)
• “All I Want Is You” – Jerry Naylor ($1.99)
• “Potential For Anything” – Magnus ‘SoulEye’ Pålsson ($0.99)
• “My Only Star” – Amberian Dawn ($1.99)
• “So Let Us Create” – Jukebox the Ghost ($1.99)

Updates
• Chronicles Of Riddick: Assault On Dark Athena Premium Mp Map Pack (Price Change) (PS3) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
• Undergarden (Price Change) (PS3) (now $2.99, original price $9.99)
• WWE ’12 – Kane, New Attire (Price Change) (PS3) (now $2.99, original price $Free)
• Blade Kitten (Price Change) (PS3) (now $4.99, original price $14.99)
• Ghostbusters: Sanctum Of Slime (Price Change) (PS3) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
• Star Raiders (Price Change) (PS3) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
• Choplifter Hd (Price Change) (PS3) (now $9.99, original price $14.99)
• L.A. Noire (Ps3 Full Game) (Price Change) (PS3) (now $29.99, original price $31.99)
• L.A. Noire Complete Edition Bundle (Price Change) (PS3) (now $39.99, original price $34.99)
• Red Dead Redemption Digital (Price Change) (PS3) (now $29.99, original price $34.99)
• Red Dead Redemption Digital And Undead Nightmare Collection Bundle (Price Change) (PS3) (now $39.99, original price $49.99)
• Astro Boy: The Video Game Digital (Price Change) (PS3) (now $9.99, original price $29.99)
• Ghostbusters The Videogame (Price Change) (PSP) (now $4.99, original price $29.99)
• Ben 10 Alien Force (Price Change) (PSP) (now $9.99, original price $19.99)
• Ben 10 Ultimate Alien: Cosmic Destruction Digital (Price Change) (PSP) (now $9.99, original price $29.99)
• Ben 10: Protector Of Earth (Price Change) (PSP) (now $9.99, original price $14.99)(PS3)
• Ben10 Alien Force: Vilgax Attacks (Price Change) (PSP) (now $9.99, original price $29.99)
• Dead Head Fred (Price Change) (PSP) (now $9.99, original price $14.99)
• Despicable Me (Price Change) (PSP) (now $9.99, original price $29.99)
• Gods Eater Burst (Price Change) (PSP) (now $19.99, original price $39.99)
• Pq2: Practical Intelligence Quotient 2 (Price Change) (PSP) (now $9.99, original price $14.99)
• Puzzle Quest: Challenge Of The Warlords (Price Change) (PSP) (now $9.99, original price $14.99)
• Secret Saturdays: Beasts Of The 5Th Sun (Price Change) (PSP) (now $9.99, original price $29.99)
• Far Cry 2 (Sale) (PS3) (now $19.99, original price $29.99)

Game Videos (free)
• Pulse 2/14 Edition
• Uncharted Golden Abyss Play it your way
• The Tester Season 3 Episode 2
• Unit 13 Free Trailer
• Super Stardust Delta Features Trailer
• Grand Slam Tennis 2 – Demo Trailer
• Grand Slam Tennis 2 – Producer Video 1: Total Racquet Control
• Max Payne – Design And Tech Series Video #2
• Binary Domain Multiplayer Trailer
• The House Of The Dead III Launch Trailer
• UFC Undisputed 3 – Demo Trailer

Avatars and Themes
• Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Avatars (x10) ($0.49 each)
• The House Of The Dead III – Z2 Avatar ($0.49 each)
• Just Dance 3 Avatars (x11) ($0.49 each)
• The Tester Season 3 theme (free)
• Valentine’s Day Hearts Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
• Happy Valentine’s Day Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
• Dynamic Beautiful Girl Theme 2 ($2.99)
• Dynamic Blue Dream Theme ($2.99)
• Stupid Honey Badger Static Theme ($1.99)

“With hair flying, long legs kicking and the ear-piercing shrill of deadly vixens, Girl Fight is a unique all-female, fast-paced spin on arcade-style fighting games,” so says the press release.

Apparently, the game allows players to choose from “an array of sexy fighters to battle their way out of The Foundation,” which is a “shadowy, scientific organization” which is looking to weaponize the “psionic fighting abilities of the cast of gorgeous, all-female fighters.”

And here’s more from the press release: “With unlimited funding and no moral or ethical compass, The Foundation collects its test subjects from all around the world, often abducting and plugging women into their virtual construct known as The Mainframe. To make it back to reality, the women must utilize their fighting and psionic abilities in an all-out battle for survival.”

In other words, abducted, attractive females fighting in a ring for their freedom using their bodies as well as telepathy, telekinesis, and other workings of the psyche. Right.

Here are the game’s features:

• Fighting Styles and Character Options: Players can select from a wide range of distinct fighters, each with their own fighting style. Players can even create their own experience by customizing their fighter’s appearance and abilities.
• Unlockables and Customization: Players will find a robust set of unlockables to further customize their characters by proving themselves as the ultimate femme fatale in the ring. Points can unlock new character skins, more varied abilities and codex entries.
• Arenas: Girl Fight takes the players all across a virtual globe in many different arenas, filled in by augmented reality constructs. From war-ravaged San Francisco to the rubble of demolished Foundry buildings, reality and fiction blur in the virtual arenas.

Get ready to “lick the competition” this spring.

It will officially release on the North American PlayStation Store February 21 for $7.99 and in supported European territories February 22.

“We’re thrilled to have Mutant Blobs Attack as one of the first PlayStation Vita downloadable titles, and for us to have hit our day-one launch goal,” said Ryan MacLean, DrinkBox CEO. “Everyone at DrinkBox Studios is super happy with the end product and we decided to sell it for only $7.99.

“It’s a crazy low price point. Insanely low. I’m insane. HUUAGGGGH Backflip!”

The firm has also created a new bundle for the game’s PS3 predecessor, Tales from Space: About a Blob, which will include the game and “a bunch of” DLC for $9.99.

The original game will also be available for the new price point of $7.99

According to The Indie Game Magazine, the latest Game Informer carries a March release date for thatgamecompany’s Journey. Last week, the developer revealed its latest title had gone gold and was awaiting a release window announcement from Sony.

Answering questions on the developer’s Twitter account, thatgamecompany said the unusual adventure is between three and five hours long, but has high replayability.

No DLC has been planned, but avatars are expected. Only one save file per console account is supported, and there will be no stereoscopic 3D features.

As Sony owns the rights to Journey, the last of the three titles in its agreement with thatgamecompany, the developer doesn’t yet know whether a Vita port is inbound.

Journey offers players the opportunity to explore a fantastic desert world, in the company of mute, anonymous strangers – or not, as they choose.

The Monolith online-based game released this week, but those who bought it on PSN are finding themselves unable to gain access to the full game, instead getting the demo version.

Its now asked those affected to provide its PSN ID and the country it’s playing from on the game’s forums.

“We appreciate your patience and are working hard to try to get this sorted out for you. We want you in the game killing one-another, not waiting to unlock it,” said one of the admins on the forums.

As noted by D’Toid, the US store currently has a few games on offer, as well as demos and videos, with some PSOne classics and minis available to download.

There are a handful of PSP titles unavailable to download right now, including Gran Turismo PSP, PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe, Sega Genesis Collection, Fate Unlimited Codes and Hexyz Force.

As of this morning, no such option is live right now for Europe, with those booting up the store greeted with the “This service is not available in your country/region” message.

Vita goes on sale in the US and Europe on February 22.

Full games:

• The Simpsons Arcade
• Malicious
• Mortal Kombat
• Catherine
• Top Spin 4
• Shank 2
• Gotham City Impostors

PSP

• Persona 2/Persona 3 bundle

Add-ons

• Dynasty Warriors 7
• Final Fantasy XIII-2
• Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
• King of Fighters XIII
• Lego Harry Potter Years 5-7
• LittleBigPlanet 2
• Motorstorm Apocalypse
• Rock Band 3/Rock Band Network
• UFC Undispited 3
• Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3
• Uncharted 3
• 40k: Space Marine
• Yoostar

Full list is over on the EU PS Blog.

Shots at the link. No prices, though.

PlayStation Plus

• The Simpsons Arcade Game
• Hungry Giraffe, Gold Medalist (minis)
• Final Fantasy V (PSone)
• The House Of The Dead III Exclusive Playstation Plus Demo
• Qore Episode 45 – February
• Catherine trial

PSN games

• Jak 3 ($14.99)
• Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy ($14.99)
• Jak II ($14.99)
• Shank 2 ($9.99)
• The Simpsons Arcade Game ($9.99)
• Gotham City Impostors ($14.99)

PS3 games

• Jak and Daxter Collection ($39.99)
• Top Spin 4 ($29.99)
• LEGO Pirates Of The Caribbean ($39.99)

Demos

• Jimmie Johnson’s Anything With An Engine Demo
• Cubixx HD Demo
• Gotham City Impostors Demo

Add-ons

• Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception Add ons (x23) ($0.49 – $5.99 each)
• Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3 – Weapon Expert Pack ($3.99)
• Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning – Finesse Bonus Pack ($2.99)
• Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning – Might Bonus Pack ($2.99)
• Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning – Sorcery Bonus Pack ($2.99)
• Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning House Of Valor (Online Pass Paid) ($9.99)
• The King Of Fighters XIII Unlock Gallery ($2.99)
• Final Fantasy XIII-­‐2 – Noel’s Outfit: Battle Attire ($2.99)
• Final Fantasy XIII-­‐2 – Opponent: Lightning & Amodar ($2.99)
• UFC Undisputed 3 -­‐ Ultimate Fights Rivals Pack (Free)
• UFC Undisputed 3 -­‐ Ultimate Fights: Submission Pack (Free)
• UFC Undisputed 3 Alistair Overeem ($0.99)
• UFC Undisputed 3 Season Pass ($16.99)
• Rocksmith – Black By Pearl Jam ($2.99)
• Rocksmith – Jeremy By Pearl Jam ($2.99)
• Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-­‐7 – 5 Spell Pack ($1.99)

Get the full list here.

The person who got it paid $10 for the content in exchange for a receipt with a code.

EA and BioWare have yet to detail DLC for ME3, but have confirmed there is a plan in place for it, with series boss Casey Hudson promising content will come for both single-player and multiplayer.

Besides loot drops for characters, BioWare’s DLC plan for Mass Effect 2 was extensive, with narrative DLC including Lair of the Shadowbroker, Zaeed, Kasumi’s Stolen Memory, Overlord and Arrival, which preceded ME3′s story.

Mass Effect 3 launches on March 6 in the US and March 9 in the UK for PS3, 360 and PC. Thanks, Joystiq.

As TSA reports (via GAF), Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational is $35.99, ModNation Racers: Road Trip is $26.99, Super Stardust Delta is $9.99, and Uncharted: Golden Abyss has no discount at $49.99. WipEout 2048′s is $35.99.

The games haven’t appeared on the EU PSN as yet. These downloads – aside from Uncharted – are around 10% lower than buying the physical games.

Although unconfirmed, it seems owners of Japanese Vitas can now buy and download these games as the handheld is region-free. You need to transfer them to the console via a PS3, and you’ll need a US PSN account, obviously.

Vita releases in the US and Europe on February 22.

Malicious pits players against dauntingly monstrous enemies in a series of brawls, and features a neat cloak weapon which can be used in a variety of ways – as a shield, a club, or even to fire bullets.

Players choose which order to tackle the battles in, and each one grants them a unique power, meaning how you line them up affects what weapons you have at your disposal in the next one. Controls are simple but don’t let that fool you; your elegant fighter is likely to have gaping holes in his costume (and body) after a few encounters.

A Vita port has been announced, but not dated, for Japan. Check out a trailer below, courtesy of the EU PS Blog.

Going back to Uncharted 3 for a moment, the Fort Co-Op Adventure allows the player to test their mettle as Zoran Lazarević, Eddy Raja, and Harry Flynn joining as they “explore the mystery behind the Janus head statue from the on-disc co-op adventure”. There’s a video of it posted below.

A list of DLC content was also provided along with dates:

February 7 -Fort Co-Op Adventure: $5.99
February 7 –Doughnut Skin Pack: $1.99
February 7 –Rogues Skin Pack 1: $2.99
February 7 – Rogues Skin Pack 2: $2.99
February 21 – Flashback Map Pack 2: $9.99

All content will be available free as part of the Fortune Hunters’ Club for $24.99.

Now, about the Jak & Daxter Collection: it is available at your local game retailer, as well as PSN for $39.99. You can also choose to download any of the installments from the collection – Jak II, Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, Jak 3 with optional 3D – separately for $14.99.

It is to be released in Europe on February 22.

Thanks, Joystiq.

On the PlayStation Forum thread tracking the error, affected community members expressed concern that more users might be inconvenienced when making purchases in this week’s PS Store update, and requested Sony make an official announcement of the error on the European PlayStation Blog.

“If this issue continues and is going to affect the Store update then it will of course be mentioned,” moderator SuperFast Zombie replied.

“However we are hopeful that it will be resolved before then.”

The most recent update from Sony regarding the matter is a reaffirmation that engineers are working on the error, which leaves affected users with no way to download purchased games and DLC, including content activated by promotional codes.

The problem was first noticed in the wake of a maintenance window which ended on Friday.

Thanks, CVG.

Flashback Map Pack #1 – a leading name if I ever saw one – contains upgraded versions of the Fort, Lost City, Cave and Sanctuary maps from Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.

Naughty Dog apparently spent months giving these a bit of spit and polish, adding new lighting, particle, and atmospheric effects – there’s rain, snow, ice, spring vegetation, and even an aurora in the night sky.

The pack has been available on the European PSN since mid-January, and the trailer suggests it’s now accessible from the US side, too. It’ll set you back £6.49/€7.99/AUD $12.95.

Thanks, EvilAvatar.

Reports of the issue began hot on the heels of service restoration on Friday. Those struck by the problem receive error code 80023102 and the disturbing message “No content was found” when attempting to download paid purchases or access a transaction list.

Users in Australia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and the UK have encountered the error, but it does not appear to have troubled US users. PlayStation Plus members appear to be the most frequently affected.

Although the problem is not universal, one thread on the European PlayStation forums addressing the problem has passed 500 posts at time of writing.

“This issue appears to be affecting a larger number of users then first thought so the urgency is high to get it sorted,” moderator SuperFastZombie said on Saturday.

The latest update came on Sunday, from moderator Yaster.

“I’m being told that the cause of the problem has been identified, but a resolution has yet to become available,” he wrote.

Moderators have assured users their paid content has not been lost, and will be accessible once the issue is sorted out.

Thanks, PSN Stores. [image]

Sales of PlayStation 3 hardware, software and peripherals accounted for 25% of units sold and 31% of value at Australian retail, the largest slice of any platform. The PS3 version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 outsold the PC and Xbox 360 versions, too.

No details were given on digital software sales, beyond a passing mention to “year-on-year growth in online revenues across the PlayStation Network”.

On the hardware side, although Sony didn’t give hard numbers it said the PS3 “outperformed the competition”, with a 24% increase in sales.

“The uplift on PS3 sales was no small feat, in fact, our percentage year-on-year unit growth was triple that of our nearest competitor,” said SCE Australia boss Michael Ephraim.

The PS3 has reached an install base of almost 1.5 million in Australia.

Naturally, the explanation is something like “magic” but at least now you know why you’re frantically studying up on unblockable highs and non-looping combos in order to reach the final boss: got to get the Skullheart. Righto.

Skullgirls is a fighter built by passionate fighters for, uh, other passionate fighters, expected this year on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade.

Thanks, GameInformer.

According to the notice sent out to various PSN account holders, the move incorporate a “comprehensive network platform” of services from Sony across games, movies, music and various media offerings.

“This transition is based on Sony’s goal to enhance its unique digital entertainment offering,” read the email. “As a series of these activities Sony started last September, PlayStation Network will be aligned with Sony Entertainment Network.

“This helps us get closer to our goal of establishing a global comprehensive network platform of services across games, movies, music and more, all accessible from one convenient account.”

A few minor changes were made to the TpS agreement, but the main change is in the name only at this time.

PSN accounts will change over to SEN accounts via the next PS3 and Vita software update next week, and changes will not be applied to PSP for the present.

Thanks, DigitalSpy.

The new chief earmarked the games business, Sony’s digital imaging arm – cameras, basically – and mobile to be the three main areas the company can strengthen itself with.

Hirai was speaking as part of Sony’s Q3 financial conference call yesterday morning.

Hirai will take over as Sony CEO and president on April 1 from Sir Howard Stringer, who will take up a role as chairman of the board at the company from June.

Thanks, Andriasang.

There’s more details on the US PS Blog.

These images were dug up by the enigmatic AllGamesBeta. I Am Alive, a long-delayed survival title from Ubisoft Shanghai, releases via the Xbox Live House Party on March 7, for 1200 Microsoft Points. A PlayStation Network and possible even PC release are expected to follow.