As National Guardsman Tom Riley, you’re about to come face to face with the brutal Chimeran invasion force in the blistering shooter built from the ground up for the PS Vita. The latest installment in the  Resistance franchise focuses on an all-new mission that parallels and complements the existing Resistance storyline, as Tom Riley rises from an everyday hero to a legend of the Resistance.

Batman: Arkham City The Game of the Year Edition for PS3, includes Harley Quinn’s Revenge. Now more dangerous than ever and leading a homicidal gang of her own, she is hell-bent on taking revenge against the Dark Knight. Bonus content includes: Catwoman Pack, Robin Bundle Pack, Nightwing Bundle Pack, Arkham City Skins Pack and Challenge Map Pack. Also, the anticipated PS Vita title Gravity Rush, receives the demo treatment. Enjoy the gravity bending experience on this week’s The Drop.

PlayStation Vita

Resistance: Burning Skies (Also on PSN) – Resistance: Burning Skies is a unique Resistance experience developed specifically for PS Vita that takes full advantage of the system’s dual analog sticks and features an all-new hero and story written by William C. Dietz, author of Resistance: The Gathering Storm and Resistance: A Hole in the Sky.

Set in a tale of survival during the August 1951 Chimeran invasion of the East Coast, you take control of Tom Riley, an everyday firefighter from New Jersey who is thrown headfirst into the teeth of the Chimeran war machine, forcing him to redefine his notions of duty and heroism.

PlayStation 3

Batman Arkham City: Game of the Year Edition – The Game of the Year Edition of Batman: Arkham City packages new gameplay content, seven maps, three playable characters, and 12 skins beyond the original retail release. Also included is the exciting epilogue, Harley Quinn’s Revenge — in this mission, players are sent back into Arkham City to face their final challenge as they interchange between playing as both Batman and Robin. Utilize each of the characters’ unique combat and investigative skills to uncover Harley’s vengeful plan and shut the gates on the urban mega-prison forever. In addition to experiencing a new storyline, fans can explore new environments and face-off against Harley’s all new gang of thugs.

Dirt Showdown – An expansion on the rough-riding racing action of Dirt 3′s gymkhana competition, Dirt Showdown offers three modes focused on the wilder aspects of off-road driving: Race, Showdown and Demolition!

Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland – Another of the popular alchemic RPG series from Gust, Atelier Meruru is the third of a series of Atelier games set in Arland (also the setting of Atelier Rorona and Atelier Totori.) The tiny kingdom of Arls, located on the northeastern border of the Arland Republic, is where Princess Meruru calls home. Ever since she was exposed to alchemy by famed adventurer Totori Helmold, all she could think about was becoming an alchemist. With Totori’s guidance, Meruru sets out to develop her home kingdom of Arls using the power of alchemy. On her way, Meruru will encounter new adventures, obstacles, mysteries, and friends, and discover what life is like outside the castle walls. How you choose to guide her through the advancement of her land will determine the final outcome in the tale of Atelier Meruru!

PlayStation Network

Assassin’s Creed: Revelations – Assassin’s Creed Revelations presents the most immersive experience available in the series to date and the culmination of Ezio’s adventure. In Assassin’s Creed Revelations, master assassin Ezio Auditore walks in the footsteps of his legendary mentor, Altaïr, on a journey of discovery and revelation. It is a perilous path – one that will take Ezio to Constantinople, the heart of the Ottoman Empire, where a growing army of Templars threatens to destabilize the region.

Pure Chess (PS3/PS VIta Exclusive) – Throughout history, only one game has truly stood the test of time and made a significant impact on societies the world over. Now, that classic strategy board game comes to life in stunning digital detail! Become a grandmaster in Pure Chess. Work through a comprehensive tutorial to improve your chess skills. Take on up to seven of your PlayStation Network friends using turn-based gameplay

Rayman: Origins – When the Glade of Dreams is overrun by nefurrious Darktoons, the Fairy Council hastily invokes Rayman to save the day. To help him, Rayman teams up with his best friend, Globox, and two crafty wizards, the Teensies. Together, the world’s most hilarious team of heroes will need to restore peace to the Glade or watch as their beloved home vanishes like a bad dream…

PS Vita Demos

• Gravity Rush

PS3 Demos

• Mad Riders

PlayStation 2 Classic

Rayman: Arena – Rayman’s world kicks into multiplayer overdrive in this total competition crash course with the cast of Rayman 2. Smoke the competition on mind-bending racecourses, or spark up a lum-flinging firefight in the battle arena. And with 8 characters, 24 maps and up to 4 combatants, now Rayman?s got more ways to reign supreme than ever.

[Editor’s Note: The following dates are subject to change. Game details are gathered from Press Releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

The PS.Blog weekly reading list (Week of May 21, 2012)

• Grab Resident Evil: Chronicles HD In June, Or Either Game Separately In July – Siliconera
• When Vikings Attack … you’re supposed to throw stuff at them – The Verge
• WizOrb Coming To Minis This June – PSNStores
• Big Sky Infinity coming to Vita and PS3 – PSNStores
• CCP: ‘Dust 514′ is about more than just shooting the other guy in the face – National Console Gaming – Examiner.com
• Yakuza 5 Is a Brand New Yakuza, Ready To Punch Your Face In – Kotaku
• Review: Sorcery – VG Blogger
• Game Review: ‘Sorcery’ for PlayStation 3 – ABC News
• Gravity Rush Review (Vita) – PlayStation LifeStyle
• Resistance: Burning Skies composers discuss making AAA soundtracks for a handheld game – PS3 Attitude
• Demon’s Souls Servers Staying Online – News – www.GameInformer.com
• The Last of Us Preview — Witnessing the Horrors of Survival – G4tv.com
• Sorcery Review – PSXExtreme
• Sorcery Review – TheGamersHub
• Review: Starhawk – DualShockers
• How to Watch YouTube On Your Vita – IGN Video
• Jet Set Radio making its way to Vita – Shacknews.com
• Demon’s Souls Online Server Functionality Extended – PlayStation LifeStyle
• Jet Set Radio Announced for the PlayStation Vita! – SEGA Blog
• EGM Review: Gravity Rush – EGMNOW
• Gravity Rush Review – Machinima.com
• Gravity Rush review – GamesRadar
• Gravity Rush review: Disorient Express – Joystiq
• Killer title – The Last of Us – The Daily
• Why the entire gaming industry is happy the Lakers lost -Destructoid
• Super Meat Boy Is A Playable Character In Retro/Grade – PSNStores
• Rhythm platformer Sound Shapes is shaping up for its Vita debut – Ars Technica
• Dungeon Twister Coming To PSN This Summer – PSNStores
• Review – Sorcery – Terminal Gamer
• Even Jaded LEGO Fans Should Try LEGO Batman 2 – IGN
• Review: Sorcery (PS3) - PSNation.org
• The Last of Us bests Uncharted by creating a world where violence is appropriate… and necessary – The PA Report

In other news this week, Sorcery made its long-awaited PlayStation Move debut, the creators of Foosball 2012 revealed a new dev diary showing off the myriad gameplay options between the PS3 and PS Vita versions (including but not limited to cross-platform play), we went hands-on with Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time for PS Vita in a new video, and the creators of Augmented Reality game PulzAR revealed how you can save the world with your PS Vita next month.

What are you playing this weekend?

• I’m playing: Sorcery and Burnout Crash for PS3
• I’m watching: Drive on Blu-ray
• I’m reading: A Canticle for Leibowitz
• I’m listening to: PlayStation Blogcast 026: Revitalizing Vita with Sly Cooper and KickBeat

Most-Watched Video of the Week: Retro City Rampage for PS Vita

The 10 Most-Viewed Posts of the Week

We’ve been seeing amazing stories, but a few reminders. Remember, you can submit multiple stories to be considered. It’s not a one shot thing so if your story may not be getting any traction, feel free to PM me in the forums for advice (mochuuu in the forums), or submit another one. And secondly, try to write about something more than just loving PlayStation, or your PlayStation timeline. Whether it’s an amazing PlayStation related story, or commentary on PlayStation today, we want to ensure these posts are diverse week to week; and that can only come from your own tales and commentary on gaming. Remember to read the posting best practices for more info, or have a look at past week’s winners to get a feel of the types of diverse stories that make it to the blog.

This week’s spotlight is from PSN member Imputed7-14. He found a way to combine his passion for gaming and teaching, but not before he had to change a few perspectives on what gaming could be.

Sackboy Goes To School

I am an elementary teacher and I have always looked for ways to encourage my students using every avenue possible. In my classroom we have used toilet paper to experience what it is like to be caterpillars, mimicked Mary Shelly in an annual scary story contest, and created a seven foot model of the sun placing it over a hundred and fifty feet away from our two inch models of the earth just so my students could understand the size and distances we were talking about in class. So when I got LittleBigPlanet 2 last September my mind exploded with ideas to work the PlayStation 3 into my classroom.

I began work late last September in making a mini game that my students could enjoy based around sorting synonyms and antonyms. In January I asked my principal if I could share the project with her. We set up a meeting and I started to get cold feet that she would think it was lame or be disapproving because of the negative stigma around games. My wife encouraged me to be who I am as a gamer and be confident since I had done something original. The day of our meeting my principal sat, listened and watched as I played through the game. She asked what my goal was with doing this. I told her that I had several ideas for skill based levels in math and reading and that I would also like to start a club where the kids could design their own levels using LBP and other games like Modnation on the PS3 and games like LBP and Sound Shapes on the Vita. She told me that she needed to check on something before she gave me the okay to pursue any of those ideas, but that she was pretty impressed with what I had done.

About a month later she called me to the office to let me know that I could use whatever I created in my room and if I could find the funding that I would be permitted start an after school club. What more is she encouraged me to come up with a way to work it into a camp my school is doing over the summer.

At this point my kids have played LBP as a reading station twice and I will likely bring it in for them to enjoy before the summer. They are excited about all things Little Big Planet. In my free time, which is not much, I am crafting some things for them. I am also seeking different local businesses and organizations to see if I can get help funding the club. Nothing has happened yet, but I am hoping that in the near future that my school will learn through Playing, Creating and Sharing. Long live play, y’all.

How have you used gaming in your professional / academic life? Congrats to Imputed7-14, who is now the recipient of a $50 voucher redeemable in the PlayStation Store! Send in your stories here, and feel free to read Imputed7-14′s original post here.

So here’s a video of Egan demoing some of the PS Vita-specific features you’ll find when Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time drops this Fall:

We’ll show you more of Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time on our PlayStation E3 Livestream, starting Monday, June 4th at 5:30 pm Pacific/8:30 pm Eastern.

Also this week, the Music Unlimited service features new releases from John Mayer, Slash, and Kimbra, as well as new singles from Sara Bareilles, The Cult, Joey Ramone, and the San Francisco Music Club.

On the video side, own Safe House now before you can rent it! The Denzel Washington action-packed thriller is available under New Releases in both SD and HD in the Video Unlimited Video Store. Also, This Means War starring Chris Pine, Tom Hardy and Reese Witherspoon is now available for rent on the service. Get the full details on this week’s highlights here.

Subscription Links:

• Subscribe via iTunes
• Subscribe via RSS here
• Download the MP3 here (Right-Click->Save As)

Urge to kill…rising. That’s sign #236 that E3 2012 is almost here! While Jeff, Rey and I slash and burn our email inboxes, sit in endless planning meetings, and prepare for PlayStation.Blog’s ambitious all-access E3 game demo livestream (details soon!), we found a couple of minutes to talk about important stuff. You know, games.

Today’s episode shows a distinct PS Vita slant, starting with the latest details on the PS Vita version of Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time straight from Sanzaru Games President and CEO Glen Egan and Lead Designer Matt Kraemer. Then, Zen Studios Creative Director Neil Sorens stops by to discuss his goals for KickBeat, the kung-fu-flavored rhythm game coming to PS Vita later this year. Then Jeff serves up late-breaking impressions of The Last of Us and When Vikings Attack.

We top it off with first details on the PSN game lineup for next Tuesday, 5/29, plus a farm-fresh crop of new user questions and user tips. Listen in!

Stuff We Talked About

• The Last of Us
• When Vikings Attack
• PS Vita and Carmelita Revealed for Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time
• KickBeat debut trailer
• Greg Miller

The Cast

[Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game
details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating
descriptions.]

• Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music. Special thanks to Astro Gaming headsets for providing audio gear.

Hey folks, I’m here today to announce a new PSN title coming this year! I’m very excited to introduce When Vikings Attack for PS3 and PS Vita.

In this all-action fighting adventure, a battalion of Viking invaders, 1200 years late to the party, are causing havoc in your town. Imagine getting together a posse of local citizens: a construction worker, a butcher, a policeman, a pastor, and a schoolboy, then ripping up a phone booth or picking up a car,and hurling it at the advancing Viking hordes. That’s the sort of crazy action you can expect in this totally new and original PSN title for PS3 and PS Vita.

Grab whatever you can and get ready to do battle!

Featuring both adventure and Versus gameplay modes that can be played with one to four players, the game has been winning fans within the walls of PlayStation with its manic, quick-fire gameplay ever since it came into being.

Did I mention that it’s also a full cross play/save/buy title? So all gameplay modes can be played between PS Vita and PS3 in pretty much any combination you can imagine: two PS3s and two Vitas or one PS3 and three Vitas or one PS3 with three players and one Vita… I could go on but let’s just say you can have four players in any combination of systems you want. Also, with cross-platform save you can carry on your Adventure mode progress no matter where you are, just upload the save file from your PS3 and download it to your PS Vita or vice versa. Then to top it all off and make this the perfect Crossplay game, we are also offering both versions for one price, no matter which version you buy you will get the other for free… a pretty good deal, if you ask me!

I’ll be back in the coming weeks along with some of the guys from Clever Beans (the development team behind the game) to introduce you to even more features and let you in on some behind-the-scenes details of how the title came into being and what you can expect when it launches later this year.

Post any questions you have in the comments and I’ll endeavor to answer whatever I can. Thanks and good day!

But wait, there’s more! We know many of you have asked for more video footage of the game, so we created a brand new featurette which will give you all a look behind the curtain of LBP for PS Vita. Enjoy!

Remember to follow LittleBigPlanet on Twitter and Facebook to stay up to date with all the latest news.

I’m back to share more details about Foosball 2012! Specifically, to introduce the cross-platform functionalities between PS3 and PS Vita. We didn’t want to have a game that has a version for PS3 and a separate version for PS Vita. We wanted an experience where you don’t need to worry about which device you are currently using, because you get exactly the same game — including your current progress, unlocks, and DLC — every time you play, regardless of whether you are currently on PS3 or PS Vita.

First of all, when you buy Foosball 2012, you’ll get it for both the PS3 and PS Vita for a price of a single PSN game. The same applies for additional content that you will be able to buy. Purchase the game once and you can use it on both the PS3 and PS Vita.

Secondly, when you play the game, your saves are automatically uploaded to a cloud storage within PSN and synchronized between PS3 and PS Vita. Whenever you start the game, the progress you made on any platform, including the online multiplayer statistics and Trophies, is right there and automatically synchronized.

Finally, PS3 players and PS Vita players can play online matches against each other! And even if you own only one of the devices, you will still be able to play against the people who play on the other device. So it’s pretty safe to say that there will always be someone to play with!

Foosball 2012 will be released soon on the PlayStation Store. For more details about the game visit the official web page, or follow us on Twitter or Facebook.

In our final developer diary video next week, I will share details about the game’s various single-player and multiplayer play modes. See you soon!