Buzz had been circulating for some time now that had us wondering if Modern Warfare 2 would be hitting store shelves for the PC on the same day as the Xbox 360 and PS3. The fact that major retailers such as GameStop briefly had the PC title listed with a November 24th release date didn’t exactly sooth our wounds.

Luckily Infinity Ward’s Robert Bowling has let us know via Twitter that there will in fact be no delay and the PC version will be hitting store shelves on the same day as the console versions.

Furthermore, he also let us know that Modern Warfare 2 will be coming to Valve’s digital distribution service Steam, if that’s your kind of thing.

GameStop has recently announced that their online Casual Store has gone live featuring digital downloads of just about every casual PC game you could think of. And, to celebrate its launch, GameStop is offering 50% off on select downloads with the full list made viewable, here.

Games featured in GameStop’s Casual store include Plants Vs. Zombies, Peggle, Roller Coaster Tycoon, etc. Additionally, GameStop will host over 800 casual game trials that you can download free of charge.

We learned back at E3 that Microsoft would be discontinuing their Xbox Originals service to make way for their all new Games on Demand service that would let gamers download full Xbox 360 titles. This led many gamers to turn their head towards Sony asking if they too would offer an extensive library of full retail games for digital deliver. I mean they already offer games like Warhawk and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, right?

Eric Lempel, an exec over at Sony, responded to the idea:

It’s not something we have planned, just because the size of the games is massive. With Blu-ray we can put up to 50 gigs on a dual-layer disc, while [Xbox 360] is still on a 9-gig media. So technically it’s possible, but I think the issue would be, ‘Do you want to download 40 gigs and keep that on your hard drive?

I’ll have to agree with Mr. Lempel, downloading a 40GB game and storing it on the PS3’s harddrive wouldn’t be my idea of a walk in the park. However, waht about the multiplatform games that only take up a fraction of a Blu-ray’s

Read (Kotaku)

It’s no secret that the PSP’s UMD format was nothing less than an utter failure, hell even its creator Sony decided to ultimately give it the boot. But wait, was it declining UMD sales or an evil plot by Sony that caused UMD’s death. According to Naoya Matsui, a Sony exec, it was an evil plot:

“We’d planned to release a PSP model without a UMD drive since the very beginning. But if we’d simply released the hardware, there wouldn’t have been much for everyone to enjoy. We needed to prepare the right environment for it first – things like the transferral of content with the PS3 and PSN, and PC software to manage content like music and movies such as Media Go.”

Do you believe him? I mean, I guess it does make sense that they needed time to prepare their Playstation Network for total digital delivery but would they really put all the time and money into developing the UMD format if they were just going to kill it off?

Read (Edge)

If the above image is anything to go by the guys over at Steam seem to have uploaded said image clearly displaying Bethesda’s Morrowind and Oblivion before they were announced to hit the service.

The ad was displayed on the homepage for a brief period of time before it was taken down. However, you can still view the ad to verify its legitimacy here, which is clearly located on the Steam’s servers.

I think its safe to say that both of these games will in fact be hitting the service at some point in the very near future. I mean, Bethesda’s Fallout 3 is available from Steam, why not some of their back catalog too?

Read (Gamerlimit)

If you’re an avid PSP user, when Sony announced the PSP Go you probably thought to yourself, “how am I going to play my old games on this new console?”

Well, Gizmodo recently caught up with Sony’s John Koller who explained that they will offer some sort of service that will allow gamers to obtain digitized versions of their old UMD games. Exactly how much this service will cost (if anything) and when it will go live, we don’t know, but we’ll keep you updated.

The PSP Go is set to drop on October 1st of this year for $249

Despite having everything from hardware specs to official press images leaked a few days ago, Sony has come forth at their E3 conference and taken the veil that was never really their off of the PSP Go.

Just like stated in the leaked specs, the PSP Go will include 16GB of internal storage, no UMD slot and a slideout control panel. Of course, no UMD slot means a 100% digital library of games which is certainly a step towards the future.

Something we didn’t know from the leaked documents was the price and relesae date which were also revealed during the E3 conference. The PSP Go will sell for $249 and hit store shelves in the United States this October.

Read (Yahoo!)

Remember Patapon 2, the game we told you about a while back that will be exclusively available as a digital download from the PSN? Okay good — SCEA recently released a statement detailing the game’s official launch.

Available for $19.99, you can purchase Patapon 2 straight from the PSN or head to your favorite retailer and pick up a redeemable voucher card.

If you aren’t familiar with the Patapon series hit the read link for the official press release.
Critically Acclaimed Franchise Finds a New Beat With Patapon(TM)2, Exclusively for the PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) System

Popular Rhythm-based Sequel Drums its Way Back to Casual and Core Gamers with Double the Content, Multiplayer Gameplay, and Deeper Customization Features

FOSTER CITY, Calif., May 5 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) announced today the release of Patapon(TM)2, available exclusively for PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable). Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment’s Worldwide Studios, Japan Studio, Patapon 2 marks the return of the beloved 2D platform-action and rhythm game where players command a colorful tribe of Patapons, a fearless group of quirky eyeball warriors, through a series of challenging quests in an unfamiliar land. Building upon the distinct combination of action and rhythm-based gameplay introduced in the critically-acclaimed 2008 original, players must utilize various combinations of drumbeats to command the Patapon to march, retreat, attack, defend, charge, and use magic in the quest for victory and finding Earthend. Patapon 2 is available now in a digital only format for $19.99. Consumers can purchase Patapon 2 at retail stores in the form of redeemable voucher cards or purchase directly from PlayStation(R) Network.

“As an established franchise on PSP, Patapon 2 delivers top value at $19.99. Its signature charm and intelligent gameplay mechanics return along with more than 200% more content,” said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President, Product Marketing, SCEA. “With the introduction of multiplayer mode, along with customizable characters and new Evolution System, Patapon 2 is an accessible and intuitive experience that bridges the gap between casual and core gamers.”

With more than double the content of its predecessor, Patapon 2 features a deeper single-player experience along with a wealth of original missions and new cast of warriors, including a customizable “Hero” character. A first for the franchise, Patapon 2 also offers a multiplayer mode where up to four players can take their Hero Patapons and join forces in a collaborative marching rhythm to carry a mysterious egg across a treacherous battlefield. Success brings a “Don Chaka” mode, where players are tested again with drumming a collective rhythm to gain items that can be used in single player. Patapon 2 also delivers Game Sharing functionality to allow multiple people to play together so long as one of them owns the game.

Catering to both the core franchise fanatic and the Patapon novice, Patapon 2 features difficulty settings that adjust the single-player gameplay to the appropriate level of the player, thus allowing the game to be experienced and enjoyed by players of all skill sets. Whether a Patapon veteran or rookie, Patapon 2 brings players into a charming and melodic world full of color and wit, featuring over 80 specific missions and more than 20 boss encounters while the tribe of scampering eyeballs seek Earthend.

From the fertile imagination of French graphic artist Rolito, Patapon 2 opens in the signature 2D world of the Patapons as they depart their homeland in their ongoing pursuit of Earthend. Arriving in a strange land after a harrowing ocean journey, the Patapons come eyeball-to-eyeball with the Karmen Tribe and the strange, dangerous creatures that inhabit their land. In leading the Patapon tribe to its ultimate quest, players will unlock and discover new ranks of Patapons: the bird riding Toripon, the powerful robotic Robopon warriors, and Mahopon magicians. Additionally a new superior warrior, the Hero Patapon, can be customized to fit any fighting style desired by mixing various weapons and Patapon Hero masks. Once in battle, players will have the opportunity to lead the Patapons to victory with a total of eight command rhythms, including the new jump, power-up, and party commands – all which can be combined to change gameplay tactics and action throughout the various missions.

Leading the upgraded strategic elements of Patapon 2 is the new Evolution System. Skills on the battlefield can be dramatically improved by evolving into other Patapon forms, called Rarepons, through upgrades and “level ups.” Players can strategically customize and build the Patapon army by determining the appropriate weapons, armor, and battle positions. True to its musical roots, Patapon 2 also offers seven music-based mini-games that allow players the opportunity to earn bonuses and upgrades to further customize the Patapon warriors in preparation for fun and rhythmic battle.

The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates Patapon 2 “E” for “Everyone”. For more information about the ESRB, visit www.esrb.org. For more information about Patapon 2, visit http://www.patapon-game.com/

About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation(R) and PS one(R) game console, the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, the PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) handheld entertainment system, the ground-breaking PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system and its online and network services the PlayStation(R)Network and PlayStation(R)Store.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets, and distributes software for the PS one, PlayStation 2, PSP and PS3 for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif. Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Visit us on the Web at http://www.us.playstation.com

PLAYSTATION, PlayStation, PSP, PS one and the PlayStation logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. PS3 is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Patapon is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (c) 2009 Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (C) Rolito/Interlink

Today Sony has come out and confirmed these rumors. Patrick Seybold, Senior Director of Corporate Communications at Sony Computer Entertainment has said that this is simply a test to see how consumers will take to the digital-only distribution method. They’re reportedly exploring what people will want more, and with Patapon 2 being a somewhat anticipated title it’s certainly a good game to test the waters with.

We learned back in February that PSP title, Patapon 2, would be making it’s North American debut sometime this year which was later honed down to May 5th.

However, if rumors are to be believed, Patapon 2 won’t ever be making it’s physical debut. Instead, speculation suggests that the game will intead be a digital title only with vouchers being sold at retailers instead of the actual game.

Even stranger is the fact that Patapon 2, when downloaded from PSN with no voucher, will cost just $15.99 but the actual voucher will cost $19.99. 

Again, this is just a rumor so we’ll have to wait and see how this unfolds.

Read (Destructoid)

The launch of rental service Netflix was a huge blow to Blockbuster and they responded by abolishing late fees, but it seems that all their efforts might have been in vain. The ability to stream films directly to your computer, dedicated device or Xbox 360 put another nail in the rental company’s coffin. The ease of downloading films via digital cable or a console or other device at equivalent prices erased the appeal of having a local Blockbuster store.

If the rumors are true and Netflix will soon be streamable for the PS3 and Wii as well as the Xbox 360 it seems unlikely there’ll be anything that can save the company.

"No question in my mind. digital distribution on PC ties directly into our strategy," said Svensson. "We will probably do as much digital selling as retail in the current climate."

Svensson added that Capcom is currently one of the leaders in console digital distribution as well. He explained that, much like Valve, the company is taking a global view on the PC in order to maximize its distribution opportunities.

"We’ll be able to expand our distribution network to include Amazon’s amazing distribution channel," wrote the company CEO in a blog post. He added that the move will bring a “huge new group of customers into play” and that they are committing to “provide the best distribution platform anywhere.”

"[Digital distribution is] a nice added business model, but it’s not something that’s going to take over retail game sales," he said.

"We’ll be able to see the sales growth and plan for [digital download]," added Fils-Aime. "But I guess similar to home consoles, the consumer will want an experience that’s best delivered through physical goods, simply because of the memory size required. There will always be those opportunities for big, in-depth games on retail products."

Digital distribution platforms and websites such as Steam and Direc2Drive have made inroads into gamers’ computers in the recent years. However, retail still forms a major part of the publisher’s sales. What do you think?

"We have not written off digital distribution for Rage," he said. "We haven’t figured out what we want to do yet. But I do want to fix the fact that John [Carmack] said [digital distribution is] not going to happen. What I’m saying is that’s not true."

He explained that the confusion stemmed from the game’s final form on disc.

"John Carmack made a comment about the media size, which unfortunately wasn’t exactly correct because we haven’t crossed that bridge yet. He said it was going to be too large to download, and I was thinking to myself, ‘You know, uhhhhh, people can do lots of things.’"

The game is due out next year on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.