The Evening Report: The Tale of Three Announcements

Tonight’s report is a tale of resurrection, demonstration and illness. Sony’s networks have risen, Duke’s demo is dated and Microsoft discloses their plan to spread E3 fever. Stick around after the break for the finer points.

PlayStation Network Back Online

Shortly after initiating the resurrection of the battered and bruised PlayStation Network, Sony officials have release details of the North American PSN and Qriocity Customer Appreciation Program. While there are a handful of perks included in the package, the big ticket items are the free games being offered. PlayStation Network users can select  the to select two of the five games, while PSP owners will be able to select two of the four games being offered. The PS3 games will be Dead Nation, infamous, LittleBigPlanet, Super Stardust HD and Wipeout HD + Fury. The PSP games will be LittleBigPlanet, ModNation Racers, Pursuit Force and Killzone Liberation.

The only two catches for redeeming the free games is it must be a pre-existing PSN account and the games must be redeemed within the first 30 days that the program goes live. Be sure to check out our buyer’s guide if your not sure what games to pickup.

Source – PlayStation Blog


Duke Demo about to Drop

Randy Pitchford, Gearbox Software President, announced that the Duke Nukem Forever demo will drop on June 3 for First Access Club members. The announcement was made by video on the Duke Nukem site. While fans were burned back in March when the release date was pushed back by five weeks, all we can hope is that the demo’s release doesn’t suffer any push backs itself.

Source – Shack News


Microsoft E3 Keynote to air Live on Spike TV, Facebook, GameTrailers

Microsoft announced today that their E3 keynote, Xbox 360: The Future Revealed, will air live and commercial free on Spike TV June 6 at 12:30 p.m. ET as well as on in high definition on GameTrailers. It seems Microsoft wasn’t content to stop there, as they also be providing the live stream via Facebook, MTV.com, Spike.com, Xbox.com/E3, mobile platforms and even Times Square. So even if you didn’t make the pilgrimage to the USC’s Galen Center in Los Angeles, you will still be able to see what Microsoft rolls out onto the stage as the future of the platform.

Source – Major Nelson