http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/...on-april-10th/

The Pinball Arcade will be out next week and will support the buy-one-get-the-other-free model for the PS3 and Vita versions of the game.

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/...comment-704465

$9.99 for the game (free demo/trial like Pinball FX2) and there will be a pack of two tables coming for $4.99 soon. Read the comments to get more info about future DLC/table plans and such.

I also got an email with details on the Ghost Recon Future Solider beta:

Today Ubisoft announced the Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier multiplayer beta will run from April 19th until May 2nd for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. In the multiplayer beta, up to twelve simultaneous players will have the opportunity to choose from three classes (Rifleman, Engineer and Scout) and experience the intense adversarial online action in two different modes: Conflict • Description: players battle to complete objectives located throughout the map and earn points, the team with the most points at the end of the round wins • Game session: 1 round of 15 minutes Saboteur (available starting April 26th) • Description: a bomb spawns in a central location, both teams compete to retrieve the bomb and be the first to detonate it at the opposing team’s base • Game session: 1 round of 10 minutes Both modes will be playable on two different maps (Pipeline and Mill). The beta can be accessed in the following ways: • Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction Owners o Splinter Cell Conviction Xbox 360 owners can access the beta directly through the game • Pre-order Ghost Recon: Future Solder on Xbox 360 from GameStop and receive a Xbox 360 beta key • PlayStation Plus subscribers receive a PS3 beta key

Originally Posted by Palinn I took advantage of the 15% off TRU sale and bought a $50 PSN card so I could finally sign up for plus. Is there any "strategy" to when I should actually join? Certain day of the week? Certain time in the month? I haven't put together a clear picture of when deals happen etc so if anyone wants to chime in with their experience your input would be much appreciated.

I've had a couple 30 day trials, and I noticed a lot of things tend to be available through the end of the month, so I would argue for subscribing near the end of the month so you can grab everything from that month right away and on your last month you will get just about everything for that month, though you won't have it very long.

But as others have said, wait for something you want. I want Shank 2 and I'm finally going to actually pay for the thing, but I'm going to wait until near the end of the month.

The new PS Blogcast is up, so here are next week's releases:

Games
The Pinball Arcade - $9.99 - Get Vita Version With Purchase
Skullgirls - $14.99
World Gone Sour - $4.99

PS2 Classics
Persona 3: FES

Minis
Defenders of the Mystic Garden - $3.49 - Free for PS+

Demos
The Pinball Arcade

Add-ons
Disgaea 4
Dungeon Defenders
Final Fantasy XIII-2
MotorStorm RC
Saint's Row: The Third
Tales of Graces f
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception Map Pack

Music
Journey Soundtrack

Vita Games
The Pinball Arcade - $9.99 - Get PS3 Version With Purchase
Treasures of Montezuma Blitz - Freemium

Vita Add-ons
Dynasty Warriors Next
MotorStorm RC

^Thank you for posting this info every week Frisky. Extremely useful!

Man I totally forgot about the Ghost Recon beta. And yay another free game for Vita.

Originally Posted by FriskyTanuki The new PS Blogcast is up, so here are next week's releases: PS2 Classics Persona 3: FES

Nice! Only copy I own is non-FES disc version on PS2, this could be neat

Is the PSP version of Persona 3 worth the extra $10? I think I'd rather play it on my Vita.

Originally Posted by beefytwinkie Hey, thanks for this. I'll give Sears a shot when I'm in the area. I also read that Hulk: Ultimate Destruction was a fun time-waster. I'll try to find one. My PS2 needs to do some work. It's been idle too long!

Yeah. Throwing cars n other crap at the military never got old in H:UD. Mind ya, I think I always went after NPC's n used them as cannon fodder too.

Originally Posted by gettinmoney662 Is the PSP version of Persona 3 worth the extra $10? I think I'd rather play it on my Vita.

If you'd rather play it on your Vita, then it's worth it.

Definitely gonna pick up Persona 3. Not sure where my physical copies went to

I'm glad to hear that P3FES is coming to PSN, although I am slightly disappointed. I was really hoping Atlus would give us some HD remasters for the SMT games.

Originally Posted by gettinmoney662 Is the PSP version of Persona 3 worth the extra $10? I think I'd rather play it on my Vita.

I think so. Personally I would always prefer the portable RPG because it's easier for you to grind while doing other things, but even putting that aside I think the portable version is probably my favorite iteration. You don't get the extra story that came with FES but I never found it to be very endearing anyway and as a sort of compensation they do offer you the ability to play as a female character (which has its own slight story changes). There are some technical sacrifices: the small handful of animated scenes are gone (but you can just youtube those if you feel so inclined), and instead of moving your character around in 3D worlds in the daytime segments you now just slide a pointer around in pre-rendered environments. IMO that's an improvement since it lets you move around faster and, well, these places weren't exactly that big or exciting in the first place so its not like you're losing some real sense of freedom.

Originally Posted by iamsmart I'm glad to hear that P3FES is coming to PSN, although I am slightly disappointed. I was really hoping Atlus would give us some HD remasters for the SMT games. I think so. Personally I would always prefer the portable RPG because it's easier for you to grind while doing other things, but even putting that aside I think the portable version is probably my favorite iteration. You don't get the extra story that came with FES but I never found it to be very endearing anyway and as a sort of compensation they do offer you the ability to play as a female character (which has its own slight story changes). There are some technical sacrifices: the small handful of animated scenes are gone (but you can just youtube those if you feel so inclined), and instead of moving your character around in 3D worlds in the daytime segments you now just slide a pointer around in pre-rendered environments. IMO that's an improvement since it lets you move around faster and, well, these places weren't exactly that big or exciting in the first place so its not like you're losing some real sense of freedom.

That actually makes me want the PS2 version. I'm all about having extra story parts and cutscenes, even if they're not that big of a deal. I thought the PSP version had all that.

Originally Posted by gettinmoney662 That actually makes me want the PS2 version. I'm all about having extra story parts and cutscenes, even if they're not that big of a deal. I thought the PSP version had all that.

If you're into the extra story parts, then the PSP version is the one you want. Granted you lose some cutscenes, but you can play as a female character and that changes a significant chunk of the story. And, to be honest, the battle system in Persona 3 and FES is kinda bad because you can't control your ally characters, only the main character. The AI likes to go completely stupid sometimes, which can get you killed easily, especially on the higher difficulties. P3P is definitely the version to pick up.

The thing that makes the PSP version better than either of the PS2 versions is full control of the party in battle, as you have to make do with the AI controlling party members in FES or the original and they're spotty at best from what I've read about them. They got the battle system right in Persona 4 and P3P brings that game up to the standard.

Damn next week is gonna be an awesome week, getting Skullgirls and P3:FES for sure. Also that Disgaea and FFXIII-2 DLC (Though i wonder which ones it is)

SKULLGIRLS!!!!!!!!!!!

And, why is Canabalt listed as 4/10 in the OP? They're releasing a 2nd one?

It came out this week instead.

I really wish I'd waited to buy The Pinball Arcade for PS3, because it's a far better value on the PS3 than 360.

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Originally Posted by gettinmoney662 Is the PSP version of Persona 3 worth the extra $10? I think I'd rather play it on my Vita.

Yes if you have to choose only one, get the PSP version.

Personally I have both P3:FES (PS2 disc) and P3P (download on vita).

As mentioned, the PSP version has a lot of extra content as well as control of party members in battle. Although not controlling them in FES was really just part of the challenge. Playing P3:FES on Hard on my very first playthough was probably one of the most challenging gaming experiences I've had.

Originally Posted by Slashlen But as others have said, wait for something you want. I want Shank 2 and I'm finally going to actually pay for the thing, but I'm going to wait until near the end of the month.

Just played Shank 2 for the first time last night. That is an extremely well-polished, solid game. Controls are tight, art direction is cool, music fits - overall just a really good game. Not amazing, but very solid and I had fun. (Never played the first one).