Treasure, trailblazing and trophies combine in the outstanding adventure of 2011. Here’s how to max out your trophy list.

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception puts you on the trail of mystery, glory and some of the most challenging trophies on PlayStation 3. Luckily, the PlayStation Community are on hand with expert advice to help you unlock every trophy and achieve platinum status.

For the next Trophy Cabinet instalment, we’d like you to think about the explosive Battlefield 3. Head to community.eu.playstation.com and tell your fellow PS3 gamers how you tackled the action-packed shooter’s trophy list. The best advice will be published right here on eu.playstation.com.

In the meantime, your path to platinum in Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is mapped out below.

“I spent about 18 hours chasing down the platinum trophy. When I bought the game I played it at my own pace to experience the story. After completing that, I played through again on the Crushing difficulty setting, where it takes more skill to kill enemies and stay alive.” (Zamunda, Portugal)

“Playing about two hours per afternoon, I managed to obtain the platinum trophy roughly 11 days after buying the game. Finding solid cover was crucial to my success – I did this 1,000 times, according to the in-game stats.” (Netweb, Portugal)

“Unlike many of my friends, I hunted for my platinum trophy backwards. I played the Hard and Crushing settings first, and then started all over again on Easy so I could explore all the nooks and crannies. I found it a phenomenal game.” (Aluai, Portugal)

“The hardest trophy to get is Dyno-Might Master, where you have to kill two enemies by returning a grenade. It’s impossible to earn it on the Easy difficulty setting because the enemies don’t throw grenades. In the harder modes the enemies do lob bombs, so it’s easier to find the right moment.” (Ghri, Italy)

“The Crushing difficulty setting will give you a hard time, so you cannot play as Rambo. Eliminate your opponents, take care of your ammo and be prepared to restart from checkpoints until you get the right result.” (Pioterek2010, Poland)

“Finishing some sections in Crushing mode took me up to ten attempts, and ultimately I survived these with lots of patience. You won’t have to try many sections too often if you remember to choose the best possible weapons in difficult shoot-outs, and stay behind cover as much as possible.” (Jyyste, Finland)

“Complete the game on any difficulty level to unlock the Crushing setting. Just enjoy the process and don’t pay attention to the trophies for this run-through. Don’t rush straight into gun battles and you’ll eventually succeed. You will also need to collect the treasures in at least one level and take part in at least one match in two different online modes. I recommend Chapter 19: The Settlement for earning the trophies. Good luck!” (Unostar, Russia)

“Some treasures are placed in very obscure locations. For example, some are located not on the floor, but in the ceiling. Shoot to dislodge them, and watch carefully to see where they fall.” (totAntoxaxa, Russia)

Need a little friendly advice about trophy hunting? Then put your questions to the experts of the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com. Don’t forget to come back next month to find out how to strike platinum in Battlefield 3 on PS3.

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Latest news:

All you need to know about the latest edition of the Gran Turismo 5 competition that turns driving dreams into reality.

What is GT Academy?Now in its third season, GT Academy is a pan-European competition that unites the worlds of virtual and real-life racing to make the dreams of aspiring race drivers a reality. The competition finds the best Gran Turismo 5 players from participating countries, tests their skills at Race Camp and then trains one winner to become a professional racing driver.

Who can enter?Full terms and conditions of entry are available on gran-turismo.com and these should be read thoroughly by all entrants. The key points are:

You must be aged at least 18 years old.

You must be resident in Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland, UK, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy or the Netherlands. A separate GT Academy is also being run in the USA.

You must hold a valid driver’s licence.

You cannot enter if you have an existing competition driving contract, have previously held a National A or superior MSA racing licence or equivalent, or have competed in a national level Karting Championship for more than two full seasons.

You cannot progress past the Time Trial stage if you made it to Silverstone in either of the previous GT Academy competitions in 2008 or 2010. 

If you make it to the Territory Finals, you will be required to participate in a health screening, and so you must be in good general health in accordance with the Motor Sports Association medical requirements.

Finally, in order to attend Race Camp, which lasts approximately one week, you will need to have a valid passport and be able to travel within the European Union.

What are the various stages in the competition?Stage One: Once registered on gran-turismo.com, you record laps on a track which is accessed in-game from Gran Turismo 5. You can keep track of your progress by accessing the in-game leaderboard for your territory.Stage Two: The 20 eligible entrants who hold the fastest online lap times from each European territory group, along with up to four wild card entries, will qualify for their Territory Final event. Stage Three: Twelve finalists, two from each of the Territory Finals events, will attend the GT Academy Race Camp at the world-famous Silverstone circuit in the United Kingdom where they will be able to develop new driving skills in an array of Nissan cars, while also being judged on fitness and mental attitude.Stage Four: The overall winner will embark on a UK-based intensive driving and racing programme in preparation to qualify for an international racing licence.Stage Five: The winner may be able to race in the prestigious Dubai 24 Hour International race in a fully supported Nissan 370Z GT4 car.

What are the timings for GT Academy 2011?The online Time Trial phase starts on 4 March 2011 and continues until 23:59 on 17 April 2011. Territory Finals will follow shortly afterwards with the Race Camp scheduled for June 2011.

What are the technical requirements for entering the GT Academy 2011 Time Trial?You will need to have a PlayStation 3 system, broadband Internet access and a copy of Gran Turismo 5. The following steps are then required:

Set up a PlayStation Network account if you do not have one already.

Register your personal details at gran-turismo.com.

Start up your copy of Gran Turismo 5 and ensure all the latest game updates have been installed.

Go to the Special Events section in-game and select the GT Academy Time Trial.

How can I work out my ranking position?You can view your position on the leaderboard as well as the fastest laps either in-game or on the rankings page on the official Gran Turismo website at gran-turismo.com.

Can I pick my own car for the Time Trial event?The car and the track used for the Time Trial are pre-determined so that it is the same for everyone: the unique track has been developed specifically using the innovative Course Maker feature of Gran Turismo 5 by legendary creator Kazunori Yamauchi and the car is the stunning Nissan 370Z (Z34).

How many times can I enter?Once you have accessed the Time Trial event, you can complete as many laps as you want and only your best time will be posted to the rankings. If you beat your previous best, your new time will be posted, which may move you up the rankings.

How can I improve my lap times?The best way to improve is through practice. You can take advantage of the custom race lobbies in Gran Turismo 5, which allow you to practise with friends and other players you meet online, sharing driving tips and techniques via voice chat. Similarly, you can use the in-game community features to communicate and set up times to meet and share tips.

What happens next to the winner of GT Academy?The winner has to be prepared to make a major commitment to becoming a real racing driver. From the end of the Race Camp event in June 2011, the winner will be based in the UK for approximately seven months in order to undertake an intensive race training programme. He or she will be housed at Silverstone and will be racing in UK national and club level races most weekends.

In January 2012, the winner will fly to Dubai and may race in the Dubai International 24 Hours.

What if I’ve never raced a real car in my life?That’s not a problem. GT Academy is about finding the best Gran Turismo 5 player and turning him or her into a professional. As outlined in the terms and conditions, people with certain professional racing experience and qualifications are not eligible to participate.

As long as you can drive in Gran Turismo 5, know how to drive a real car and meet the other eligibility requirements, all you have to do is try your best.

Is GT Academy a realistic route into top flight motor sport?Sony Computer Entertainment and Nissan posed the question “Can the world of virtual racing unearth a real racing talent?” The success of the competition’s first two GT Academy winners demonstrated that this answer is a resounding “Yes”

Lucas Ordóñez, the Spanish winner of the first instalment in 2008, went on to finish second in the 2009 European GT4 Cup and fourth in 2010. Frenchman Jordan Tresson, the winner of 2010′s GT Academy competition, finished equal fourth with Ordóñez in the GT4 series.

So there you are – everything you need to know about GT Academy 2011. The clock is ticking, so fire up your copy of Gran Turismo 5 and turn your driving dreams into reality – only with PlayStation.

For more tips on how to be the best in GT Academy, check out the Top Tips: GT Academy 2011 article right here on eu.playstation.com or visit the GT Academy Facebook page at facebook.com/GTAcademy for regular posts from some of the fastest racers and GT Academy celebrities.

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The latest PS3 news:

Turn driving dreams into reality thanks to Nissan and PlayStation in the third edition of GT Academy.

Nissan in Europe and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) have joined forces to run a third instalment of the popular GT Academy in 2011. The competition unites the worlds of virtual and real racing, offering one lucky winner the chance to realise their dream of becoming a certified racing driver.

The virtual stage of GT Academy will be played out on the ultra-realistic Gran Turismo 5 on PlayStation 3, which has sold over three million copies to date in Europe since launching in November 2010. The stakes are high with places at the GT Academy Race Camp to play for and a fully supported drive in a Nissan 370Z GT4 car in the prestigious Dubai 24 Hour International race as the ultimate prize (terms and conditions apply).

GT Academy’s global footprint is growing as 2011 marks the third season of GT Academy in Europe, as well as the inaugural year in the USA.

This year’s European competition will run across 10 countries with the online time trials starting on 4 March 2011 and continuing until 17 April 2011. Leaderboards for each participating territory will highlight the fastest 20 racers who will proceed to a live territory final. Only two from each final will make it to the intensive six-day driver training Race Camp to run at the world-famous Silverstone circuit in England. The winner of Race Camp will continue to be trained in high performance Nissan race cars and compete in a series of national level races in order to qualify for an international race licence and an entry into the Dubai race.

Since the first GT Academy in 2008, the innovative competition has established itself as a credible route into top-end motor sport for Gran Turismo players. Lucas Ordoñez, the Spanish winner of the first instalment in 2008, went on to finish second in the 2009 European GT4 Cup and fourth in 2010. Frenchman Jordan Tresson, the winner of 2010′s GT Academy competition, finished equal fourth with Ordoñez in the GT4 series. Both racers are expected to announce new programmes for 2011 soon.

“In Gran Turismo 5 we continue to bring the worlds of real and virtual racing closer together and the GT Academy programme, in partnership with our friends at Nissan, perfectly illustrates this ambition,” explained Kazunori Yamauchi, the creator of the Gran Turismo series and president of developer Polyphony Digital. “GT Academy  is also a great showcase for the fact that GT5 will continue to offer players more than just the game they have bought. It fully utilises the online functionality of GT5 and highlights the community elements. I think that we shall see a lot of friends challenging each other to take part in GT Academy and seeing how good they are against others. I am sure that most people with an interest in motor sport have dreamt about having a go for real. The competition has already made that dream a reality for the previous two winners, so it is well worth entering – even if it is only your friends you want to beat!”

When the virtual racing stage of the game ends, the emphasis will shift to Nissan’s stunning sports cars with the 370Z and GT-R playing starring roles at the Silverstone Race Camp. “It has been a great pleasure for us to see so many of our cars recreated in stunning detail in Gran Turismo 5,” said Nissan International’s Vice President of Marketing, Vincent Wijnen. “But GT Academy is even more special as we watch the incredible progression of somebody racing our cars in the game to enjoying great success racing them at full speed on international race circuits. GT Academy has become a great grass roots mainstay of our international race programme and we enjoy the partnership with PlayStation very much.”

GT Academy in 2010 enjoyed enormous success with 1.2 million gamers taking part. The competition found a very high profile fan in judge, and former Formula One team boss, Eddie Jordan, who commented at the Silverstone event: “This has been extraordinary, I have been absolutely blown away. I could not believe that these gamers, with no experience of racing cars, could do this. They really are great drivers, all of them, and they can be rightly proud of what they have achieved. I know that they have all had an amazing experience that will stay with them forever.”

Residents from 10 European countries, combined into the following six regional groups, are eligible to take part in GT Academy 2011: Germany and Austria; France and Switzerland; UK and Ireland; Spain and Portugal; Italy; and, the Netherlands.

More details of the time trial phase of the European GT Academy will be released shortly, and players can register their interest and keep up to date with the latest developments by signing up to the GT Academy Facebook page at facebook.com/GTAcademy.

Slim-PS3.com is updated frequently every day with the very latest Free PlayStation news.

Dana Jan, game director at Ready at Dawn Studios, answers questions from the PlayStation community about the sequel to the 2008 award-winning smash hit PSP game, God of War: Chains of Olympus.

Where does God of War: Ghost of Sparta sit in the God of War series timeline on PlayStation? (Blink2662, United Kingdom)

The story is set after God of War and before God of War II on PlayStation 2.

In God of War on PlayStation 2 there is a cutscene called The Birth of the Beast that focuses on Kratos´ younger brother. Some people thought that this new character would appear in God of War II. If God of War: Ghost of Sparta takes place before God of War II could it be possible we’ll see him? (victoruzumaki, United Kingdom)

Yes. We’ve released some information, including a recent Origins trailer for the game that shows Kratos’ younger brother, Deimos. Fans that unlocked and watched that movie from God of War on PlayStation 2 will finally learn what happened to Kratos’ brother.

Do you plan on integrating the game with God of War III on PlayStation 3? (addyjones1234, United Kingdom)

We recently announced a Deimos costume [Kratos' brother featured in God of War: Ghost of Sparta] for God of War III when you pre-order the PSP game.

What inspired you as an individual developer to return to the God of War series on PSP? (balpares, France)

For me it was Kratos first and foremost. His ability to destroy anything and everything in his path to get to a singular goal is inspiring. The saga as a whole has great characters and a powerful story of revenge that was set in motion even before the events of God of War on PlayStation 2. We knew that there was one more important piece of Kratos’ story that was left untold.

With God of War: Chains of Olympus you set new standards for PSP games. I once read in an interview that Ready at Dawn Studios didn’t plan on making another PSP game in the God of War series canon, regardless of success. What made the team change its mind? (CaptainCortez, United Kingdom)

We did a lot of work to make God of War: Chains of Olympus for PSP. We also thought that we had it in us to improve upon it if given the chance. So, it made sense for us to leverage that work and make another God of War game. You, the fans, also wanted more Kratos on PSP, so we were very pleased to get the opportunity to create God of War: Ghost of Sparta.

How did you find it developing on PSP? Were there any difficulties and did you manage to achieve what you wanted to? (Chepunator, Russia)

We have enjoyed our time with PSP. It’s certainly challenging to make big games like God of War on a handheld. But, we like a challenge. With God of War: Ghost of Sparta, we’ve been able to achieve what we wanted to in the God of War universe, and we feel confident to say that we’ve realized the full potential of the hardware.

How did you manage to create a game with such truly amazing graphics for PSP? (reinaldo90, Portugal)

A ton of hard work from the team is required to make a game shine this bright on PSP. I think that’s the secret. Having a series that puts the main character in fantastic settings helps, and having a team of individuals dedicated to delivering the most amazing looking handheld game doesn’t hurt either.

How long will it take for someone to play through God of War: Ghost of Sparta from start to finish? (Spurvugle, Norway)

It varies from person to person based on playing style and skill. Overall, we can assure you that the game is longer than God of War: Chains of Olympus.

Will there be more boss battles compared to God of War: Chains of Olympus? (Xx-Beno57-xX, France)

There are more, and better, bosses than God of War: Chains of Olympus. The fights are bigger, some of them are physically bigger, and the way Kratos finishes off each of them is much bigger than anything we did in Chains of Olympus.

Are you able to give us any hints as to which Greek legends we’ll meet over the course of the story? (Tobi1989, Poland)

I think listing them out here would spoil the experience, so I’d prefer to let people meet the characters while they’re playing the game.

Will the game include additional challenges, such as the Challenge of Hades in God of War: Chains of Olympus? (Uncharted90, Poland)

Yes. There are a lot more challenges in this game than our last offering. We also enjoy them. Beat the game to start your path to unlocking all the treasures we’ve packed into God of War: Ghost of Sparta.

This site is updated several times per day with the very latest Slim PS3 news.

The latest Slim PS3 news: As the Cannes film festival gets into its second week, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is preparing to launch a new highbrow film service for the PlayStation 3.
Called MUBI, and already available for PCs, the online service will be bringing a collection of over 300 films to the home console ranging from Jacques Audiard (director of Read My Lips and The Beat My Heart Skipped) to Franco Zeffirelli (Brother Sun, Sister Moon; Jesus of Nazareth).

The auteur output of Pedro Almodóvar, the Coen brothers, Jean Luc Godard, Takeshi ‘Beat Takeshi’ Kitano, and Gus Van Sant are also being touted as likely candidates for the service’s console debut.

MUBI also has a strong community aspect, encouraging viewers to discuss the films they’ve seen with each other and recommend new cinematic experiences to friends and MUBI members.

The company have also managed to tie up online distribution rights for various pieces of world cinema which have not yet been released on DVD, including Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Foundation that specializes in restoring neglected films.

The MUBI service is tabled for an autumn launch, expected to coincide with the availability of new Wii-like motion controllers for the PlayStation 3, and helps to associate the machine with an aspirational lifestyle – as does Sony’s links with 3D TV.

CEO Efe Cakarel confirmed to PlayStation Europe that launch territories will be the UK and Ireland; France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar and Andorra; Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg; and Australia and New Zealand. Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark are also expected to be brought onboard before the service goes live.

Efe also revealed that short films are to cost £1 and feature length works £3 for UK users. The MUBI website currently prices shorts at €2 and features at €4.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is also preparing a marketing effort to promote and expand the multimedia and social capabilities of the Xbox 360, which has been able to link up with Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm since November 2009.

In North America, the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii can all be used in conjunction with a Netflix subscription in order to stream a wide range of films. For European users, the MUBI deal works to bolster the existing PlayStation Video Store which provides more mainstream movies to North America, Oceania, and some European countries.

]]> Slim-PS3.com is updated regularly per day with the very latest Free PlayStation news and reviews.

The Rockstar development team behind Red Dead Revolver answers questions from the PlayStation community.

Considering that an open world Wild West game is not really mainstream, how did you come up with the idea for it? (hgtred, Germany)

The initial idea came during the completion of Red Dead Revolver. While Rockstar San Diego was working to finish that game, we started to see the potential for an open world game set in the West.

Then we decided to focus not on the classic Western period of Revolver but to base the story in the fascinating times around the death of the West, in the early 1900s, when America was going through a difficult time of great change. That gave us the greatest scope to fit in all the different story elements that we wanted in the game, from the classic American frontier to the iconic Mexican landscapes of the spaghetti westerns and a more modern town like Blackwater.

We never choose to make our games based on what’s popular at any given time -we try to do the opposite. We try to make the kinds of games we want to play and hope enough other people feel the same way.

Is there any connection between Red Dead Revolver and Redemption? (CaptainCortez, UK)

Red Dead Redemption isn’t a direct sequel to Red Dead Revolver, more a spiritual successor. That said, we strongly encourage you to explore the world for yourself and discover everything there is to learn about it. It may yield a few secrets and surprises.

From what I saw in the released videos, the horses are very realistic. How much time did you spend capturing their movements? (corpocannibal, Portugal)

Making the horses look and move believably was a long, arduous and messy process that included shooting our own motion capture of horses in action, right down to sticking the little white balls all over the horse in order to get the most accurate capture data and picking them all up and sticking them back on when they would fall off.

We had a famous stunt horse called Blanco and a very accomplished rider to put him through his paces. Capturing the horse’s real, natural movements, as well as the way the horse and rider worked together, was an amazing experience. Once we had the capture data, it was a case of choosing the right breeds, watching films and videos of them in motion and even using some of our facial animation technology to recreate the muscle movements. We’re immensely proud of the horses in Red Dead Redemption – they’re like nothing ever seen in a game before.

How extensive is the story and, more specifically, how many hours of gameplay can we expect? (Fischli, Germany; bubbez, Scandi)

Pretty long, we hope – the game is huge and the story itself is an epic in which John Marston meets many old faces and journeys across three huge regions, but how long it takes depends on how much time the player spends exploring. Given the huge amount of mini-games, including horseshoes, poker and liar’s dice; the stranger missions and other activities including hunting, treasure hunting and bounty hunting; and all the other surprises scattered across the world, the amount of time you spend in the game world is completely up to you.

Will we be able to capture fellow players with our lasso in the multiplayer? (Son_of_Bane, Netherlands)

No, lassos aren’t available in multiplayer – trying to get a curving, fluid-like piece of rope to work in single player was a massive technical challenge in itself, but the potential for 16 lassos attempting to interact with each other to cause knotty technical problems meant we had to confine the lasso to single player.

Will the main character be able to develop physically like CJ in GTA: San Andreas? (II-GRATOR-II, Spain)

Marston won’t become any stronger, or gain or lose weight, but you can affect the way the world responds to him by changing his outfit. By collecting scraps of outfits scattered across the world, you can gain access to full outfits that will have special benefits. For example, collecting a particular gang outfit will allow Marston to sneak into that gang’s territory without attracting attention. Or if you attain the Elegant suit, for example, you will gain the ability to cheat at poker. You can change into a different outfit at any of your in-game save points, either in a town or at your campsite.

Will the soundtrack be in the same style as a real western movie? (MechAArmA, France; Loganer94, Italy)

Music plays a huge part in Red Dead Redemption and it is used in unexpected ways. The soundtrack is actually a dynamic score, where what you hear is determined by what’s going on in the world around you and by the territory that you find yourself in.

The score and soundtrack itself is amazing and was put together by Bill Elm and Woody Jackson, two musicians critically acclaimed for their evocative and cinematic soundscapes. Early in the game you will hear music that’s reminiscent of the classic spaghetti westerns that were such a big influence on the soundtrack of Red Dead Revolver. However, Red Dead Redemption is set in a much later period, during the death of the West itself, so the music evolves to feature newer, more modern instrumentation.

Certain instruments in the soundtrack are linked to specific territories, to give each territory its own unique atmosphere. There are also guest vocal performances by Jose Gonzales, William Ellis Whitmore and Jamie Lidell that add extra atmosphere to certain crucial moments in the game’s story.

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Find out which snackable games the PlayStation community has been filling its spare minutes with.

As February was minis month, the community at the official PlayStation Forums discussed which minis they have most enjoyed. Here are their favourites, in order of popularity, with quotes explaining why their choice is the tastiest morsel in the minis category on PlayStation Store.

1. Hero of Sparta

“This game includes epic boss fights, a lot of monsters and very large levels. The controls are excellent and God of War fans will enjoy this game a lot; they really should give it a go.” (Twilight_Rico, Netherlands)

2. VectorTD

“I love tower defence games and this one in particular is great. Graphics are not the most important thing but what is important is that this game can last for hours. The number of available towers and their prices are perfectly matched and bonuses appearing from time to time can be used in different ways, depending on your strategy. It’s a must-have for any fan of tower defence.” (artur1982, Poland)

3. Tetris

“Once you start, you can’t stop!” (fashion23gta, Portugal)

4. Zombie Tycoon

“It’s impressive how many zombies can fit in one minis title!” (Low_K0, Germany)

5. Mahjongg Artifacts 2

“You want a campaign mode? There is one in the Conquest Mode! You want to play endlessly and you do not want to be bothered by finishing a level? The infinite mode is the one you need. You like Mahjongg in solo mode but you want some more? Bonus pieces will make you happy. In a word, if you like Mahjongg, you will love Mahjongg Artifacts 2!” (Sanzein, France)

6. Fieldrunners

“Fieldrunners makes you try again and again to find the best strategy against various types of enemies. Each level gives you new challenges and even when you have completed a level, you can try again with different weapons and strategies. Fieldrunners give you a lot of play time for the money and it is my favorite minis title for both PSP and PlayStation 3.” (The_Alp, UK)

Thanks to all those who got involved – you will be receiving a PlayStation Network Voucher Code to download a copy of Tetris – and look out for another installment of Obsession Confessions, coming soon.

Slim PS3 is updated frequently each day with the very latest Free Sony Slim PS3 news and games reviews.

The PlayStation community put their questions to Yoshinori Kitase and Motomu Toriyama.

When Final Fantasy producer and designer, Yoshinori Kitase and Motomu Toriyama, came to London to speak to media about their latest title, eu.playstation.com went along armed with questions from the PlayStation community. Thanks to everyone that submitted their question over at the official PlayStation Forums.

What would you say to someone that has never played a Final Fantasy game before? (DrJones_PhD, United Kingdom)

Yoshinori Kitase: Those that haven’t tried RPGs might fear that the game is too complex, but if you take an interest in the story rather than feel apprehensive about the depth, then you will discover how to play the game gradually and naturally. Just take an interest in the story and let that guide you.

Motomu Toriyama: The overall theme of the story is determination to fight against one’s own fate. fal’Cie is a deity that uses Lightning and the other members of the party like slaves; in a way, they are bound to an unreasonable destiny. So really the story is about these characters fighting off the unfairness of their own fate.

Why the more action-based approach to combat? (Sand_Snake, solid_sammy, SSeifer, KARASU-NULL, France)

MT: It’s partly true that Final Fantasy XIII takes a more action-based approach to combat. The main concept behind the battle system is combining action with the traditional turn-based strategy to create something new. In view of making an RPG for a High Definition console like PS3, we realise that this approach might be better received by the wider gaming audience, and perhaps easier for them to warm to.

Will the PAL version feature a Japanese language option, with English subtitles? (fantasyfreak, Netherlands)

YK: No, it will not. I had heard at other media presentations that this was a popular request, and I have to say it came to me as a surprise.

Are you considering releasing the game in 3D? (Ruy-o, Germany)

YK: We don’t know how possible it is to build the game in 3D but we are interested in it. In fact, we have already created a 3D Final Fantasy XIII trailer, which is currently showing in Japanese cinemas alongside the film Avatar.

Currently, that’s only available in Japan, but there might be an opportunity for a wider release in the future.

Will Ultima Weapons return in Final Fantasy XIII? (Npod, Portugal)

MT: We’re not quite sure exactly what you mean as we don’t know the translations, but if you mean Ultimate Weapon in that you can upgrade each weapon until it is at its most powerful, then yes you can.

Does the game require a data install before playing? (European_Gamer, Denmark)

MT: For the comfort of the players, no, this is not necessary.

Which are your favourite, Chocobos or Moggles? (Domino2097, United Kingdom)

YK: [Laughs] I prefer Chocobos, definitely. In Final Fantasy XIII you will be encountering baby Chocobos, Cocoon Chocobos and grandpa Chocobos. As for Moggles, they will just be making a cameo appearance in this particular title.

Get involved with the countless discussions happening on the official PlayStation Forums right now.

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Discover which PlayStation Network games have most impressed the PlayStation community.

After two weeks of discussion over which games have proved the most addictive, the official PlayStation Forum regulars moved onto the next Obssession Confessions topic – their favourite PlayStation Store downloads. Here are their picks in order of popularity, with quotes from contributors across Europe.

1. Flower

“Flower is not just a game: it’s a story. The story of flowers telling their dreams in a universe of beauty and enchanting melodies. With exceptional SIXAXIS handling, it transports you to an adventure with no equal.” (aat08, France)

2. WipEout HD

“It has to be one of the most breathtaking games – it looks amazing in full HD and for the price it’s one heck of a bargain. Nothing out there can beat it for pure enjoyment. The visuals should be the benchmark for any game.” (Chris_D, UK)

3. Burnout Paradise

“Challenge your limits with stunning speed!” (fashion23gta, Portugal)

4. Fat Princess

“It’s a cool game… I liked it!” (TUHTA_1994, Russia)

5. Battlefield 1943

“Epic battles in Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal or the Wake Island; team game, tanks, jeeps, boats, planes, bombers and destruction. There’s nowhere for the enemy to hide!” (tabunet, Spain)

6. Warhawk

“Warhawk was number one when I bought my PS3. It’s a great game which everyone should play at least once. It may not be realistic but it’s loads of fun… I’ve spent many hours playing and they were all worth it.” (patrick1991groot, Netherlands)

7. Metal Gear Solid

“Simply because it is THE PS one Classic game par excellence and shouldn’t be missed. Since it is now available from PlayStation Store, it is a must-have.” (gamer4online, Germany)

8. Trine

“This game’s beauty, playability and originality make it one of the most attractive of the last year.” (elmosca, Spain)

9. Zen Pinball

“The file size makes it easy to download and it’s a well made game. It takes you back to the past when we used to play real pinball, and everybody in my house likes it.” (AlexTheStampede, Italy)

10. Bomberman Ultra

“There are many delicious downloads in PlayStation Store and, like in life, one candy is never enough. The one that nobody appreciates is Bomberman Ultra. That game is great and provides a lot of laughter.” (rabsonek, Poland)

Thanks to everyone that participated in the discussion. There will be more Obsession Confessions threads in the coming weeks; in the meantime, join the hundreds of conversations happening right now at the official PlayStation Forums.

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