Def Jam Rapstar, Rock Band 3, DJ Hero 2, PDC World Championship Darts, Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, Killzone 3, God of War: Ghots of Sparta, inFamous 2, No More Heroes: Heroes Paradise.

This week FirstPlay is experiencing its first ever December, with episode 35 hitting the store on Wednesday the 1st. The big news this week is that, to celebrate the release of the actually rather good Def Jam Rapstar, we sent Official PlayStation Magazine’s foolishly game news editor Rachel Weber to become a real rapper under the tutelage of hip hop up-and-comer XO man. See how she got on in our exclusive feature.

We also catch up on all the games of 2010 we’ve not reviewed so far, including Rock Band 3, DJ Hero 2, PDC World Championship Darts and Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood.

We also take a look at blockbusting marvel Inception on Blu-ray, show you how we got on with our first hour on Killzone 3′s multiplayer, countdown our favourite local co-op games and talk to developer Ready At Dawn about the making of God Of War: Ghost Of Sparta. Plus we’ve got our regular screenshot galleries, which this week include the latest on inFamous 2 and No More Heroes: Heroes Paradise.  As always this comes for just 99p, or even less if you buy a 12 week subscription for £8.99. Go on…

We’d also like to remind you that you can stay in touch with all things FirstPlay by following us on Twitter at @firstplay_uk and on our Facebook page: FirstPlay (official). We also have a YouTube channel up and running. And don’t forget you can sign up for the FirstPlay newsletter here to have regular news and content updates delivered directly to your inbox.

The FirstPlay team would love to hear from the PS3 community so if you’ve got anything to share, from videos and grabs to suggestions for content feel free to get in touch.

Slim-PS3 is updated regularly per day with the very latest Free Slim PS3 news and hardware reviews.

The latest PS3 news:

Prepare for action this weekend on Mount Olympus, a huge battlefield and the football pitch.

Castle Crashers, MUBI and God of War arrive on PlayStation this weekend, read on the find out why they’re on our essential list.

“The name’s Bond…”

Take on the role of Britain’s slickest secret agent in an action-packed story from the writer of GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies.

Use brutal fighting skills and advanced driving techniques to take down enemies in exotic locations in 007 Blood Stone on PlayStation 3.

Bare-knuckle brawling

Fancy your chances against some of the toughest fighters around? If so, get your hands on The Fight, available now on PlayStation 3. Intense, gritty and brutal, this game will put you through your paces.

Playable in amazing stereoscopic 3D, use your PlayStation Move motion controller to throw mean punches and dodge your opponents’ handy work, then take the fight online against opponents on PlayStation Network.

Return to Mount Olympus

Are you ready to learn the truth behind the troubled life of Kratos? Embark on a deadly mission as the tormented Spartan Warrior to discover more about his cursed past with new weapons and combat moves in God of War: Ghost of Sparta on PSP.

If you can’t get enough of Kratos, pick up God of War: Ghost of Sparta from PlayStation Store. To celebrate its launch for the first week only, you can download the title and receive a Kratos PlayStation Network avatar, the original Ghost of Sparta soundtrack and much more.

Head to blog.eu.playstation.com to find out what else is available in the week one bundle.

Collection of chaos

While Kratos is on your mind, why not download the HD versions of God of War and God of War II from PlayStation Store? The first two titles in the epic saga, both originally launched on PlayStation 2, are now available to purchase together or separately for PlayStation 3.

Head over to PlayStation Store to complete your God of War collection.

Unleash some rage

The Dragon Ball series welcomes a new addition this weekend as Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 arrives on PS3.

Discover the moves and transformations of over 90 playable characters and experience a story that unfolds during battle.

Enjoy a film festival in your living room

Fancy a different kind of entertainment this weekend? MUBI, the new streaming film service on PlayStation 3, is packed with loads of international and independent films for you to discover.

There are three titles that you can watch completely free to introduce you to this great new service, namely The Housemaid, Dry Summer and Alice in Wonderland.

Download MUBI now from PlayStation Store, then share your opinions with film fans on Facebook and recommend titles to your PlayStation Network friends.

Dream team

Start picking your players this weekend, as FIFA 11 Ultimate Team is available to download for free from PlayStation Store. Build your ultimate fantasy football squad on PS3 by purchasing packs of cards and entering online and offline tournaments.

Head over to PlayStation Store to check it out.

Enter the castle

Put on your armour and prepare for battle as Castle Crashers arrives for PS3 on PlayStation Store. The game follows four colourful knights as they head out to rescue their princesses who have been kidnapped. Use weapons and magic to defeat your foes and play with friends via PlayStation Network.

Begin your adventure now at PlayStation Store.

Rock Band 3 demo

Need to brush up on your music skills? Check out the Rock Band 3 demo for PS3 available from PlayStation Store. Take to the stage and play guitar, drums and even the keyboard before you move on to real instruments.

Make time to check out the demo over the weekend.

Gather your troops

This weekend you can download the new MAG Escalation pack, which pits the forces of Raven, S.V.E.R. and Valor against each other at the same time. Up to 96 players can get involved online as each group tries to earn as many points as possible.

Head over to PlayStation Store and fight for your faction.

Dig for victory

Take on the role of the bad guy this weekend as the God of Destruction in No Heroes Allowed on PSP. Destroy your heroic enemies over 33 stages and team up with a friend to punish them together.

Take on the heroes now at PlayStation Store in this riotous dungeon game.

Kratos Yourself

Fancy showing your respect for the mighty Kratos? You can now turn yourself into a fellow Spartan warrior with the Kratos Yourself application. Upload a picture of your face and transform yourself into a brutal legend.

Check out blog.eu.playstation.com for more information.

Fancy a spin?

You’re in pole position to check out Split/Second Velocity on PSP this weekend as the demo for the game speeds into PlayStation Store. Experience epic action sequences and explosive car chases on the move.

Download the demo from PlayStation Store now.

Keep an eye on PlayStation Blog at blog.eu.playstation.com for the latest PlayStation news as it happens.

Be sure to opt in to receive PlayStation emails when you sign up for a PlayStation Network account. If you already have an account, sign in to your PlayStation Network account settings at eu.playstation.com/registration or via the XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) and opt in. That way, you can keep bang up to date and receive the latest PlayStation news direct to your inbox.

This site is updated frequently every day with the very latest Free Slim PS3 news.

Gain some powerful Force powers and take on the undead this week with PlayStation.

Feel the Force… unleashedDarth Vader’s dark apprentice, Starkiller, is back – how? Find out in the epic lightsaber wielding action adventure, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II on PlayStation 3. New Force powers are at your disposal… how will you use them?

The Force is strong on PlayStation 3 – find out why.

Saddle up for a scare! Rockstar Games has unleashed its ghoulish expansion pack on PlayStation Store for Red Dead Redemption, entitled Undead Nightmare. Here you’ll find an all new single player campaign where you play as John Marsden battling hordes of the walking dead, plus a myriad of multiplayer modes including the taut and terrifying zombie survival mode.

Scare yourself silly this weekend and download Undead Nightmare for Red Dead Redemption from PlayStation Store.

“Rock, rock on”It’s time to step up to the stage once more and show the world what you’re made of. Rock Band 3 struts its stuff on PS3 with features such as an 83-song track list and the new Pro mode which lets you develop actual musical skills with the game.

Become a real rock star with PS3.

Return of the kingWield the sword and live the adventure on PS3. The chance to become the legendary Aragorn is yours with The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest and the PlayStation Move motion controller.

Arm yourself with PS Move for a great adventure now.

Wrestle with your PS3Enter the squared circle with the biggest WWE superstars. WWE SmackDown vs Raw 2011 brings the high-impact action of the world’s favourite sports entertainment right into your home.

Get to grips with the latest grappler on PlayStation 3 this weekend.

“Action!”The release of Time Crisis: Razing Storm is almost upon us, so why not get in on a taste of the PlayStation Move enabled action and download the fast and furious demo from PlayStation Store today in preparation for the game’s release on 5 November 2010.

Pull over! Criterion Games’ Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit is revving its engines for a November 2010 release on PlayStation 3, you can step behind the wheel right now and hone your driving skills in preparation for road wars by downloading the demo available on PlayStation Store today for free.

Back of the net!Need something to do while travelling to the match this weekend? You’re in luck, as PES 2011 – Pro Evolution Soccer kicks off on PlayStation Store for PSP. Take to the pitch and get ready to score some goals in this realistic football experience.

Download it now from PlayStation Store.

Star qualityPrepare to enter the Lunar world as Lunar: Silver Star Harmony comes to PlayStation Store. A remake of the popular 1992 role-playing game Lunar: The Silver Star, this title sees you embark on a mission to become a Dragonmaster and save your homeland.

Begin your journey at PlayStation Store now.

Killer costumesEveryone is getting into the scary spirit this weekend, even LittleBigPlanet’s Sackboy. The cheeky little guy can now wear his very own Killzone costumes and dress up as a Helghast trooper in both the PSP and PS3 versions of the game.

You’ll find these great outfits now in PlayStation Store.

Fancy a new look?Check out the new Super Street Fighter IV avatars available from PlayStation Store. Choose your favourite character and let everyone know about it.

Head over to PlayStation Store now and pick up a World Warrior.

The latest on eu.playstation.comThrow yourself into ghoulish goings-on at Halloween with some special articles to get you in the trick or treat mood. Want to know which titles are bound to send a shiver down your spine? Then check out the Games to give you goosebumps feature for a spooky selection of games or the Haunting Halloween highlights on PSN feature for some terrifyingly tantalising downloads to enjoy from PlayStation Store. You can also tell us which games have scared or shocked you senseless with Obsession Confessions: Halloween Horrors in the official PlayStation Forums at community.eu.playstation.com.

Halloween fun aside, there’s the chance to win a PlayStation 3 system and Time Crisis: Razing Storm prizes in the Time Crisis: Razing Storm competition – as well as the opportunity to grab some Linkin Park tickets in the official PlayStation Forums competition at community.eu.playstation.com.

Keep an eye on PlayStation Blog at blog.eu.playstation.com for the latest PlayStation news as it happens.

Be sure to opt in to receive PlayStation emails when you sign up for a PlayStation Network account. If you already have an account, sign in to your PlayStation Network account settings at eu.playstation.com/registration or via the XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) and opt in. That way, you can keep bang up to date and receive the latest PlayStation news direct to your inbox.

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

Capcom boss thinks Kinect and 3D are stopgaps before new consoles.

Ex-Sony Europe boss David Reeves thinks new consoles may be released sooner than thought. In an interview with gamesindustry.biz Reeves – now working for Capcom – thinks motion control and 3D are a stopgap before new consoles arrive in 2-3 years.

Two to three years, I reckon so. I don’t have any inside information. All the first-parties have got to be working on something. The tricky thing is when do you put a stake in the ground on technology? That’s the problem. You can be waiting a few extra months to implement something, but you’ve got to set a date to go with a certain chip at a certain point otherwise you’re going to miss the key milestones.

Reeves talks about Kinect and how he important he thinks it is for Microsoft.

If you map it out the Xbox 360 is right up in the corner and it has certain types of games associated with it. And Microsoft knows that in ten years time they can’t be there, they have to be appealing to families. And I reckon that strategically it’s absolutely the right move. It’s almost like two steps back and one step forward. They are right to separate Kinect from everything else.

Reeves also mentions the increasing costs of developing core titles and why downloadable content could be the future:

Where it has to get creative is with games like Grand Theft Auto and Halo, you’ve got to reinvent yourself for a new generation, and that’s difficult, especially as these games cost $50-$70 million. In terms of downloadable content as long as the content holders – the labels, the artists – aren’t too greedy, that’s really where the money is. Because otherwise you’re spending $60 million to create a new game. To produce Rock Band the guys at Harmonix are brilliant. They’re not doing a lot of graphical work, it’s not very expensive for them. SingStar was exactly the same, it becomes a licensing business in a way.

When asked about 3D Reeves was positive about the benefits for developers, but less so for consumers:

It only takes five or six lines of code to change it from a normal game to a 3D game. I remember working on MotorStorm and the guys did a 3D level in about three weeks. What I think we’ll see is that certain parts of a game will work very well in 3D and you won’t need to make a whole game in 3D. The other aspect is it’s quite a strange feeling to play games in 3D. I’ve played quite a lot, 15-20 games and not necessarily Capcom titles, and when you play them intensely like WipEout you get a sick feeling, so you have to be careful about it. When you look at racing games in 3D and a lot of action adventure games it is a step change. If it works well in 3D then publishers will do it in 3D because it’s not a massive expense to do that.

I got a headache after a 20 minute play of the Avatar game in 3D so can understand where Reeves is coming from. The bigger issues from this interview is clearly his perception that new consoles will arrive in 2-3 years. Will we really see a PS4 in 2012? Historically you would say yes but after PS2′s lengthy – and still ongoing – lifepsan it would be a surprise. An Xbox 720 in 2 years? I doubt that too – though you can easily see another upgrade or two for both consoles.

Anyway, what do you think? Will we see a new consoles from Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo within 2-3 years? And if so would you be happy to upgrade?

Games

Greg Howson

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

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SingStar is a huge hit at our casa.

It’s much easier to get going than Rock Band, and since many times at parties everyone wants to sing anyway, it works out quite well. Plus, watching music videos is just more fun for the audience than watching my highly customized Rock Band Avatar shake her virtual tail feather, even though I do love her so.

A while ago, almost by accident, we discovered SingStar was recording videos of our ear-numbing karaoke parties… and delightful embarrassment ensued as we tortured each-other by making folks watch their own performances.

Now you can punish the world with your SingStar videos, thanks to the new SingStar Viewer on the PlayStation Network.

Not only can you upload SingStar videos of yourself, you can watch and rate others. I cannot wait to have friends over and reenact our own version of American Idol, judging “contestants” online. Evil and fun.

You can also use the viewer to see and purchase new songs without the SingStar disc, which is a plus, but the real fun looks to be comparing your videos to others singing “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”
Visit the PlayStation Store to download the SingStar Viewer.

[Source: Official PlayStation Blog]

New SingStar Viewer – Watch Crazy Karaoke Vids, Laugh, Repeat originally appeared on About.com PlayStation Games on Thursday, January 21st, 2010 at 15:18:28.

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