Weekend Essentials - Issue 26

New demos including UFC Undisputed 2010 and Split/Second: Velocity, Modern Warfare 2's Stimulus Package, plus a host of other great content at PlayStation Store.

What's new in Store?

There are three new demos of PS3 games on PlayStation Store this week: Split/Second: Velocity, which is best described as a racing game set in Jerry Bruckheimer's teenage dreams, UFC Undisputed 2010, the latest game based on the popular mixed martial arts organisation and Feeding Frenzy 2, the sequel to the popular game in which the size of your fish determines whether he munches or is munched.

Modern Warfare 2 receives five new multiplayer maps this week via the Stimulus Package plus two fan favourites from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Report to PlayStation Store and download the Stimulus Package today to expand the war zone in Modern Warfare 2 on PlayStation 3.

Popping into the city to meet your girlfriend might usually result in dinner and a film. In Anarchy: Rush Hour, however, she gets kidnapped by a criminal gang and you are forced to take part in street races through peak time traffic while various things explode. Anarchy: Rush Hour is available to download to PlayStation 3 from PlayStation Store and it includes dozens of sports cars to choose from and the freedom to tear through jammed city streets however you choose.

Burn Zombie Burn... In Space! adds new stages and game modes to the arcade blaster that let you incinerate the undead in the stratosphere.

On PSP this week, you can download a series of extra content packs for Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days. And as the cold weather approaches, Sneezies arrives in the minis category on PlayStation Store, letting you release sneezing powder into the air and release cute little creatures from their bubbles using the power of their noses.

And just so you get in first to see all the latest and greatest updates to PlayStation Store, we've now moved our weekly updates forward by one day. So now, all updates to PlayStation Store in Australia and New Zealand will be on Wednesday evenings rather than Thursday evenings.

This week's announcements

Sony Computer Entertainment this week announced the return of the ruthless Spartan warrior Kratos to PSP™ in God of War® Ghost of Sparta. Developed by Ready at Dawn®, the renowned team behind God of War® Chains of Olympus, this epic adventure will reveal the true story behind Kratos' tragic past and his meteoric rise to his seat on Olympus.

Experience the sights, sounds and goals of the world's greatest football competition with the EA SPORTS™ 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ packs for PlayStation®3 and PSP™. Available now from selected retailers and for a limited time only, you can get the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa PS3™ or PSP™ pack - depending on your choice of console.

Speaking of FIFA, Nenad Stojkovic has been crowned the FIFA Interactive World Champion for 2010 at the FIFA Interactive Word Cup Grand Final in Barcelona's Port Olimpic. "I'm the best in the world," says the man from the USA as he emerges from a strong field as the world's top virtual footballer, taking home a cool 20,000 USD plus the chance to meet footballing royalty at the FIFA World Cup Player Gala 2010 where he will officially be crowned FIFA Interactive World Champion 2010. Check out our FIFA Interactive World Champion 2010 interview.

Disney Interactive Studios announced that Toy Story 3: The Video Game, releasing on 17th June 2010, will feature content and gameplay available exclusively for PlayStation®3. Emperor Zurg, one of the most beloved villains of the Disney•Pixar Toy Story franchise, will be a playable character exclusively in the PS3™ version of Toy Story 3: The Video Game. In addition, the game will be one of the first games to feature the PlayStation®Move motion controller's compatible gameplay.

Ubisoft released a Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands Power Combat trailer in anticipation of the game's release on 21st May 2010. Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands will expand the Prince of Persia universe with a new storyline, the introduction of new characters, and new powers over nature and time.

Electronic Arts announced that the legendary first-person shooter Medal of Honor™ will be ready for another tour of duty on 14th October 2010 in Australia and New Zealand. Medal of Honor leaves the WWII theatre for the first time in its 11-year history and enters the modern day setting of war-torn Afghanistan.

Rockstar Games announced the free-to-download Outlaws To The End Co-Op Mission Pack for Red Dead Redemption. Available to download from PlayStation®Network this coming June, the Outlaws To The End Co-Op Mission Pack adds an entirely new dimension to Red Dead Redemption's game play featuring six all-new multiplayer missions and more.

Konami will deliver a completely new footballing experience later this year when PES 2011 releases on PlayStation®3, PlayStation®2 and PSP™, undergoing the most radical revamp in its history. The result is the most complete and realistic PES to date, delivering an evolved experience that still has the key PES ethos of skill and realism at its core.

And we're finally able to show you a video wrap-up of the ModNation Racers Aussie launch event held last week at Wolli Creek's Kartatak Raceway, so check it out now and join in the excitement as we eagerly await the games release on PS3 and PSP on 20th May 2010.

It's all about the music!

This week the SingStore sees new songs added by the likes of Blur, Cat Power, Cliff Richard, Depeche Mode and more, plus a brand-new SongPack by Snow Patrol featuring Chasing Cars and You're All I Have, and a Lostprophets SongPack featuring Last Train Home and Burn Burn.

New to VidZone this week is a Noisia world exclusive, LMFAO interview, the latest VidZone chart, Artist of the Week Macy Gray and heaps more! VidZone gives you a choice of more than 100 free pre-programmed music channels, specially selected and created to suit your mood and music taste.

Spring cleaning

This week, PlayStation Home interior designers get a host of new decorative options for their virtual abodes.

The Uncharted Personal Space is a great place to rest your feet after a hard day's treasure hunting; it's also the perfect place to show off your Uncharted ornaments and furnishings.

In the Uncharted universe there are two things that can be found lying around just about anywhere: priceless artefacts and guns, and your apartment need no longer be any different. You can now purchase an arsenal of SOCOM firearms, ranging from handguns to rifles, and either place them on existing furniture or display them in a rack.

Completing this week's PS Home update is another treasure trove of Monkey Island content from LucasArts. Guys can brighten everyone's day with the colourful Stan the Salesman outfit while women can pick up the Sword Master and strike fear into anyone that tries to Cabbage Patch in their way.

Get involved

To celebrate the release of God of War® Collection on PlayStation®3 we're giving you the chance to win the ULTIMATE God of War prize pack. One lucky winner will score themselves a Kratos PS3 console (customised God of War airbrushed PS3), a God of War Collection PS3 Game and a God of War III PS3 game.

Check out what online gaming and community events are happening in May 2010 with the newly updated Community Calendar. Get online each night with the rest of the Australian and New Zealand PlayStation community with some of the biggest blockbuster releases including Modern Warfare 2, MAG, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, GTA IV and more.

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 au.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.