Sony Weekly Update (Dec. 17-23)

Another Thursday, another update to the Sony PlayStation Store, and another Game Rant Weekly Update.

Guitar Hero: Van Halen finds its way to PS3 retail shelves this week – jumping into the already over-saturated, and uninspired, band-specific Guitar Hero market. Unless you are a fan of the band, or were one of the savvy gamers who will be receiving this title free – as part of the a mid-Fall Guitar Hero 5 promotion – there’s nothing new in Guitar Hero: Van Halen to get excited about. Pixel Junk Shooter is potentially on track to become one of the fastest selling PSN titles to date. It’s a great game, I’m just saying, in case you want to save yourself about $50 dollars and download it instead of revisiting another uninspired Guitar Hero band game.

Most of the attention this week is on the release of the Gran Turismo 5: Time Trial Challenge Demo available for free on the PlayStation Store. The demo features one track and two Nissan 370Zs load-outs (one has been tuned for easier maneuvering). As expected, the physics are solid – you can definitely tell subtle differences between the two cars. Of course, the title looks amazing with intricate paint reflections over curved surfaces and a great cockpit experience. The demo track is an accurate representation of the actual Indianapolis GP circuit, though uninspiring as far as visuals go. Whether you’re excited for Gran Turismo 5 or not, it’s worth snagging the Time Trial Challenge Demo, if for no other reason than to see what everyone is talking about.

PSP owners are getting Buzz! Quiz World an updated and more complete addition to the game show franchise, drawing from a number of features found in the recently released Buzz! Quiz World for PS3, as well as improving on the previous Buzz! PSP format found in the lackluster Buzz! Master Quiz. The game is definitely an improvement over its PSP predecessor and is a no-brainer for fans of the franchise or players who want to take their trivia-testing titles on the go.

Also, don’t forget to check out the PSN “Best of PlayStation Store Collection” which helps players “take the guesswork out of shopping PlayStation Store. This year’s top-ranked downloads for PS3, PSP, PSone, DLC, demos and premium themes are right here in the Best of 2009 collection. Find the most popular titles and DLC and celebrate a year to remember. It’s the best of the best on PlayStation Store.” In addition, some of the featured titles have received some pretty enticing discounts – so even if you’re familiar with the offerings of the PSN – it’s possible you could find a title you passed on initially might have been discounted.

Here is the Full List of Release Information:

Dec. 22nd PS3 Retail Game Releases:

Guitar Hero: Van Halen
Guitar Hero: Van Halen lets you stand in the shoes of this Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band as you perform 25 epic Van Halen tracks, three signature Eddie Van Halen solos and 19 guest act tracks. Get the crowd roaring with your arena rock stylings on Van Halen hits like Jump, Hot for Teacher, Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love and Dance the Night Away, as well as songs like Billy Idol’s White Wedding, Foo Fighters’ Best of You and Blink-182′s First Date. Experience the excitement of playing as this ultimate party band as you rock out to dozens of enduring hits and prove you have the talent and the style to live up to the Van Halen legend.

Dec. 17th PlayStation Store Update – PS3:

Updates

Beaterator Price Drop (was $39.99; now $19.99)
Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars Price Drop (was $39.99; now $29.99)
Holy Invasion of Privacy Badman Price Drop (was $19.99; now $9.99)
Brain Challenge Price Drop (was $9.99; now $4.99)
Unbound Saga Sale (regular price $9.99; sale price $4.99)
Tetris Sale (regular price $9.99; sale price $6.99)
Burn Zombie Burn (regular price $9.99; sale price $4.99)

Downloadable Games

PUZZLEGEDDON ($9.99)
Set in an array of galaxies, Puzzlegeddon features a clever mix of puzzle, action and strategy in a game that is fast-paced and addictive. Compete for the top spot on the planet by creating multiple combos for the quickest way to gather enough resources to blast your enemies out of this world! You can battle up to five players in a variety of galaxies in this stylish and quirky puzzle brawler.

PSone Classics: PS3/PSP

Final Fantasy VIII ($9.99)
The peace of the realm is threatened when the evil Sorceress Ultimecia takes power as ruler of the Galbadia Republic. To restore order, Squall, a member of Balamb Garden Military Academy’s elite mercenary force SeeD, other allies from the Garden, and Rinoa, a member of the resistance, join together on a journey that spans time and space.

Game Demos

Gran Turismo 5 Time Trial Challenge
Take a test drive of Gran Turismo 5 and test your racing skills in the national Gran Turismo 5 Time Trial Challenge through January 25, 2010. Race the all-new Nissan 370Z in stock and tuned versions on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway course, with the chance to walk away with bragging rights and an unforgettable Indy 500 VIP weekend experience.

Army of TWO: The 40th Day Demo
Army of TWO: The 40th Day has been built from the ground up as an incredible cooperative experience. The result is a bigger, better, more organic and immersive co-op experience that lets you put your best two-man tactics to use whenever and wherever you want. This demo allows you to play part of the first level in split-screen or online co-op.

TV Show King Demo
Confront friends in local or online multi mode with this TV quiz game show! Try to answer fun and challenging trivia questions and see who can win the greatest amount of cash in the final deciding duel. TV Show King will challenge your brain!

Guitar Hero Van Halen Demo
Party with the greatest Arena Rock band of all time – Van Halen!

Diner Dash Demo
Players take direct control of Flo, an office-worker turned restauranteur, as she runs to seat patrons, take orders, deliver food, take payment and bus tables as efficiently as possible within the time limit allowed.

PUZZLEGEDDON Demo
Set in an array of galaxies, Puzzlegeddon features a clever mix of puzzle, action and strategy in a game that is fast-paced and addictive. Compete for the top spot on the planet by creating multiple combos for the quickest way to gather enough resources to blast your enemies out of this world! You can battle up to five players in a variety of galaxies in this stylish and quirky puzzle brawler.

Add-on Game Content

PAIN Red Jimmy Character ($0.99)
Red Jimmy is a tough cowboy, but this new launchee is nothing without his beloved Horsey. Rumors say he broke in his steed just by shouting, “CHILL.” He can even lasso a full-grown bull and take out a fly off a cactus, blindfolded. But will you have the same accuracy launching him AND the Horsey he rode in on through the world of PAIN? Download Red Jimmy and the Horsey he rode in on today to see how the West was PAINed.

SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation Cold Front ($9.99)
Kit yourself out in snow gear and fight your way through blizzard conditions, joining a team of mercenaries or a squad from one of the world’s top Special Forces regiments including the Russian Spetsnaz. Try your hand at Arms Run, a new game mode that features dynamically placed missile launchers that must be activated or destroyed, depending on which side you’re fighting for.

Brutal Legend Hammer Of Infinite Fate ($4.99)
HAMMER OF INFINITE FATE Map Pack adds four new maps to Brütal Legend’s multiplayer mayhem. “Coiled Remains” is located deep within the heart of Tainted Coil territory, forcing armies to fight in a desecrated Titan temple. “Altar of Blood” separates opponents by a dangerous arena that can be activated to fill with drowning blood. “The Amplified Cliffs” pits players against each other in a desolate wasteland of amps and lava. “Crucible of the Titans” plunges players deep underground to fight in the company of the Metal Gods as they dangerously forge the Brütal landscape.

NBA 10 Holiday Shoe Pack (free)
Get the latest kicks for NBA LIVE 10 with the holiday shoe pack featuring 23 updated shoes for your favorite players. From official team playbooks, signature player warm-ups and unique arena audio to daily updates of player attributes driven by Dynamic DNA. Whether it’s a quick game of play now, an Adidas LIVE Run online game or your Dynamic Season, NBA LIVE 10 brings you the ultimate in authenticity every time you hit the court.

Guitar Hero 5

• “Hi-Speed Soul” by Nada Surf ($1.99)
• “Sister Jack” by Spoon ($1.99)
• “Cut Your Hair” by Pavement ($1.99)
• Indie Rock Track Pack ($5.49) – Downloadable Track Pack featuring “Hi-Speed Soul” by Nada Surf, “Cut Your Hair” by Pavement, and “Sister Jack” by Spoon. Please Note: Many songs are available both as singles and as part of a Track Pack, so please carefully consider your purchases before downloading.

Rock Band
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks.

• “Gives You Hell”— All-American Rejects ($1.99)
• “This is War”— 30 Seconds to Mars ($1.99)
• “Kings and Queens”— 30 Seconds to Mars ($1.99)
• “Christian’s Inferno”— Green Day ($1.99)
• “Last of the American Girls”— Green Day ($1.99)
• “¡Viva la Gloria!”— Green Day ($1.99)
• Green Day Pack 2 ($5.49) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: Green Day Pack 01. This pack includes: “Christian’s Inferno,” “Last of the American Girls,” and “¡Viva la Gloria!” by Green Day.

The Beatles: Rock Band
Build your library for The Beatles: Rock Band by purchasing these song game tracks.

• “Girl” by The Beatles ($1.99)
• “In My Life” by The Beatles ($1.99)
• “Michelle” by The Beatles ($1.99)
• “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” by The Beatles ($1.99)
• “Nowhere Man” by The Beatles ($1.99)
• “Run For Your Life” by The Beatles ($1.99)
• “The Word” by The Beatles ($1.99)
• “Think For Yourself” by The Beatles ($1.99)
• “Wait” by The Beatles ($1.99)
• “What Goes On” by The Beatles ($1.99)
• “You Won’t See Me” by The Beatles ($1.99)
• Rubber Soul Album ($17.99)

Dec. 17th PlayStation Store Update – PSP:

Downloadable Games

BUZZ! Quiz World ($19.99)
The portable quiz show experience without boundaries! Take a huge variety of trivia options on the go with you in BUZZ! Quiz World for the PSP system. All new single and multi player modes will keep you and your friends challenged for hours. If you think you’ve mastered it all, now you can jump online to try quizzes created by other fans or download add-on quizzes on your favorite subjects through the PSN. Take your trivia party to go!

Sega Rally Revo ($15.99)
Don’t just rip up the track, tear it a new one. Race through awesome environments, with a variety of weather conditions on surfaces including snow, mud, dirt, gravel and asphalt. This unpredictable off-road racing experience demands all of your skill and focus to win.

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus ($9.99)
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus is a standalone addition to the 2006 award winning stealth action title of the same name. Focusing on a portable multiplayer experience, players will be able to enjoy more maps, more missions, and recruit a talented crew of war heroes for battling real opponents in online arenas.

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops ($14.99)
Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops is the action game from Hideo Kojima’s legendary Metal Gear Solid series that redefined the stealth action genre on the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system. With an original storyline that follows the events of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and innovative online gameplay that lets gamers recruit their own comrades, Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops offers players a Metal Gear experience unlike any other.

Metal Gear Solid Digital Graphic Novel ($9.99)
Metal Gear Solid Digital Graphic Novel brings the renowned Metal Gear IDW comic book series to life on the PSP system, complete with stylized animation, thrilling music and explosive sound effects.

F1 2009 ($39.99)
F1 2009 is the first in a new generation of FORMULA 1 video games featuring Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and all the official drivers, teams and circuits from the FIA FORMULA 1 World Championship. F1 2009 will take gamers as close as possible to the most spectacular motorsport on the planet.

Ridge Racer ($14.99)
Prepare for intense racing excitement in the critically acclaimed Ridge Racer for the PSP system and take part in one of the most exhilarating portable racing games ever!

Game Demos

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Demo
The world-renowned stealth-action series returns in a new chapter
hand-crafted by Hideo Kojima himself! The year is 1974. Join “Snake,”
(a.k.a. Big Boss), in pursuit of a mysterious armed force that threatens
peaceful Costa Rica. Play four mission types in this exclusive demo!

PSP Minis

Heracles Chariot Racing ($4.99)
Spot the Differences! ($2.99)

Have you played the GT5: Time Trial Challenge Demo? What else will you be picking up this week?