Holy hell, the European PlayStation Store update this week is not bad in the least.

Somewhere, down below, Satan is contemplating a new winter coat.

Battlefield 1943 arrived, along with excellent demos for Fuel and Ghostbusters. MotorStrom: Pacific Rift and Skate 2 got add-ons, and PSP has some Little Britain mini-games for you.

Excellent.

Full thing over on the EU PS Blog since we already gave away the good stuff.

The Maloof Money Cup is coming to Skate 2 via DLC, EA said today.

The tournament will be available for $3/240 MSP on July 9.

It’ll feature online and off-line modes, as well as an extra 250GS for 360 players.

PR after the break.

MALOOF MONEY CUP MAKES ITS VIDEOGAME DEBUT IN THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED SKATE 2
Compete in the World’s Greatest Skateboarding Event with Skate 2′s Latest Downloadable Content
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – June 30, 2009 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that starting July 9 gamers can download and compete in Skate 2’s Maloof Money Cup Pack, based on the largest pursed event in the history of professional skateboarding. The pack will be available in the PLAYSTATION® Store for $3.00 and on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for 240 points in North America.

“Skate 2 has been embraced by the gaming and skateboarding community across the globe, making it the perfect stage for the Maloof Money Cup’s videogame debut,” said Joe Maloof, President of Maloof Companies. “Now players everywhere can experience the world’s greatest skateboarding championship and revel in the high-stakes excitement of the competition for themselves.”

Skate 2’s Maloof Money Cup Pack will feature separate gameplay events both online and offline – freeskate, single player vert and street contests that put gamers against world class pros, and an online mode in which gamers will be able to compete against their friends in new activities and challenges for bragging rights. Xbox 360 gamers get an added bonus as there are 250 achievement points up for grabs.

The Maloof Money Cup presented by etnies and Monster Energy boasts the largest purse in the history of professional skateboarding with nearly $450,000 in cash and prizes. The three-day competition and festival takes place July 10-12, 2009 at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, Calif., during the opening weekend of the OC Fair. All attendees can ride the virtual course for themselves in the Skate 2 booth, located near the front of the festival, where the Maloof Money Cup Pack will be available for playing.

Skate 2 ups the ante in delivering all the grit, creativity, and culture of skateboarding with all-new tricks that allow players to skate it their way – both on and off the board. Gamers can create their own epic skate spots which can then be shared and experienced by others around the world. The game also features a revamped Thrasher Hall of Meat mode that will have players spending countless hours pulling off bone-crushing wipeouts and bails.

Skate 2 is developed by Black Box, an Electronic Arts Inc. studio in Burnaby, British Columbia. The game is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB and 16+ by PEGI.

Small video for for Skate 2 DLC, Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Plaza, after the break.

Looks like you’ll be doing loads of tricks without the broken limbs and head trauma. Again.

See for yourself.

EA’s released Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Plaza as premium DLC for SKATE 2.

The area, the centerpiece of Dyrdek’s MTV show, will set you back 400 MS Points, or $5 if you’re buying from PSN.

Press release after the break, should you need such a thing.

Critically Acclaimed Skate 2 Recreates Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Plaza
Thursday February 19, 8:00 am ET

Experience the Inspiration for Dyrdek’s New MTV Show with Skate 2’s Latest Downloadable Content

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS – News) announced today that gamers will be able to extend their Skate 2 experience with the download of Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Plaza, starting today in the PLAYSTATION® Store for $5.00 in North America and on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 400 points. The downloadable content features Rob Dyrdek’s new skate plaza, the centerpiece of his MTV show, Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory, as well as the surrounding downtown Los Angeles area.

Source: Electronic Arts Inc.

· Rob Dyrdek rips it up in his Fantasy Factory. (Photo: Business Wire). View Multimedia Gallery

“I’ve been involved with the Skate franchise since the very beginning and each game has been able to perfectly capture the culture and feel of skateboarding,” said skateboarder entrepreneur, Rob Dyrdek. “I can’t wait to give players a taste of the Fantasy Plaza, my dream skateboarding space. The team at Black Box has recreated the plaza in Skate 2, complete with all the ledges, gaps and rails. On top of all that, there’s still a lot more surprises outside the park that both gamers and skaters will enjoy.”

Recently released for the Xbox 360™ videogame and entertainment system and the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Skate 2 has already received high acclaim from top videogame media including a 4.5 out of 5 from PlayStation: The Official Magazine, a 91 from PSM3 and ‘Game of the Month’ distinctions from IGN and Game Informer.

Skate 2 brings gamers to New San Vanelona, a city rebuilt with more spots to skate and own. Equipped with double the bag of tricks and the ability get off the board to move objects around, players can now create their own epic skate spots which can then be shared and experienced by others around the world. The game also features a revamped Thrasher Hall of Meat mode that will have players spending countless hours pulling off bone-crushing wipeouts and bails.

Skate 2 is developed by Black Box, in Vancouver, British Columbia. The game is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB and 16+ by PEGI.

EA has released a Time is Money pack for Skate 2 that unlocks everything in he game that would only otherwise become available if you actually sit down and play it.

For 400 MS Points or £3.49 on PSN, you gain access to “all locations, skaters and gear that can be earned by playing through Skate 2′s career and online modes.”

In a seemingly unrelated move, EA has apparently fired 200 staff from Skate 2 development house Black Box.

Time is certainly money, these days.

Thanks, X3F.

By Mike Bowden

Kotaku’s rumouring that Black Box has seen 150-200 staff laid off today following a company-wide meeting held at EA Canada.

CEO John Ricittiello is said to have headed up the shindig.

The news comes the day after Skate 2 – developed by Black Box – released in the US.

The outfit employs around 350 people.

EA has said it will go into fuller details on restructuring – announced to the tune to 1,000 staff – in its next earnings call on February 3.

Oh dear. Australian site Gameplayer‘s Skate 2 review reckons the PS3 version has severe frame-rate issues and “runs like a dog.”

From the piece:

There are some serious frame-rate concerns with the PS3 version of the game. We tested both the Xbox 360 and PS3 review code, even taking our rider in each version to the same spot in the world and switching the input on the TV back-and-forth to ensure it wasn’t some weird pre- and post-coffee phenomenon. But by comparison, the PS3 version runs like a dog. It is not a game breaker, but we did find ourselves missing landings and grinds simply on a part of the frame-rate screwing up our timing and no matter which way you look at it, that ain’t cool.

Skate 2 is released for Xbox 360 and PS3 on January 23.

By Mike Bowden

Images after the break. Black Blox’s Skate 2 is looking more than we decent we think and if you didn’t already know, a demo was available from Xbox Live yesterday and should be ready to go on PSN today.

EA has said Black Box is to close after Sthe game’s release.

Skate 2 hits the streets January 21 in the US and worldwide on the 23rd.

By Mike Bowden

EA has released seven new Skate 2 videos showing all kinds of different aspects of gameplay from tricking through bailing.

In case you didn’t know, a Skate 2 demo will release on Xbox Live this morning with PSN to join in on the fun on the 15th.

Head over to IGN for a veritable video-feast of Black Box’s Skate sequel.

By Mike Bowden

EA has just issued a press release stating that Black Box’s Skate 2 demo will be released on PSN on January 15th.

The release confirmed that 360 owners can download the demo as of tomorrow morning.

Skate 2 will be released on January 21 in the US and worldwide on the 23rd.

Full release after the break.

By Mike Bowden

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Black Box, an Electronic Arts Inc. studio (NASDAQ: ERTS – News) announced today that the Skate 2 demo will hit Xbox Live Marketplace on January 8th and the PlayStation Network on January 15, 2009. The demo introduces players to the city of New San Vanelona where they can skate with style and individuality via access to the enhanced character customization tools. Gamers will get a first glimpse of the deep single-player story and exciting challenges in all-new locations. The Skate 2 demo will also feature two of the game’s online Party Play modes: Thrasher’s Hall of Meat and Spot Battle.
Sick trick at a sicker spot… Skate 2. It’s on! (Graphic: Business Wire).

Skate 2 ups the ante in delivering all the grit, creativity and culture of skateboarding. Equipped with double the bag of tricks, players are tasked to rebuild their career and revive the skate scene. Now with the ability to get off-board and move objects, gamers can create their own epic spots and challenges, which can then be uploaded, shared and experienced by others around the world.

Skate 2 hits retailers in North America on January 21st, and worldwide on January 23, 2009 – making it one of the first must-have games of 2009. Skate 2 is developed by Black Box, a studio of Electronic Arts in Vancouver, British Columbia and will be available on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. The game is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB and is rated 16+ by PEGI.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world’s leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTSTM, EATM, EA SPORTS FreestyleTM and POGOTM. In fiscal 2008, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.67 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA’s homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA’s products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Freestyle and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. PLAYSTATION is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox and Xbox 360 are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation and used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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Contact:

Electronic Arts
Shirley Chu, 604-456-3994
schu2@ea.com
Peter Nguyen, 650-628-3607
pnguyen@ea.com
Tammy Schachter, 650-628-7223
tschachter@ea.com

Happy New Year. We’re glad we shut down over Christmas. You didn’t miss a whole lot.

By far the most important story over the break was news that Free Radical cut its workforce by 140 to just 40.

The developer was confirmed as being in administration just before the Christmas holiday.

Speaking to 1UP, Cameron Gunn of administrators ReSolve Partners said, “We made around 140 employees redundant yesterday, effective 31 December (the date up to which they had been paid). We’re still trading on with the remaining 40 or so employees, have advertised the business for sale and have received some strong interest.”

News broke mid-December that staff had turned up for work only to be locked with a notice on the door telling them to adjourn to a nearby hotel.

Free Radical aside, other noteworthy Christmas news included confirmation that Mistwalker JRPG Cry On has been cancelled.

“AQI decided to cancel the project after analyzing the current market environment and forecasts for the future. We deeply apologize for troubling those who were awaiting its release,” said a company rep.

Cry On was apparently part of “Hironobu Sakaguchi’s triumvirate of Xbox 360 titles,” says this 1UP piece (the other two being Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey), and for those of you who don’t know, the game “was to be an action-RPG featuring a Nobuo Uematsu soundtrack [and] character designs by Kimihiko Fujisaka.”

Full round up below.

A Lord of the Rings Conquest multiplayer demo hit Xbox Live over the Christmas period, and it was also confirmed that a Skate 2 demo was be available this Thursday.

PlayStation 3 owners weren’t left out in the cold, however, as PSN got a bumper Yuletide update, including the previously announced Wipeout HD demo.

Capcom announced that PSP will be given its undivided attention in 2009, with a spokesperson writing on the PlayStation Blog, “So what’s in store for 09? Well, I’m working with Grace and Ro at SCEA to come up with some innovative ways we can offer games and programs on the PlayStation Store. You can expect to see a whole slew of downloadable PSP and PSone titles from our vault next year.”

Staying on the PS3 tip, Media Molecule’s Alex Evans told IGN that the team has got LittleBigPlanet running in first person mode, if you can believe that.

And just to keep the Sony first-party end up, Uncharted: Among Thieves creative director Amy Hennig told Edge magazine that Nathan Drake will be romping around Tibet, have a love interest and use ‘action stealth’ in the upcoming sequel.

In more action adventure news, Eidos and Microsoft said it would give away a wetsuit to Xbox 360 Tomb Raider: Underworld owners, while everyone could download the entire soundtrack for free from the Tomb Raider Chronicles website.

Famitsu reported that publisher Spike is porting Way of the Samurai 3 to 360, the game to be released in Japan on February 26.

Square Enix said it will assess the re-use of Epic’s Unreal Engine only if its developers feel a game warrants its use. Last Remnant’s art director, Yusuke Naora, told Edge, “The decision on whether to use Unreal for future projects will be decided on a case-by-case basis; we’re not going into game productions thinking we want to use this or that middleware.

“Rather, we’ll examine what it is we want to achieve with a game and then decide on the best tools to use in reaching that goal.”

Last bit from Japan: Kotaku has translated this Dengeki piece listing the country’s best sellers in 2008. Suffice to say Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G won, with Pokemon Platinum (DS) and Wii Fit coming second and third respectively. Full top 30 through the link.

Bungie released some Halo ODST concept art over Christmas, showing mostly marine garb. BioWare got in on the screenshot action too, releasing new images and concept art of upcoming Star Wars MMO, The Old Republic.

Last, but not least, the BBC published the thoughts of gaming luminaries such as Will Wright and Peter Molyneux on games and gaming in 2008.

A fitting end to the year. Thanks to Kotaku, 1UP and IGN for all the stories.

By Mike Bowden

Black Box may be planning its own funeral, but SKATE 2 is all set to come screaming out of the developer’s gates just before they slam shut for good.

Destructoid, then, nabbed ten fresh SKATE 2 screens from the game’s soon-to-be-deceased parents – as a reminder of their progeny’s bright future.

To be honest, though, we wish we could be writing this article about TimeSplitters 4. We really, really do.

By Nathan Grayson

After earlier reports outlining EA’s plans to fire 400 and close nine studios, it seems the first outfit to be axed is Need for Speed developer Black Box.

According to IGN, many of the studio’s staff are being relocated to EA’s Burnaby facility in British Columbia.

Apparently the closure will not be immediate, meaning SKATE 2′s development should remain unhindered. Full thing through the link.

By Mike Bowden

There’s a SKATE 2 story trailer after the link, presumably released in conjunction with the fact the game’s coming out in January.

It does look awesome, even if there’s no gameplay. There’s no substitute for grown men sliding over things at high speed.

EA’s confirmed that SKATE 2 will release in the US on January 21 and worldwide on January 23.

A press release proving this, as well as detailing some web-based “self-expression” tool, lies after the link.

SKATE 2 HITS STORES JANUARY
Satisfy the Skate Craving with the All-New Graphics Creator or Pre-order Now for Exclusive Access to the Throwback Pack

GUILDFORD, UK. – 25th November, 2008 – Black Box, an Electronic Arts Inc. studio (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that Skate 2, the sequel to the genre-defining original game will hit retailers in North America on January 21st, 2009 and worldwide on January 23rd, 2009 – making it one of the first must-have games of 2009. Players that can’t wait until January can indulge their irrepressible Skate craving even sooner, with the Graphics Creator, a web-based customization tool launching next month on www.skate.ea.com. For those in North America anxious to shred the streets in blaring style can pre-order now for an exclusive code to unlock the Throwback Pack, a special upgrade pack that includes retro clothing, accessories and gestures.

The Graphics Creator is a web-based application that ups the ante in self-expression. With this tool, gamers have the freedom to create custom graphics for their in-game hats, decks and shirts, infusing their skateboarding experience with an unrivaled level of individuality. The Throwback Pack features a variety of retro stylings including, tie-dye t-shirts, Skate or Die apparel, Robot and ‘Window Shade’ sunglasses, gestures circa the hippie-age and much more!

Skate 2 brings gamers to New San Vanelona, a city that’s been rebuilt after an unspeakable disaster five years ago. Equipped with double the bag of tricks, players are tasked to rebuild their career and revive the skate scene. Now with the ability to get off-board and move objects around, gamers can create their own epic spots and challenges which can then be uploaded, shared and experienced by others around the world.

Skate 2 ups the ante in delivering all the grit, creativity and culture of skateboarding with all-new tricks that allow players to truly skate it their way – on and off the board. Skate 2 is developed by Black Box, a studio of Electronic Arts in Vancouver, British Columbia and will be available on the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system and the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.

Those that want to skate indoors over the holidays can enjoy Skate It with family and friends on the Wii™ and the Nintendo DS™ available in stores now.

About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world’s leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTSTM, EATM, EA SPORTS Freestyle TM and POGOTM. In fiscal 2008, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.67 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA’s homepage and online game site is www.electronicarts.co.uk. More information about EA’s products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at www.electronicarts.co.uk/press.

EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Freestyle and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. PLAYSTATION is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox and Xbox 360 are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation and used under license. Nintendo DS and the Wii are trademarks of Nintendo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

According to IGN, the Mirror’s Edge manual reveals that EAs Skate 2 will be arriving in January. Which is awesome.

We assume that this is just a US release mind, so don’t ready those pre-order trigger fingers just yet.

More through the link.

By Mike Bowden

Feel the art. EA’s put out a new trailer for SKATE 2, and it’s too cool for school, daddio. Do you wear a cap in the house? This is for you.

Does look good, to be fair. After the break.

Over at Kotaku. This is the only thing new we’ve seen on this in a while. Still, if you’re hungry for more, click here and fill your boots… or should that be Vans?

By Mike Bowden

On TalkPlayStation. It’s people skateboarding through a fisheye lens, essentially, but there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s out at the end of this year.

The former has “high expectations from the finished game” while MTV is “interested to see if the series can hook me the same way the original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games did.”

Sounds… guarded. Screens through the Joystiq link.

According to Tiscali Games, the latest issue of EGM’s carrying the first proper details of EA’s SKATE 2.

Apparently, the game’s going to include video uploading using EA’s own hosting and space. Interesting if true, given most other games sporting this feature are siding with YouTube.

The mag reckons the sequel to last year’s four-wheeled bestseller stacks up like this:

• Takes place five years after the original game, after the city’s been rebuilt after an unknown disaster.
• Allows play as a female character.
• Includes a Tiger Woods-style character editor.
• Allows the player the get off the skateboard and walk.
• Includes teleporting to previously marked locations.
• Camera includes another third-person perspective.
• Allows video uploads using EA hosting.
• Supposedly runs at 60 frames per second.

IGN has revealed the first info to sequel to EAs rather excellent Skate.

Five years have passed and San Vanelona (the location in the first game) has become a very different place: the city has No Skating signs everywhere and the cops have cracked down on the whole grinding thing.

What’s a skater-boy to do? Not much else is known right now, but there’ll be more soon, no doubt.

By Mike Bowden

It’s on IGN. It features a skateboard flying through space and nothing else, but at least you know EA hasn’t forgotten about it.

No release date has been given as yet. In fact, that’s it.